A　total　of　forty-eight　specimens　were　tested,　including　forty　short　timber　columns　at　elevated　temperatures　and　eight　short　timber　columns　left　untreated　at　ambient　temperature.　The　main　parameters　explored　in　the　test　include　column　heights　(135,　180,　225　and　270　mm),　elevated　temperature　duration　(10,　20,　30,　40　and　50　min)　and　section　form.　It　was　found　that　two　new　failure　modes　were　generated　after　the　specimens　exposed　to　the　elevated　temperatures:　splitting　failure　and　bottom　crushing,　and　the　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　the　specimens　with　bottom　crushing　is　the　lowest.　The　ductility　of　circular　specimens　increases　with　the　increases　of　column　height.　When　the　elevated　temperature　duration　reaches　50　min,　the　plasticity　of　the　specimens　basically　subside.　The　ultimate　bearing　capacity　of　the　timber　columns　decreases　with　the　increase　of　the　elevated　temperature　duration　and　the　maximum　reduction　is　about　60%　percent.　©　2020　Statny　Drevarsky　Vyskumny　Ustav.　All　rights　reserved.