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The Art of Reading Smoke

The Art of Reading Smoke. Bill Godfrey, Fire Chief Deltona Fire Department adapted from material developed by: Dave Dodson, Battalion Chief (Ret.). Updated: 12 October 2014. Why Read Smoke? It helps…. Determine how much fire Find location of fire Predict collapse potential

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The Art of Reading Smoke

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  1. The Art of Reading Smoke Bill Godfrey, Fire Chief Deltona Fire Department adapted from material developed by: Dave Dodson, Battalion Chief (Ret.) Updated: 12 October 2014

  2. Why Read Smoke? It helps… • Determine how much fire • Find location of fire • Predict collapse potential • Protect firefighters from hostile fire events • Prioritize strategy and tactics

  3. Brown/Tan smoke • Unfinished wood is burning • Engineered wood products • Woodchips • Glue (breaks down 400° F) • Coming from structural space? • Floor, attic, crawl, etc. • Lost integrity

  4. What is Smoke? • Components • Aerosol • Suspended liquids • Lots of oils • Particles • Gas • Carbon monoxide (CO) • Transient and Trace (TNT) • “Stinky” car fire • Dirty carbon Burnsurgery.org. “Upper Airways Obstruction from Tissue Edema.” Burnsurgery.org (2000): 1 page. Accessed April 27, 2003 <http://www.burnsurgery.org/Betaweb/Modules/pulmonary/sec3.htm>.

  5. Key Concepts • Smoke is fuel • Fuel has changed • Fuel has triggers (properties) • Fuel events (hostile) have a limited range

  6. #2: Fuel Has Changed • Natural → synthetic • Higher off-gassing • High mass → high surface-to-mass • More surface to burn • Heats quicker • Loses integrity faster

  7. #3: Fuel Has Triggers • Can lead to hostile fire event • Properties • Flammability range • Ignition temperature IFSTA. Essentials of Fire Fighting Second Edition. Stillwater: International Fire Service Training Association, 1983.

  8. #4: Fuel Has a Limited Range • Smoke • Too lean: white, puff • Too rich: black, thick • Just right: fireball • Propane • Flash point -44° F • Flammable range 2%-9% • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Flammable range? • Ignition temperature?

  9. 3 Things You Need to Know • Stage of fire development? • Early, middle, or late • How much heat can the “box*” absorb? • Laminar smoke flow • Turbulent (rolling, boiling) smoke flow • Is the fire in thermal balance? • Heat is going up and out, cool air (oxygen) in *Box: room or containment area of the fire; not describing the entire building (unless fully involved)

  10. Hostile Fire Events • Auto ignition • Rapid Fire Progression • Flashover • Backdraft • Smoke explosion

  11. Auto Ignition (Vent-Point Ignition) • Smoke • Turbulent flow • Usually dark or black • Can be white, light • Dense, thick • Significant volume • Ignites spontaneously • Then goes out • Mixture not right • Usually too rich, insufficient Oxygen

  12. Auto Ignition (Vent-Point Ignition) • Smoke • Turbulent flow • Usually dark or black • Can be white, light • Dense, thick • Significant volume • Ignites spontaneously • Then goes out • Mixture not right • Usually too rich, insufficient Oxygen

  13. Rapid Fire Progression Flashover • Transition Period (event)

  14. Flashover • Transition Period (event) • Start • Ceiling temperature 1112°F (600°C) • Floor heat flux 20 kW/m2/sec (0.5 cal/cm2/sec) • All fuels pyrolyse • Sudden and sustained growing fire • Ceiling temperature 1832°F (1000°C) • Floor heat flux 170 kW/m2/sec(4 cal/cm2/sec) • 347-1292°F (175-700°C) • End • Fully developed fire

  15. Flashover Demystified

  16. Exterior Flashover Indicators • 3 External signs • Turbulent smoke • Usually dark or black • Color not a reliable indicator of danger • Can be white, light gray • Auto ignition • Rollover • Too little GPM can ignite smoke cloud

  17. Remember this picture…

  18. Berkeley County, SC Lt. Tom Jurgensmeyer, of the Whitesville Fire Department and Berkeley County EMT, was critically injured during a live fire training burn in Berkeley County. He received 26% 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his neck, arms, back and hands.

