This study examines the pyrolysis of a single cylindrical wood particle using particle image velocimetry (PIV). The pyrolysis was conducted inside a pyrolysis reactor designed for this purpose. The experimental setup presented in this paper is capable of effectively characterizing the intensity of pyrolysis based on velocity distribution in the vicinity of wood particles. The results of the gas velocity distribution show that evaporation of moisture has as a major impact on the formation of the gas cushion as devolatilization.