A combustion test system includes a power source and a corona generator coupled to the power source. The combustion test system also includes a charge storage device. The charge storage device includes a charging surface spaced apart from the corona generator such that charge carriers, motivated by an electric field of the corona generator, intersect the charging surface to charge the charge storage device. The combustion test system also includes a first electrode coupled to the charge storage device and a second electrode coupled to a reference ground. The second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode to produce an electrical arc between the first electrode and the second electrode based on a voltage difference between the first electrode and the second electrode.