Originally Posted by keith_d

Cellulose is a polysaccharide, lots of glucose (C6H10O5) rings assembled in chains.

But the breakdown doesn't occur in a single step unless you divide it very finely and go for a powder explosion.

Usually you'll get some dehydration, then production of methanol and a whole assortment of aldehydes and ketones from partial ring breakdown. Sometimes there's a bit of methane in there too. These products burn to produce the pretty yellow flames.

Finally we get oxidation of the remaining carbon to carbon monoxide and/or carbon dioxide. Carbon monoxide is responsible for the translucent blue flames above a bed of charcoal when it takes the last step to carbon dioxide.

Keith (and you thought you were a pyromaniac)