Time-resolved (30 frames/s), high temperature (up to similar to2300 K) Thermal Video System (TVS) was utilized for detailed real-time investigations involving quenching of the combustion wave in Ni+Al and Ti+Si reaction powder systems. The investigated samples were pressed into wedge-shape cut of massive Cu block, and after reaction was initiated at its top wide end the combustion wave propagated downward to the apex of the wedge. As the reaction front traveled, specific heat losses increased and at some critical position, combustion extinguished. It was shown that while front velocity gradually decreases approaching extinction, maximum combustion temperature remains essentially constant. This feature was explained based on a micro-heterogeneous model of combustion in gasless sytems. Further, analysis of dynamic temperature maps confirmed that quenching is a powerful tool for the investigation of reaction routes and microstructure evolution in rapid heterogeneous combustion waves.