It has long been common practice for firefighters to test wildfire potential by lighting single strands or leaves (sheltered from the wind) and observing the rate of spread. This paper discusses single-element fire spread and its potential as a method for determining fine- fuel moisture content and for estimating the likely rate of spread through a fuel complex. Earlier laboratory studies of spread rate along single pine needles and in beds composed of needles have been extended to the case of thin sheet fuels. These include cardboard and Eucalyptus globulus leaves. The dependence of rate of spread on moisture content, fuel orientation and fuel dimensions agrees with previous findings. In addition, the predicted variation of spread rate with moisture content has been tested using experimental data from fine fuels. From the resulting model, the value of single-element testing as a field tool can be assessed.