1 The ART of Reading Smoke Developed by: Dave Dodson.

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The ART of Reading SmokeThe ART of Reading Smoke

Developed by: Dave Dodson

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Why “Read” Smoke?Why “Read” Smoke?

To determine To determine ““HOW MUCHHOW MUCH” fire” fireTo determine To determine ““HOW MUCHHOW MUCH” fire” fire

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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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To help predict To help predict COLLAPSECOLLAPSE

potentialpotential

To help predict To help predict COLLAPSECOLLAPSE

potentialpotential

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To help To help PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE Strategies Strategies

& Tactics& Tactics

To help To help PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE Strategies Strategies

& Tactics& Tactics

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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


Concept #1: Smoke Concept #1: Smoke is Fuelis Fuel

Concept #1: Smoke Concept #1: Smoke is Fuelis Fuel

Particulates Particulates

Aerosols Aerosols

Gases Gases

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

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

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Concept #3: Smoke has trigger Concept #3: Smoke has trigger points:points:

•Flash Point Flash Point

•Fire PointFire Point

•Ignition TemperatureIgnition Temperature

Concept #3: Smoke has trigger Concept #3: Smoke has trigger points:points:

•Flash Point Flash Point

•Fire PointFire Point

•Ignition TemperatureIgnition Temperature

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How does How does “flammable range”“flammable range” factor factor in?in?

How does How does “flammable range”“flammable range” factor factor in?in?

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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 . . .

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Need to be able to determine...Need to be able to determine...

• What stage is the fire in…What stage is the fire in…

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

Need to be able to determine...Need to be able to determine...

• What stage is the fire in…What stage is the fire in…

• Is the “box” absorbing heat? Is the “box” absorbing heat? Laminar Laminar vs. Turbulent smoke flowvs. Turbulent smoke 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 a pressurized being introduced to a pressurized “box”“box”

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 a pressurized being introduced to a pressurized “box”“box”

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

Fuel for fire spread is smoke driven vs. Fuel for fire spread is smoke driven vs.

contents surface flamingcontents surface flaming

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

pressure zones (stairs and hallways)pressure zones (stairs and hallways)

Usually “Container” InfluencedUsually “Container” Influenced

Fuel for fire spread is smoke driven vs. Fuel for fire spread is smoke driven vs.

contents surface flamingcontents surface flaming

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

pressure zones (stairs and hallways)pressure zones (stairs and hallways)

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“ Reading Smoke”“ Reading Smoke”

• Observations are Observations are

typically made typically made

from outside - from outside -

inside inside

observations hide observations hide

the “real” picture.the “real” picture.

• Observations are Observations are

typically made typically made

from outside - from outside -

inside inside

observations hide observations hide

the “real” picture.the “real” picture.

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“ Reading Smoke”“ Reading Smoke”

• Nothing is absolute Nothing is absolute

• 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

• Nothing is absolute Nothing is absolute

• 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 4-STEP PROCESS4-STEP PROCESS to help to help predict fire behavior and hostile predict fire behavior and hostile

eventsevents

A A 4-STEP PROCESS4-STEP PROCESS to help to help predict fire behavior and hostile predict fire behavior and hostile

eventsevents

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Step 1: Evaluate Key

Factors

Step 1: Evaluate Key

Factors• VolumeVolume

• Velocity Velocity

(Pressure)(Pressure)

• DensityDensity

• ColorColor

• VolumeVolume

• Velocity Velocity

(Pressure)(Pressure)

• DensityDensity

• ColorColor

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VOLUMEVOLUME

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

Tells “how Tells “how much” fuel has much” fuel has off-gassedoff-gassed

Sets the StageSets the Stage

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

Tells “how Tells “how much” fuel has much” fuel has off-gassedoff-gassed

Sets the StageSets the Stage

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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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COLORCOLOR

Rarely tells Rarely tells “material burning”“material burning”

Stage of HeatingStage of Heating Location of FireLocation of Fire Amount of FlamingAmount of Flaming ““Brown” SmokeBrown” Smoke ““Black Fire”Black Fire”

Rarely tells Rarely tells “material burning”“material burning”

Stage of HeatingStage of Heating Location of FireLocation of Fire Amount of FlamingAmount of Flaming ““Brown” SmokeBrown” Smoke ““Black Fire”Black Fire”

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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 factor)important factor)

• Thermal BalanceThermal Balance

• WeatherWeather

• Firefighting Firefighting effortsefforts

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

• Thermal BalanceThermal Balance

• WeatherWeather

• Firefighting Firefighting effortsefforts

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Step 3: Judge the Rate of Change

Step 3: Judge the Rate of Change

How fast are SMOKE conditions How fast are SMOKE conditions getting better or worse?getting better or worse?

How fast are SMOKE conditions How fast are SMOKE conditions getting better or worse?getting better or worse?

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Step 4: Predict the EVENT

Step 4: Predict the EVENT

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…

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”

When you open a door or window - When you open a door or window - watch what the smoke does – and watch what the smoke does – and what the fresh air does!what the fresh air does!

When you open a door or window - When you open a door or window - watch what the smoke does – and watch what the smoke does – and what the fresh air does!what the fresh air does!

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Some other “Tricks”Some other “Tricks”

A 5-second change in any key factor A 5-second change in any key factor means an event has taken place – means an event has taken place – the key is to define what event has the key is to define what event has taken place and to forecast what taken place and to forecast what will likely happen next. will likely happen next.

A 5-second change in any key factor A 5-second change in any key factor means an event has taken place – means an event has taken place – the key is to define what event has the key is to define what event has taken place and to forecast what taken place and to forecast what will likely happen next. will likely happen next.

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THE ART OF READING SMOKE

THE ART OF READING SMOKE

Some ExamplesSome ExamplesSome ExamplesSome Examples

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Special THANKS to:Special THANKS to:

Mike Scott, Battalion Chief, Kent (WA) Fire

David Ross, Chief of Safety, Toronto Fire Services

Peter McBride, Shift Safety Chief, Ottawa Fire

Mike Scott, Battalion Chief, Kent (WA) Fire

David Ross, Chief of Safety, Toronto Fire Services

Peter McBride, Shift Safety Chief, Ottawa Fire

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Be Safe – Make it SafeBe Safe – Make it Safe

1 The ART of Reading Smoke Developed by: Dave Dodson.

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Transcript of 1 The ART of Reading Smoke Developed by: Dave Dodson.