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The ART of Reading Smoke

The ART of Reading Smoke

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?

To determineTo determine

““HOW MUCHHOW MUCH” ”

firefire

To determineTo determine

““HOW MUCHHOW MUCH” ”

firefire

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?

To help find the To help find the LOCATIONLOCATION

of the fireof the fire

To help find the To help find the LOCATIONLOCATION

of the fireof the fire

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?To help predict To help predict COLLAPSECOLLAPSE potential potentialTo help predict To help predict COLLAPSECOLLAPSE potential potential

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?To help To help PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE Strategies Strategies

& Tactics& Tactics

To help To help PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE Strategies Strategies

& Tactics& Tactics

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?

To To PROTECTPROTECT Firefighters from aFirefighters from a

““HOSTILE FIRE HOSTILE FIRE

EVENT”EVENT”

To To PROTECTPROTECT Firefighters from aFirefighters from a

““HOSTILE FIRE HOSTILE FIRE

EVENT”EVENT”

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The “ADVANCED” Basics

The “ADVANCED” Basics

Concept #1:Concept #1:

“ “Smoke” Smoke” ISIS Fuel Fuel

Concept #1:Concept #1:

“ “Smoke” Smoke” ISIS Fuel Fuel

Particulates Particulates

Aerosols Aerosols

Gases Gases

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The “ADVANCED” Basics

The “ADVANCED” Basics

Concept #2: Fuels have Concept #2: Fuels have changed… Mass and Make-up!changed… Mass and Make-up!

Concept #2: Fuels have Concept #2: Fuels have changed… Mass and Make-up!changed… Mass and Make-up!

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The “ADVANCED” Basics

The “ADVANCED” Basics

Concept #3:Concept #3:

The Fuel has Triggers:The Fuel has Triggers:

•Flash Point Flash Point

•Fire PointFire Point

•Ignition TemperatureIgnition Temperature

Concept #3:Concept #3:

The Fuel has Triggers:The Fuel has Triggers:

•Flash Point Flash Point

•Fire PointFire Point

•Ignition TemperatureIgnition Temperature

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The Triggers : Temp & Mixture

The Triggers : Temp & Mixture

““Flammable Range / Air Mix”Flammable Range / Air Mix” ““Flammable Range / Air Mix”Flammable Range / Air Mix”

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Flammable Range & the Three Fires

Flammable Range & the Three Fires

Too Lean . . .Too Lean . . .

Too Rich . . .Too Rich . . .

Just Right . . .Just Right . . .

Yesteryear vs. TodayYesteryear vs. Today

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Other Prerequisites to Reading Smoke

Other Prerequisites to Reading Smoke

You must be able to determine...You must be able to determine...

• Stage of Fire: Stage of Fire: Early, Growth, or LateEarly, Growth, or Late

• Is the “box” absorbing heat? Is the “box” absorbing heat? Laminar Laminar vs. TURBULENT flowvs. TURBULENT flow

You must be able to determine...You must be able to determine...

• Stage of Fire: Stage of Fire: Early, Growth, or LateEarly, Growth, or Late

• Is the “box” absorbing heat? Is the “box” absorbing heat? Laminar Laminar vs. TURBULENT flowvs. TURBULENT flow

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“ HOSTILE ” Fire Events

“ HOSTILE ” Fire Events

• FlashoverFlashover

• BackdraftBackdraft

• Smoke ExplosionSmoke Explosion

• Rapid Fire SpreadRapid Fire Spread

• FlashoverFlashover

• BackdraftBackdraft

• Smoke ExplosionSmoke Explosion

• Rapid Fire SpreadRapid Fire Spread

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FLASHOVERFLASHOVER

WARNING SIGNS:WARNING SIGNS:Turbulent SmokeTurbulent Smoke““Rollover”Rollover”Auto Ignition outsideAuto Ignition outsideSmoke–Cloud ignition is likely after Smoke–Cloud ignition is likely after

flashoverflashover

WARNING SIGNS:WARNING SIGNS:Turbulent SmokeTurbulent Smoke““Rollover”Rollover”Auto Ignition outsideAuto Ignition outsideSmoke–Cloud ignition is likely after Smoke–Cloud ignition is likely after

flashoverflashover

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BACKDRAFTBACKDRAFT

Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 being introduced to pressurized smoke being introduced to pressurized smoke that is ABOVE it’s ignition temperaturethat is ABOVE it’s ignition temperature