  19. Backdraft • Oxygen controlled fire • Smoke pressurized in a confined space with • Heat • No oxygen • Gases above ignition temperature • Trigger is oxygen • Smoke • Not really puffing, might see surges

  20. Smoke Explosion • Heated gases, right mixture • Needs spark or flame • Pockets of gas get trapped • Typically high • Ceilings • Trigger is spark or flame • Smoke explosion (Sutherland 3-9) Sutherland, B.J., and Fleishmann, C. “Smoke Explosions.” Firetactics.com University of Canterbury, School of Engineering (1999): 79 pages. Accessed April27, 2003 <http://www.firetactics.com/Smoke,%20Sutherland.pdf>.

  21. Reading Smoke • Outside function • Not about reading flames • Visible fire easy to read • Don’t stare at flames • About comparing • Must see multiple openings • Openings without smoke just as important

  22. 4 Step Process • Step 1: Evaluate key factors • Volume, velocity, density, color • Step 2: Weigh factors • Step 3: Getting better or worse • Step 4: Predict the event

  23. Step 1: Evaluate Key Factors • Volume, Velocity (how much pressure) • Full “box” (volume caused) • immediately slows down on hitting exterior • Hot fire (heat caused) • Turbulent smoke • Continues moving fast until cooling in atmosphere • How much pressure? How fast out of openings? • Fastest near fire • Further away, slower the smoke

  24. Step 1: Evaluate Key Factors (cont.) • Density – how thick is the smoke? • Incomplete burning • How much fuel is in the smoke? • Thicker the smoke • More likely hostile fire event • More deadly (Cherry Rd) DC Engine Co:“Heavy smoke, ‘0’ visibility, extremely hot, no fire” http://fire.nist.gov/6510/6510.htm

  25. Step 1: Evaluate Key Factors (cont.) • Color • Natural (unfinished wood): tan/brown smoke • Synthetic: white → gray → black • Tells how fuel is being heated • Early: off gases white (moisture) • Late: off gases black (high heat, open flame) • Black smoke, high heat → fire • Gives up carbon as travels • Heats fresh fuels, give up moisture → white smoke

  26. Step 2: Weigh Factors • Container (“box”) • Bedroom or Home Depot • Fire’s oxygen supply • Fuel controlled vs. Oxygen controlled • Thermal balance • Air pathways • Unintentional • Ventilation

  27. Step 2: Weigh Factors (cont.) • Weather • Hot/humid • Hot/dry • Cold/humid • Cold/dry • Implication • Cold → straight up → hot fire • Hot/dry → smoke hangs out → cooling smoke?? • Firefighting efforts • Volume, velocity, density, color → all 4 in 30 sec

  28. Step 3: Getting Better or Worse? • Stable/predictable • Not a lot of time reading smoke • Rapidly changing/predictable • …enough to make sure we’re right • Unstable/unpredictable • Volume, velocity, density, color not making sense • Keep reading • Be very careful • Be defensive minded • Vent

  29. Step 4: Predict the Event • Trust instinct • If something isn’t right… • …then something isn’t right!!

  30. Some other little Tips: • If visibility is bad, stop and shine a light – what is the smoke doing? • Smoke comes out, stops, then goes back in • Fire hit fuel, making run • 5-second change in smoke conditions • Outward movement • event has happened • Inward movement • about to happen

  31. CASE Study: • Volume/Velocity/Density Color: • Comparison of Openings: • Impression of the Fire: • Location of the Fire: • Next Event:

  32. Questions? Thank You! Contact Information bill.godfrey@futurefd.com Cell (407) 402-5533

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