Lesson 2.

2: Dangerous Behavior of Fire and Stages

The behavior of fire affects many factors. First, it is initiated by fuel supply, which must be
sufficient to initiate fire, and the oxygen is always surrounding by air. Fire develops and spreads
to other combustibles following a natural path of effort. It extends up and off from its point of
origin, leaving behind distinctive patterns common to any or all fires. The pigment of the smoke
and flame produced by a fire is also indicative and depends on the type of fuel and temperature
it is burning.

To understand the behavior of fire is by considering the principle of thermal balance and thermal
imbalance:

Thermal Balance - refers to the rising movement or the pattern of fire, the normal behavior when
the pattern is undisturbed.

Thermal Imbalance - is the abnormal movement of fire due to the interference of foreign matter.
Therefore, the fire investigator is sometimes confused in determining the precise point where the
fire started.

The Dangerous Behavior of Fire

Fire is so fatal when the subsequent conditions occurred:

1. Backdraft – is the sudden and rapid (violent) burning of heated gases during a confined
area that happens within the style of an explosion. This could occur due to improper ventilation.
If space isn't properly ventilated, highly flammable vapors are also accumulated, such when a
door or window is suddenly opened, the area violently sucks the oxygen from the surface, and
simultaneously, sudden combustion occurs, explosion (combustion explosion) may occur.

2. Flashover – is that the sudden ignition of accumulated radical gases produced when there's
incomplete combustion of fuels. It's the sudden burning of free radicals, which is initiated by a
spark or flash produced when the temperature rises until flash point is reached. When the
accumulated volume of radical gases suddenly burns, there'll be an intense fire capable of
causing flames to leap at a particular distance within a fireball type. Fireballs can trip 100 yards
within seconds.

3. Biteback - is a dangerous condition that takes place when the fire resists extinguishment
operations and becomes stronger and bigger instead.

4. Flash Fire – better referred to as a dust explosion. This could happen when the metal
post that's completely covered with dust goes to be hit by lightning. The dust particles covering
the metal burn simultaneously, thus creating a violent reaction that produces an awfully bright
flash followed by an explosion.
Phases/Stages of Fire

A firefighter must know the following phases/stages of fire.

Source: https://patch.com/california/belmontshore/children-playing-matches-sparks-fire-long-
beach
Figure 1. Incipient Phase (Growth Stage)

1. Incipient Phase (Growth Stage)

Figure 4 shows the first phase, the oxygen content within the air has not been significantly
reduced, and also, the fire is producing vapor, carbonic acid gas, perhaps alittle quantity
of gas, monoxide, and other gases. Some heat is being generated, and also the amount will
increase with the progress of the fireplace. The heat is also producing a flame temperature well
above 1,0000F (5370C), yet the room temperature at this stage could also be only slightly
increased.

Source: http://wallpapers-xs.blogspot.com/2012/09/fire-wallpapers.html
Figure 2. Free Burning Phase (Fully Developed Stage)
2. Free Burning Phase (Fully Developed Stage)

Figure 5 pertains to the second phase of burning which encompasses all of the free-burning
activities of the fire. During this phase, oxygen-rich air is drawn into the flame as convection (the
rise of heated gases) carries the heat to the upper most regions of the confined area. The heated
gases spread out laterally from the top downward, forcing the cooler air to seek lower levels, and
eventually igniting all the combustible material in the upper levels of the room. This heated air is
one of the reasons that firefighters are taught to keep low and use protective breathing
equipment. One breath of this super-heated air can sear the lungs. At this point, the temperature
in the upper regions can exceed 1,3000F (7000C). As the fire progresses through the latter stages
of this phase, it continues to consume the free oxygen until it reaches the point where there is
insufficient oxygen to react with the fuel. The fire is then reduced to the smoldering phase and
needs only a supply of oxygen to burn rapidly or explode.

Source: http://ctcfirefighting.blogspot.com/2011_09_01_archive.html
Figure 3. Smoldering Stage (Decay Stage)

3. Smoldering Stage (Decay Stage)

Figure 6 will show the third phase, where flame may cease to exist if the area of confinement is
sufficiently airtight. In this instance, burning is reduced to glowing embers. The room becomes
completely filled with dense smoke and gases to the extent that it is forced from all cracks under
pressure. The fire will continue to smolder, and the room will completely fill with dense smoke
and gases of combustion at a temperature of well over 1,000 0F (5370C). The intense heat will
have vaporized the lighter fuel fractions such as hydrogen and methane from the combustible
material in the room. These fuel gases will be added to those produced by the fire and will further
increase the hazard to the firefighter and create the possibility of a backdraft.
The records of fatal fires show that more people died from inhaling these superheated and toxic
fire gases than from any other source.