Yellowish-grey smokeYellowish-grey smoke WhistlingWhistling Bowing windowsBowing windows ““Sealed” containersSealed” containers

Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 Remember – Backdraft is triggered by O2 being introduced to pressurized smoke being introduced to pressurized smoke that is ABOVE it’s ignition temperaturethat is ABOVE it’s ignition temperature

Yellowish-grey smokeYellowish-grey smoke WhistlingWhistling Bowing windowsBowing windows ““Sealed” containersSealed” containers

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SMOKE EXPLOSIONSMOKE EXPLOSIONRemember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark Remember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark

or flame applied to a mixture below its or flame applied to a mixture below its ignition temperatureignition temperature

Trapped gases in upper areasTrapped gases in upper areas Growing fireGrowing fire Increasing smoke densityIncreasing smoke density Air intake overtaking smoke exitingAir intake overtaking smoke exiting

Remember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark Remember – A Smoke Explosion is a spark or flame applied to a mixture below its or flame applied to a mixture below its ignition temperatureignition temperature

Trapped gases in upper areasTrapped gases in upper areas Growing fireGrowing fire Increasing smoke densityIncreasing smoke density Air intake overtaking smoke exitingAir intake overtaking smoke exiting

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RAPID FIRE SPREADRAPID FIRE SPREAD

Usually “Container” InfluencedUsually “Container” Influenced

SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading

the firethe fire

Look for fast moving smoke in high Look for fast moving smoke in high

pressure zones pressure zones

May result from another “event”May result from another “event”

Usually “Container” InfluencedUsually “Container” Influenced

SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading SMOKE is the Fuel that is spreading

the firethe fire

Look for fast moving smoke in high Look for fast moving smoke in high

pressure zones pressure zones

May result from another “event”May result from another “event”

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“ Reading Smoke”“ Reading Smoke”

Application “RULES”:Application “RULES”:

Observations are typically made from outside - Observations are typically made from outside -

inside observations hide the “real” picture.inside observations hide the “real” picture.

Application “RULES”:Application “RULES”:

Observations are typically made from outside - Observations are typically made from outside -

inside observations hide the “real” picture.inside observations hide the “real” picture.

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“ Reading Smoke”“ Reading Smoke”

• Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it

for the real storyfor the real story

• Compare vent openingsCompare vent openings

• Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it

for the real storyfor the real story

• Compare vent openingsCompare vent openings

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The ART of Reading Smoke

The ART of Reading Smoke

A A PROCESSPROCESS to help predict to help predict fire behavior and hostile fire behavior and hostile

eventsevents

A A PROCESSPROCESS to help predict to help predict fire behavior and hostile fire behavior and hostile

eventsevents

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Step 1: Evaluate Key Attributes

Step 1: Evaluate Key Attributes

• VolumeVolume

• Velocity Velocity

(Pressure)(Pressure)

• DensityDensity

• ColorColor

• VolumeVolume

• Velocity Velocity

(Pressure)(Pressure)

• DensityDensity

• ColorColor

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VOLUMEVOLUMEAlways Always

relative to relative to the “Box”the “Box”

Tells “how Tells “how much” fuel much” fuel has off-has off-gassedgassed

Sets the Sets the StageStage

Always Always relative to relative to the “Box”the “Box”

Tells “how Tells “how much” fuel much” fuel has off-has off-gassedgassed

Sets the Sets the StageStage

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VELOCITY (Pressure)VELOCITY (Pressure)

How fast is the How fast is the smoke leaving?smoke leaving?

Can indicate Can indicate volume or heatvolume or heat

Helps find the Helps find the location of the location of the actual fireactual fire

How fast is the How fast is the smoke leaving?smoke leaving?

