In general, for complete combustion hydrocarbon in the form of a fuel and oxygen is required to produce final products of heat + water and carbon dioxide.

 

Basic Equation for a Complete Combustion

hydrocarbon + oxygen    →    carbon dioxide + water

In the context of burning of forest wood, typical forestry equipment to intentionally ignites fires usually uses a mixture of gasoline 30% and diesel 70% as their main source of fuel to facilitate combustion.

Example: chemical equation of diesel.

 

 

• A typical diesel chemical composition falls into category of a hydrocarbon with 14 Carbon atoms and 30 Hydrogen atoms.

• For a typical complete combustion of diesel with Oxygen, its by products other than heat energy would be Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapour.

 

Chemical Equation

2C₁₄ H₃₀ + 43O_{2        →}     Heat Energy + 28CO₂ + 30H₂O

Diesel   + Oxygen   →    Energy + Carbon Dioxide + Water Vapour

 

Reference from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/aqa/crudeoil/hydrocarbonsrev1.shtml

Image Source: https://chembloggreen1.wordpress.com/page/2/