IN ACCORD WITH THE ESTABLISHED EFFECTIVENESS OF KHCO3 as a fire extinguishing agent, it has been shown that KHCO3 treatment of alpha cellulose papers prior to their exposure to thermal radiation reduces their sensitivity to transient flaming and that sustained flaming may be completely prevented without adding more than 1.5% by weight. On the other hand, KHCO3 treatment greatly increases the sensitivity of cellulose to glowing ignition, APPARENTLY BY INCREASING THE RATE AND DEGREE OF PYROLYSIS. Treatment particularly enhances the production during pyrolysis of such combustible gases as H2, CH4, C2H4, and C2H6 at the expense of high molecular weight, tarry materials. (Author).