Incineration of CHCl3 was investigated at a high temperature under fuel-lean, isothermal conditions. A detailed chemical kinetic mechanism describing the oxidation of CHCl3 is presented. The species CCl4, C2Cl4, CO, CO2, Cl-2, and HCl were observed as major products for partial conversion of CHCl3. The experimental results agree with those from modeling at temperatures from 700 to 1280 K. An equation for the destruction efficiency of CHCl3 was derived in terms of the residence time and the reaction temperature, expressed as an Arrhenius function. Analysis of the measured rates of production of key species was used to discuss the mechanism. The results show that when CHCl3 is destroyed, it produces the radical CCl3 and also COCl2. These are important intermediates in the oxidation of CHCl3.