By most standards including the International Fire Service Training Association (IFSTA) there are 4 stages of a fire. These stages are incipient, growth, fully developed, and decay. The following is a brief overview of each stage.
Incipient – This first stage begins when heat, oxygen and a fuel source combine and have a chemical reaction resulting in fire. This is also known as “ignition” and is usually represented by a very small fire which often (and hopefully) goes out on its own, before the following stages are reached. Recognizing a fire in this stage provides your best chance at suppression or escape.
Growth – The growth stage is where the structures fire load and oxygen are used as fuel for the fire. There are numerous factors affecting the growth stage including where the fire started, what combustibles are near it, ceiling height and the potential for “thermal layering”. It is during this shortest of the 4 stages when a deadly “flashover” can occur; potentially trapping, injuring or killing firefighters.
Fully Developed – When the growth stage has reached its max and all combustible materials have been ignited, a fire is considered fully developed. This is the hottest phase of a fire and the most dangerous for anybody trapped within.
Decay – Usually the longest stage of a fire, the decay stage is characterized a significant decrease in oxygen or fuel, putting an end to the fire. Two common dangers during this stage are first – the existence of non-flaming combustibles, which can potentially start a new fire if not fully extinguished. Second, there is the danger of a backdraft when oxygen is reintroduced to a volatile, confined space.
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Will circulation of air inside a compartment impact growth of fire in the compartment?
Hello: I say a TV show last year on firefighters battling the California fires, and it talked about a “whirlwind” kind of very hot fire which was very dangerous to fire fighters because it sucked in large amounts of oxygen. Is this what is called a “flashover”? If the fire is also fed by gases from below (like CO2 and H2S) could such a situation also cause an explosion? (Such as the case of geologic maars where CO2 and H2S is escaping to the surface from deep underground)?
Pyr- alternative for pyro
Pyro- means fire
Pyramid – fire in the middle
Fire is combustion manifested in light, flame, heat = energy
What was the fire in the middle of the great pyramid? Or the apex?
When you look at the chart/diagram in this article what does it resemble?
you ask a great question Hadarian…
When is a city evacuated? How close does the fire have to be?
@carol hill
Co2 is a great way to extinguish a fire.
A flashover is when it gets so hot, that everything in the room begins to heat up and release volatile gases and smoke. which at high temperatures, this smoke can catch fire and ignite practically everything in the room. This can typically be reached in 2-5 minutes from the start of a fire
@Arun Khanna
I would think it would help spread the heat, drying out the room and helping it reach a higher temperature more quickly, resulting in a faster flashpoint. However, due to the extreme heat and how hot air rises, it would already be quite a lot of air movement wherever the fire is being contained.
@Hadadrian
Interesting thoughts! What do you mean about the fire in the middle of the great pyramid/apex? Brilliant!
Many Cheers! 🙂
Your information is very valuable and educational
Fire’s could also be classified into different phases such as; the incipient (first phase) of fire, the rollover phase (warm gases rise), Steady-State Burning Phase, the falshover phase (combustible vapor that’s exposed to the heat rapidly and simultaneously ignites), and lastly the smoldering phase (flames almost begin to die but the burned area is filled with heat and thick black smoke).
Backdraft: A backdraft isn’t guaranteed to occur in all fires. It occurs if ventilation allows more oxygen into the burning room during the smoldering or steady-state burning phase.
Carol – flashover refers to when a structure gets so hot that an area ignites very quickly and the fire kind of flashes because everything starts burning at once
Burn baby burn