Can indicate Can indicate volume or heatvolume or heat

Helps find the Helps find the location of the location of the actual fireactual fire

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DENSITYDENSITYMost Important Most Important

FactorFactorQuality of Quality of

BurningBurningContinuity of FuelContinuity of FuelLikelihood of an Likelihood of an

EventEvent““Degree” of the Degree” of the

EventEvent

Most Important Most Important FactorFactor

Quality of Quality of BurningBurning

Continuity of FuelContinuity of FuelLikelihood of an Likelihood of an

EventEvent““Degree” of the Degree” of the

EventEvent

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COLORCOLORRarely tells Rarely tells

“material” “material” burningburning

Stage of Stage of HeatingHeating

Location of FireLocation of Fire““Brown” SmokeBrown” Smoke

Rarely tells Rarely tells “material” “material” burningburning

Stage of Stage of HeatingHeating

Location of FireLocation of Fire““Brown” SmokeBrown” Smoke

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“BLACK FIRE”“BLACK FIRE”“Black Fire” is the

term we give to High Volume, High Velocity, Extremely Dense, Black Smoke.

It is the sure sign of impending flashover – VENT & COOL are your only choices.

“Black Fire” is the term we give to High Volume, High Velocity, Extremely Dense, Black Smoke.

It is the sure sign of impending flashover – VENT & COOL are your only choices.

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Step 2: Weigh Factors

Step 2: Weigh Factors

• Container (most Container (most important important factor)factor)

• WeatherWeather

• Container (most Container (most important important factor)factor)

• WeatherWeather

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Step 3: Judge the CHANGE RATE

Step 3: Judge the CHANGE RATE

Are SMOKE conditions getting Are SMOKE conditions getting better or worse?better or worse?

Are SMOKE conditions getting Are SMOKE conditions getting better or worse?better or worse?

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Predict the EVENTPredict the EVENTConsider that:Consider that:

• One hostile event can - One hostile event can - and and

usually willusually will - lead to another - lead to another

event.event.

• Communicate your Communicate your

observations.observations.

• Warning Signs are not always Warning Signs are not always

visual – use your KNOWLEDGE visual – use your KNOWLEDGE

and EXPERIENCE.and EXPERIENCE.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…

Consider that:Consider that:

• One hostile event can - One hostile event can - and and

usually willusually will - lead to another - lead to another

event.event.

• Communicate your Communicate your

observations.observations.

• Warning Signs are not always Warning Signs are not always

visual – use your KNOWLEDGE visual – use your KNOWLEDGE

and EXPERIENCE.and EXPERIENCE.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS…

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Some other “Tricks”Some other “Tricks”

WATCH OPEN DOORS!WATCH OPEN DOORS!• Smoke/Air is 50/50: Smoke/Air is 50/50: Fire on Fire on

same levelsame level• SMOKE doesn’t lift: SMOKE doesn’t lift: Fire Fire

belowbelow• SMOKE is stagnant or SMOKE is stagnant or

disappears: disappears: Fire AboveFire Above

WATCH OPEN DOORS!WATCH OPEN DOORS!• Smoke/Air is 50/50: Smoke/Air is 50/50: Fire on Fire on

same levelsame level• SMOKE doesn’t lift: SMOKE doesn’t lift: Fire Fire

belowbelow• SMOKE is stagnant or SMOKE is stagnant or

disappears: disappears: Fire AboveFire Above

Short Cuts (not absolute)Short Cuts (not absolute)

• Thick/Black/Fast = heat and explosive• Thin/Black/Fast = fire pushed nearby• White w/Speed = hot – but distant• Uniform speed/color from many places

= deep seated• Brown = unfinished wood being heated

– a collapse warning in lightweight• Turbulent = Flashover

• Thick/Black/Fast = heat and explosive• Thin/Black/Fast = fire pushed nearby• White w/Speed = hot – but distant• Uniform speed/color from many places

= deep seated• Brown = unfinished wood being heated

– a collapse warning in lightweight• Turbulent = Flashover

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Be Safe – Make it SafeBe Safe – Make it Safe