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FLASHOVER

July-Newsletter by Vincent Dunn-Flashover
  Flashover! It is the most dangerous time of a fire. When the room bursts into flame, flashover has occurred. The
  scientific definition of flashover states it is caused by the radiation feedback of heat. Heat from the growing fire is
  absorbed into the upper walls and contents of the room, heating up the combustible gases and furnishings to
  their auto-ignition temperature. This build up of heat in the room triggers flashover. Flashover signals several
  major changes in a fire and is the end of an effective search and rescue in a room; It means the death of any
  person trapped in the blazing room - either civilians or firefighters. It signals the end of using a portable
  extinguisher to extinguish the fire; an attack hose-line is required after flashover occurs. It signals the end of the
  growth stage and that the fire is in the second stage of combustion - the fully developed stage. Finally, flashover
  signals the change from a contents to a structure fire. This is the beginning of the collapse danger. When
  operating at a fire, Chiefs and firefighters want to delay flashover inside a burning room. By delaying flashover you
  can "buy" several minutes which may be critical. For example, you may want to delay flashover to make a search
  and rescue of the burning room or allow a firefighter to go above a fire to make a rescue of a trapped victim. Or,
  you may want to delay flashover to gain several minutes when there is a delay in the placement of the first attack
  hose-line. Three ways to delay flashover:venting: By venting windows of a burning room you release the build up
  of heat in the room. This slows down flashover in addition to improving visibility in a smoke-filled room. not
  venting- by not venting and instead closing the door to the burning room, you can also delay flashover. By not
  venting, you starve the fire of oxygen, which slows down the combustion rate, which slows down the build up of
  heat in the room. (See chart for when to vent and when not to vent.) This may be done when there is a delay in
  stretching a hose-line and all persons are out of the burning room. portable extinguisher: The discharge of a
  portable extinguisher can cool the heat down in a burning room temporarily and delay flashover. To avoid getting
  trapped by flashover, firefighters must know the warning signs of flashover.
  Warning signs of flashover There are two warning signs, which may signal the danger of flashover: heat mixed
  with smoke and "rollover."
  Heat: When heat mixes with smoke, it forces a firefighter to crouch down on hands and knees to enter a room to
  perform search and rescue. This must be considered a warning sign that flashover may occur. Heat is the
  triggering event for flashover. If the heat in the smoke filled room causes us to crouch down near the floor, we
  must consider the danger of flashover.
  Rollover: Rollover is defined, as sporadic flashes of flame mixed with smoke at ceiling level. Rollover is caused
  by heated combustible gases in smoke, which ignites into flashes of flame when mixed with oxygen in the air.
  Rollover precedes flashover. Rollover is another warning sign of flashover, which may be seen in the smoke
  coming out of the tops of doorways or window openings of burning rooms before flashover occurs. When
  searching for the location of a fire and there is no discernible heat in the smoke or signs of rollover, firefighters
  may enter and proceed for some distance into a fire area. However, If one of these warning signs is discovered
  and a flashover danger exists, defensive search procedures must be used by firefighters. Standard tactics and
  procedures must be curtailed and defensive search and rescue procedures substituted when there is a danger of
  flashover.
  Defensive search procedures:There are two defensive search procedures that can reduce the risk of death
  and injury from flashover: At a doorway: A firefighter should check behind the door for the victim, then enter the
  hallway or room not more than five feet, sweep the floor, look for unconscious persons, call out and listen for a
  response. If no response is forthcoming, close the door and wait for the hose-line. As the attack hose-line
  advances, conduct a search and rescue behind the line, searching room and space outward from the hose-line.
  At a window: When climbing a ladder placed at a window and the window breaks from either the heat of the fire or
  because it is opened by the firefighters at the top of the ladder, and smoke and signs of rollover are seen in the
  smoke, the firefighter should not enter the burning window. Instead the firefighter should crouch down below the
  heat and sweep the area below the windowsill with a tool. In some instances a person may collapse at the
  window and fall right below the sill. If a victim is found, a firefighter on the ladder might be able to crouch below
  the heated smoke and flashes of flames mixed with smoke coming out the window and pull the victim to safety
  on the ladder.
  Point of no return
  After a flashover occurs, firefighters may have past the point of no return. The point of no return is a distance
  inside a burning room beyond which a searching firefighter will not escape and will not reach the door or window
  entered. How far inside a burning room can a firefighter be and still escape back out the door alive and not suffer
  serious bums after a flashover occurs? How far into the burning room that appears about to flashover should a
  firefighter go? Five feet is the point of no return after the room explodes into a flashover. We can figure this
  distance out by putting together several facts. For example, tests conducted in 1960 in California discovered that
  fire temperatures of 280'-320' F cause intense pain and damage to exposed skin. Also the average temperature
  in a room that flashes over is 1000' to 1500' F. And, time and motion tests in the Handbook of Fire Protection
  reveal that the average person moves 2-1/2-feet per second when walking. Now, the question is how long can a
  firefighter take 1000'-1500' F on the neck, ears, wrists and any other exposed portion of the body? I say two
  seconds. If there is 1000' F flame in a burning room that has just flashed over and a firefighter is five feet inside
  the room, and crawls back to the doorway at 2-1/2-feet per second, he will feel 1000'-1500' F on exposed
  portions of skin not covered by fire gear for two seconds. If you say you can enter 10 feet into a room about to
  flashover and it does, and you try to escape you will experience 1000' -1500' F on the exposed portions of your
  body for four seconds. Think about it.
  Lessons learned Firefighters should know the definition of flashover. They should know the warning signs of this
  danger heat in smoke and rollover. Also firefighters must know how to delay flashover - a room bursting into
  flames. And most important for firefighters' safety and survival, they must know defensive firefighting procedures
  - how to search and stay alive.
  Firefighting questions
  True or False


  1. Flashover is the most dangerous phase of fire  growth.
  Answer_______





  2. According to fire protection engineers flashover is caused by which one of the following?
  A. Radiation heat
  B. Radiation feedback heat
  C. Conduction heat
  D. None of the above
  Answer_______




  3. Flashover signals major changes at a fire, which one of the following is not one of them?
  A. The end of the search and entry
  B. The end of using a portable extinguisher to fully extinguish the blaze
  C. The end of the growth stage of fire
  D. The end of the collapse danger
  Answer_______




  4. Which one of the following is not a method used by firefighters to delay flashover?
  A. Venting to release heat
  B. Not venting to starve the fire of oxygen and thus slow  down heat generation
  C. Use a portable extinguisher on the fire to cool it down
  D. Remove combustible from the fire area
  Answer_______




  5. Which one of the following is not a warning sign of flashover?
  A. Heat in  smoke
  B. Rollover-flashes of flame mixed with smoke
  C. Black smoke
  Answer_______






  Answers: 1-True; 2-B; 3-D; 4-D; 5-C.