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An elongate, flexible, incendiary device for producing a nearly instantaneous source of flaming combustion along a linear pathway of indeterminate length. The incendiary device is provided in the form of a solid, continuous strand, such as, for example, a ribbon, tape, cord, filament, rope or tube.

An elongate, flexible, incendiary device for producing a nearly instantaneous source of flaming combustion along a linear pathway of indeterminate length. The incendiary device is provided in the form of a solid, continuous strand, such as, for example, a ribbon, tape, cord, filament, rope or tube. The device is comprised of means for rapid ignition along the longitudinal axis of the strand in co-linear arrangement with a solid or semi-solid combustible fuel composition. Upon ignition, the device produces flames from its exterior surface for a duration of time suitable for igniting nearby combustible matter. The incendiary device provides a nearly instantaneous line of fire for igniting prescribed fires, controlled burns, and backfires. A method for igniting vegetative matter over an area of land using one or more indeterminate lengths of a rapidly igniting linear incendiary strand.

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1. A rapidly igniting, prolonged burning incendiary strand for setting fire to combustible materials over an area of land, comprising: a flexible strand body of indeterminate length, comprising a plurality of co-linearly arranged and connectively assembled components forming a contiguous cross-secti

1. A rapidly igniting, prolonged burning incendiary strand for setting fire to combustible materials over an area of land, comprising: a flexible strand body of indeterminate length, comprising a plurality of co-linearly arranged and connectively assembled components forming a contiguous cross-sectional shape selected from the group consisting of tape, strip, ribbon, tube, filament, rope and cord, and;at least one elongate pyrotechnic element, linearly arranged along the longitudinal axis of the strand body, for conducting an ignitive reaction at a predetermined rate of axial propogation along the strand, the pyrotechnic element including a deflagrative composition comprised of one or more oxidizing agents and one or more first combustible fuel compounds, and;one or more bodies of a solid or semi-solid second combustible fuel component distributed along the longitudinal axis of the strand body, in connective arrangement with said pyrotechnic element, whereby said second combustible fuel component bodies are operable when ignited to undergo self-sustained, air-oxygenated combustion, emitting flames from the exterior surface of the strand, and;strand fragmentation means for separation of the strand body into separate burning segments, subsequent to ignition, and; whereby the pyrotechnic element, upon operative ignition from an external heat source, conducts an ignitive signal rapidly along the length of the incediary strand, progressively initiating self-sustained combustion of the second combustible fuel component bodies, and thereby providing flame generation concurrently along the entirety of the strand body to kindle combustible materials proximate to the incediary strand. 2. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the elongate pyrotechnic element is confined within the interior of an elongate close-fitting conduit. 3. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the elongate pyrotechnic element is arranged centrally in a channel defined by other structural elements of the strand. 4. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the second combustible fuel component comprises one or more planiform layers(s) of combustible thermoplastic resin, and wherein the second combustible fuel component and elongate pyrotechnic element are laminated between an upper covering layer and a lower covering layer to form a tape. 5. The incendiary strand of claim 4, wherein the second combustible fuel component layer is in a discontinuous pattern forming a central longitudinal gas channel in connective arrangement with multiple lateral gas channels. 6. The incendiary strand of claim 5, wherein the lateral gas channels are open to the exterior lateral edges of the tape and are longitudinally offset to either side of the longitudinal gas channel. 7. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the pyrotechnic element comprises a cellulose fiber substrate that is coated with said deflagrative composition. 8. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the means for fragmentation of the strand subsequent to ignition comprises rapidly burning segments of the strand body placed at selective intervals along the strand. 9. The incendiary strand of claim 1, further comprising weatherproofing means for preventing infiltration of moisture into the strand body. 10. A method of igniting vegetative matter over an area of land using the incendiary strand of claim 1, comprising the steps of: laying out one or more incendiary strand(s) in a predetermined pattern throughout the area to be burned; andigniting each incendiary strand in succession at intervals of time selected to achieve desired fire behavior characteristics. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of: placing multiple incendiary strands along strips in a predetermined spatial relationship to selected fire control lines, at a distance of spacing between strips that is determined according to fuel, weather and topographical conditions; andigniting the incendiary strands in a sequence timed to result in a line of fire being drawn in a desired direction of fire spread by convective and radiative influences of the multiple lines of fire initiated in the vegetative matter. 12. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the second combustible fuel component is selected from the group of waxes, tars, natural resins, latex rubbers, gelled hydrocarbons, polyethylene, polypropylene, poly-isoprene, poly-butadiene, and silicon rubber. 13. The incendiary strand of claim 12, wherein the second combustible fuel component is a natural resin composition comprising conifer tree resin. 14. The incendiary strand of claim 1, wherein the second combustible fuel component body, or bodies, provide flaming combustion for a duration of from ten seconds to five minutes, as measured at any point along the length of the strand. 15. A rapidly igniting, prolonged burning incendiary tape for setting fire to combustible materials over an area of land, comprising: an elongate tape body of indeterminate length, comprising a plurality of co-linearly arranged component layers forming an adhesively bound lamination;an upper covering layer and a lower covering layer of a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric film, coated fabric and paper;at least one adhesive fuel composition layer arranged in a discontinuous pattern between the upper covering layer and lower covering layer, the pattern forming a central longitudinal gas channel in connective arrangement with multiple lateral gas channels open to the exterior lateral edges of the tape, and wherein the adhesive fuel composition is selected from the group consisting of waxes, tars, natural resins, latex rubbers, gelled hydrocarbons, thermoplastic polymers, and silicon rubber;one or more elongate pyrotechnic elements arranged within the central longitudinal gas channel, wherein operatively, upon ignition from an external heat source, a combustive reaction is conducted along the pyrotechnic element at a predetermined rate of propagation, igniting the co-linearly arranged fuel composition through lateral heat transfer and projecting flames to the exterior of the tape through the lateral gas channels.