Wind and plume thermodynamic structures during low-intensity subcanopy fires

•Wind and plume thermodynamic structures were measured during subcanopy fires.•Fire-induced in-canopy downward motions were associated with cooler air temperatures.•Plume updrafts of 2–4ms−1 were observed with fire intensity of 1200–2500kWm−1.•A peak updraft of 5.8ms−1 with plume temperature of 100°C occurred at canopy top.