Fire growth

[10-75k]

Question: Fire doubles in size every............

[mongofire_99]

.....time it gets twice as big as what it was.

[engine117]

That depends on many factors including the fire load (how much stuff is in there that'll burn), where the fire is in the room (spreads faster if origin is in a corner or against a wall) and oxygen content/whether room has been vented. There have been generalized rules of thumb that say approximately how long it takes, but they are rough guesstimations and I'm not familiar with them.

[mongofire_99]

engine117

...but they are rough guesstimations and I'm not familiar with them.

Then it's a great thing we got these here forums to help us out.

When it's a test question, the answer is thirty to sixty seconds.

When it's real life, the answer is who knows...

[lumpy649]

... every time the FNG tries to impress people with stories of his first job.

...or every time the first-due engine doesn't lay in.


Seriously, though... I was taught every thirty seconds (in theory). But there are so-o-o-o many variables in the real world...

[ 01-11-2002: Message edited by: lumpy649 ]

[Rayr49]

Scale is sometimes based on the number of media covering the event especially if it is live TV coverage.

[Rayr49]

Scale is sometimes based on the number of media covering the event especially if it is live TV coverage.

[Medic162]

[quote]Originally posted by mongofire_99:
.....time it gets twice as big as what it was.

---

Mongo... You're a trip. If your profile said you were in Kansas - I'd swear you were my partner.

[mongofire_99]

I hope my point wasn't lost in my trippiness

[SPFDRum]

...round?

[Medic162]

No Mongo, Your point was well received. I just had to leave you a light hearted remark. Stay safe... Brian

[mongofire_99]

My bad.

[MFD]

like they said above 3 things you need for fire.
#1 heat(if your heat increases the fire will increase)(this is how water reduced the temperature so there for it takes away the heat and the fire gone)
#2Oxygen(BE VERY CAREFUL around retirement homes,hospitals,welding shops those kind of places with a lot of bottled Oxygen)
#3 Fuel(that can be almost anything)(and the more fuel it has the quicker it will burn)

[mongofire_99]

Maplewood F.D.

#1 heat(if your heat increases the fire will increase)(this is how water reduced the temperature so there for it takes away the heat and the fire gone)

Then explain burning metals and why they generally aren't extinguished with water.

#2Oxygen(BE VERY CAREFUL around retirement homes,hospitals,welding shops those kind of places with a lot of bottled Oxygen)

Why be careful becaase of bottled oxygen?

What about plumbed oxygen?

What about oxygen generators?

What about liquid oxygen?

What exactly is the effect of oxygen on a combustible material?

#3 Fuel(that can be almost anything)(and the more fuel it has the quicker it will burn)

Are you sure?

If you are sure, then please explain how something can be too rich to burn. After all you have more fuel so it should burn quicker.

Right?

[MetalMedic]

As I recall, the NFPA produced a public relations film where they do a test flashover to illustrate the potential spread of fire. In the film, they state that fire can double its size every thirty seconds under ideal conditions. So, when I teach fire safety topics, I normally tell those in attendance that fire has the "potential" to double its size every thirty seconds.

Someone will usually point out that if that were the case, a house that is on fire for just a few minutes would be completely consumed. When this happens, I use it as an opportunity to explain how constructions methods and things like closing doors and reducing available combustibles reduces the "potential" that fire has to double its size and thus slows its spread. So far, it has worked well for me.

[ 01-12-2002: Message edited by: MetalMedic ]