Firefighting: Reading Smoke

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Questions and Answers

What was the reason for the fire officers in the 1970s to believe that reading smoke couldn't be taught?

They felt it was based on experience and intuitiveness (correct)

They believed it required extensive training

They thought it was too complex to be taught

They didn't see the value in teaching it

What has contributed to a more volatile fire environment today?

Increased fire department response times

Increased fire officer experience

Low-mass synthetics and the consumer trend toward 'big box' purchasing (correct)

Reduced fire department budgets

What is one of the benefits of a fire officer being able to rapidly read smoke?

They can determine the exact time of fire ignition

They can determine the exact location of the fire's origin

They can make better decisions about aggressive attack or search and rescue priorities (correct)

They can determine the exact number of people involved

What is NOT one of the key attributes of smoke?

Temperature Signup and view all the answers

What can a comparative analysis of smoke attributes help fire officers determine?

The size and location of the fire, as well as the potential for a hostile fire event like flashover Signup and view all the answers

Why do fire officers need to break the 'heavy smoke or light smoke' mentality?

Because it's a simplification that doesn't account for the complexity of smoke Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary to understand before analyzing the meaning of each smoke attribute?

The underlying science behind what is seen in smoke Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important to teach fire officers how to read smoke?

Because experience is no longer a reliable teacher due to fewer fires Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why smoke is extremely flammable?

Because it contains a mixture of solids, aerosols, and fire gases Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a fire officer focusing on the open flames to determine tactics?

A higher risk of being caught off guard by a 'sucker punch' Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for a fire that does not allow open flaming to complete a reaction with pure air?

Underventilated fire Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of ignition of smoke that has pressurized a room or 'box'?

A sudden surge in fire spread Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of understanding the four attributes of smoke?

To predict the fire's behavior and make informed decisions Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the heat from flaming being absorbed through materials, leading to off-gassing without flaming?

Pyrolysis Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of a fire officer opening the front door of a ventilation-limited fire?

Air becomes available to the fire, leading to sudden growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the speed and flow characteristic of smoke that leaves a building?

Velocity Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of a small fire in a compartmentalized space with low-mass contents?

A large amount of smoke is produced Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between a hot, clean-burning fire and a hot, fast-moving fire in an 'underventilated' building?

The volume of smoke produced Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of considering the building size while analyzing smoke observations?

To ensure a more accurate interpretation of smoke attributes Signup and view all the answers

How can firefighters practice reading smoke in an environment with fewer fires?

By analyzing raw fireground video footage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary goal of reading smoke?

To inform tactical decisions and improve fireground safety Signup and view all the answers

What is the benefit of vocalizing smoke attributes while observing them?

It improves recognition speed and enhances smoke awareness Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of 'vent, control, and search' in firefighting?

They are the three primary goals of firefighting Signup and view all the answers

Why is it important for firefighters to move 'reading smoke' up the training priority list?

Because it can help predict fire behavior and prevent injuries or deaths Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between reading smoke and tactical decision-making?

Reading smoke informs tactical decisions and improves fireground safety Signup and view all the answers

What can firefighters learn from observing smoke from a restaurant grease hood, fireplace chimney, or smoke stack?

How to improve recognition speed and smoke awareness Signup and view all the answers

What is smoke velocity an indicator of in a building?

Pressure that has built up within the building Signup and view all the answers

What are the two things that can cause smoke to pressurize within a building?

Heat and volume Signup and view all the answers

What type of smoke flow is caused by rapid molecular expansion of the gases within the smoke?

Turbulent flow Signup and view all the answers

What does the velocity of smoke at different openings of the building help the fire officer determine?

The location of the fire Signup and view all the answers

What is the most important smoke observation for a fire officer?

Turbulent vs. laminar smoke flow Signup and view all the answers

What does the thickness of smoke indicate?

The amount of fuel that is laden in the smoke Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of thick, black smoke within a compartment?

Reduced chance of life sustainability Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of smoke-cloud ignition?

It can happen at lower temperatures Signup and view all the answers

What is a limitation of using smoke color to determine the type of material that is burning?

It only works in single-fuel fires Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of turbulent smoke?

It is agitated and boiling Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why smoke color changes as a material burns?

Because of the moisture content in the material Signup and view all the answers

What does white smoke typically indicate?

The material is being heated and emitting moisture and vapors Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of brown smoke in a fire?

It indicates a structural fire is imminent Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe smoke that is high-volume, turbulent velocity, ultra-dense, and black?

Black fire Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why smoke color changes as it travels from the source of the fire?

Due to the deposition of carbon and hydrocarbons on surfaces Signup and view all the answers

What does grey smoke typically indicate?

The smoke has traveled some distance and cooled Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of smoke velocity in determining the location of a fire?

Fast smoke indicates the fire is nearby Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why firefighters should treat black fire as if it were actual flames?

Because it can cause charring, heat damage, and content destruction Signup and view all the answers

What does uniform smoke color and velocity from multiple openings indicate?

The fire is in a concealed space Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary reason why engineered wood products like OSB and LVL lose strength when heated?

Because the glues break down with heat Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Reading Smoke

Reading smoke is a skill that helps fire officers predict fire behavior and make better tactical decisions.
The ability to read smoke has been around for decades, but it's a skill that is not being taught or practiced enough.

Understanding Smoke

Smoke is an aggregate of solids, aerosols, and fire gases that are toxic, flammable, and volatile.
Solids include carbon, ash, dust, and airborne fibers.
Aerosols include hydrocarbons (oils/tar).
Fire gases include carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, hydrogen sulfide, and benzene.
Hot smoke is extremely flammable and will ultimately dictate fire behavior.

Fire Behavior

Within a building, heat from flaming is absorbed through materials, which break down and begin off-gassing without flaming (pyrolysis).
This leads to an underventilated fire, which doesn't allow open flaming to complete a reaction with pure air.
The smoke is looking to complete what was started, and two triggers (the right temperature and the right mixture) may cause the smoke to ignite.

Attributes of Smoke

Volume: tells us about the amount of fuels that are "off-gassing" within a given space.
Velocity: indicates pressure that has built up within the building and can help determine the location of the fire.
Density: tells us how bad things are going to be, with thicker smoke indicating more fuel and a higher risk of flashover.
Color: indicates the stage of heating and can help find the location of the fire within a building.

Smoke Velocity

Velocity is an indicator of pressure, and can help determine the location of the fire.
Faster smoke will be closer to the fire seat.
Comparing velocity at different openings can help determine the location of the fire.

Smoke Density

Density tells us how much fuel is laden in the smoke.
Thicker smoke will spread a fire event (like flashover) farther than less dense smoke.
Thick, black smoke within a compartment reduces the chance of life sustainability.

Smoke Color

Smoke color indicates the stage of heating and can help find the location of the fire within a building.
White smoke indicates early-stage heating, while black smoke indicates late-stage heating.
Brown smoke indicates that the fire is transitioning from a contents fire to a structural fire.

Practicing the "Reading Smoke" Skill

Practice reading smoke by observing raw fireground video footage or watching smoke from a restaurant grease hood, fireplace chimney, or smoke stack.
Vocalize volume, velocity, density, and color observations to improve recognition speed.
Reading smoke is not a tactic but a tool to help make better tactical choices.

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Description

Learn about the skill of reading smoke to predict fire behavior in structures, a technique developed by fire officers in the 1970s. Understand its importance and how it can be taught.