Fire Behavior
Module 2
Chapter 5
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LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Recognize signs,
Explain the factors causes, and
that affect fire effects of rapid
development. fire development.
Describe the Describe the
stages of fire methods through
development. which fire fighting
operations can
influence fire
behavior.
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WILL
AFFECT FIRE DEVELOPMENT.
• Affects heat • Building
release rate configuration
• Class A Availability • Construction
• Class B materials
and location
Fuel type • Fires involving • Contents
single type of fuel
of additional • Proximity of initial
rare fuel fire to exposed fuel
• Compartment fire sources
as result of gas leak
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WILL
AFFECT FIRE DEVELOPMENT.
Compartment volume Ventilation
and ceiling height • All buildings exchange air
• Large vs. small compartment from inside to outside
• High ceiling can make • Influences
determining extent difficult • Can be increased or assisted
• Two forms of compartment
fires
• Changes
• HRR decreases/increases
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WILL
AFFECT FIRE DEVELOPMENT.
Thermal properties Ambient
of compartment conditions
High humidity, cold temperatures
Insulation
Strong winds
If window fails, door opens on
windward side
Heat reflectivity
Wind direction, velocity
Cold temperatures
Retention
Atmospheric air pressure
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THERE ARE SEVERAL FACTORS THAT WILL
AFFECT FIRE DEVELOPMENT.
Fuel load
• On scene only estimate
• Knowledge of building
construction,
occupancy types
essential
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THE INCIPIENT STAGE STARTS WHEN THE ELEMENTS OF
THE FIRE TRIANGLE COME TOGETHER AND
COMBUSTION BEGINS.
Courtesy of Dan Madrzykowski, NIST
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THE GROWTH STAGE OCCURS AS THE FIRE
TRANSITIONS AND IS INFLUENCED BY AIR IN
THE COMPARTMENT.
Courtesy of Dan Madrzykowski, NIST
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THERMAL LAYERING CAN ALSO OCCUR DURING
THE GROWTH STAGE.
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ISOLATED FLAMES AND RAPID TRANSITIONS
MAY ALSO BE A PART OF THE GROWTH STAGE.
Courtesy of Dan Madrzykowski, NIST
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THE FULLY DEVELOPED STAGE OCCURS WHEN
ALL COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE BURNING.
Courtesy of Dan Madrzykowski, NIST
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THE DECAY STAGE BRINGS COMBUSTION TO A
COMPLETE STOP THROUGH TWO MEANS.
Courtesy of Dan Madrzykowski, NIST
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RAPID FIRE DEVELOPMENT IS RESPONSIBLE
FOR NUMEROUS DEATHS AND INJURIES.
Protect yourself and your crew
• Recognize indicators
• Know conditions created by
• Determine best action to take before
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FLASHOVER OCCURS WHEN COMBUSTIBLE
MATERIALS IN A COMPARTMENT IGNITE ALMOST
SIMULTANEOUSLY.
Environment of room
Typically occurs during
changes from two-layer
growth stage – May
condition to single well
occur during fully
mixed, untenable hot
developed stage
gas condition
Conditions during
Transition between
pre-flashover to post- • Volume of fire can increase
to fill entire room
flashover can occur • Burning gases push out of
rapidly openings
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THERE ARE SEVERAL COMMON ELEMENTS IN
FLASHOVER TO BE AWARE OF.
Transition in
fire
development
Ignition of
exposed Rapidity
surfaces
Compartment
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PROGRESSION TO A FLASHOVER IS
DETERMINED BY TWO FACTORS.
Ventilation –
Sufficient fuel,
Must have
heat release rate
sufficient oxygen
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FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF SEVERAL
FLASHOVER INDICATORS.
Building
Smoke
Airflow
Heat
Flame
Rollover
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BACKDRAFT IS A CHANGE IN VENTILATION THAT
RESULTS IN EXPLOSIVELY RAPID COMBUSTION OF
FLAMMABLE GASES.
Courtesy of Bob Esposito
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FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT SEVERAL
BACKDRAFT INDICATORS AS WELL.
Building Smoke Airflow
Heat Flame
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BACKDRAFT EFFECTS VARY DEPENDING ON SEVERAL
FACTORS AND WILL NOT ALWAYS OCCUR IMMEDIATELY
AFTER THE OPENING IS MADE.
Not always occur Violence depends
Factors
immediately on
• Volume of smoke • If mix of hot • Extent of
• Degree of flammable confinement
confinement products, air is • More confined –
• Pressure slow – Unlikely to More violent
occur
• Speed with which
fuel and air are • May not occur
mixed until air is fully
introduced
• Location where
ignition occurs
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A SMOKE EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR BEFORE OR AFTER
THE DECAY STAGE AS UNBURNED FUEL GASES CONTACT
AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Cooling smoke can accumulate in
other areas, mix with air
Violent because involve premixed fuel,
oxygen
Smoke
•Generally cool – Less than 1,112o F (600o C)
•Located in void spaces or uninvolved areas
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FIREFIGHTERS CAN INFLUENCE FIRE BEHAVIOR
THROUGH TEMPERATURE REDUCTION.
Water used to
control burning Water has
Cooling with
gases, reduce greatest effect Control steam
water most
temperature of when converted production
common method
products of to steam
combustion
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FIREFIGHTERS CAN INFLUENCE FIRE BEHAVIOR
THROUGH FUEL REMOVAL.
May allow fire to
Simplest – Allow
burn – Minimize
to burn until all Other methods
groundwater
is consumed
pollution
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OXYGEN EXCLUSION REDUCES A FIRE’S GROWTH
AND MAY EXTINGUISH IT OVER TIME.
Methods – Will not work if
fuel is self-oxidizing
Closing doors can limit air
supply, help prevent flashover
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CHEMICAL FLAME INHIBITION USES AGENTS TO
INTERRUPT THE COMBUSTION REACTION.
Do not easily
Effective on gas, Not practical for
extinguish
liquid fuels smoldering fires
nonflaming fires
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UNPLANNED VENTILATION MAY OCCUR BEFORE
OR AFTER SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS START.
Can be result of wind outside structure
• Increase pressure inside structure
• Drive smoke, flames into unburned portions
• Upset tactical ventilation
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WARNING
Wind-driven
conditions can occur
in any type of
structure. Wind
speeds as low as 10
mph (16 kph) can
create wind-driven
conditions.
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UNPLANNED VENTILATION MAY OCCUR BEFORE OR
AFTER SUPPRESSION OPERATIONS START.
May be result of
•Occupant action
•Fire effects on building
•Action outside of planned
ventilation
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TACTICAL VENTILATION IS PLANNED,
SYSTEMATIC, AND COORDINATED.
Influence behavior
Must be based on Increase in
coordinated with • HHR increased when combustion rate
suppression ventilation increased
when controlled
operations • Can be simple or
complex
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WARNING
Even coordinated
tactical ventilation
increases the
combustion rate
in ventilation
controlled fires.
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SUMMARY
Understanding fire behavior can help
you recognize developing fire conditions
and respond safely to mitigate hazards
present in the fire environment.
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