Fire Behavior

This course describes the behavior of fire, and it explores the relationship between various types of fuels and the combustion process. The four stages of fire growth are presented. Emphasis is placed on recent research studies that have demonstrated how fire growth is influenced by changes in ventilation and can be controlled by limiting ventilation or the application of water.

This course also describes how the composition of the fuel, amount of fuel, and configuration of the fuel influence the combustion process with solid fuels. In addition, how to assess the volume, velocity, density, and color of smoke is discussed. By relating the key attributes of smoke to the size of the building, weather conditions, and the rate of change of the smoke, it becomes possible to predict the fire’s location and its stage of development. This course also describes the characteristics of liquid fuel fires.