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Science vs ExperienceScience vs Experience

Science vs ExperienceScience vs Experience

Aggressive Interior Attack

Cowards

Hit it Hard from the Yard

Its worth the Risk

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The FirefighterThe Firefighter

Aggressive

Action

Results

Emulate

Risk

Aggressive

Action

Results

Emulate

Risk

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Life

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December 3, 1999

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Science vs ExperienceScience vs Experience

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Fire Behavior

The Fire Fight

• Fuel Package • > Heat Release

• Smoke is Fuel• Fuel / O2 Regulates Regime

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Burning RegimeBurning Regime

• Fuel Controlled• Fuel Controlled

Burning RegimeBurning Regime

• Fuel Controlled

• Ventilation Controlled

• Fuel Controlled

• Ventilation Controlled

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Smoke is FuelSmoke is Fuel

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The Changing Environment

T

e

m

p

e

r

a

t

u

r

eD u r a t i o n of T i m e

IncipientIncipient Free burningFree burning DecayDecay

Fire Progress (growth) CurveFire Progress (growth) Curve

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T

e

m

p

e

r

a

t

u

r

eD u r a t i o n of T i m e

IncipientIncipient Free burningFree burning DecayDecay

Fire Progress (growth) CurveFire Progress (growth) Curve

Vent

FlashoverFlow Path

The Changing Environment

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Set the ExampleSet the Example

Chin StrapChin Strap

Smoke is Fuel

• Ventilation Increases Fire Development

• Don’t get caught in its Flow Path

• Ventilation Increases Fire Development

• Don’t get caught in its Flow Path

Smoke is Fuel

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Hall

Room 1 Room 2

Room 3

Room 4

Room 5 Room 6

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Door ControlDoor Control

Science vs ExperienceScience vs Experience

1830

Organization & Methodology

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Old Firefighters teaching

Young Firefighters

to become Old Firefighters

Old Firefighters teaching

Young Firefighters

to become Old Firefighters

Science vs ExperienceScience vs Experience

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The Subject

Impact of Ventilation

The Subject

Impact of Ventilation

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Fire Formula of Modern Homes

• Faster fire propagation

• Shorter time to

flashover

• Rapid changes in fire

dynamics

• Shorter escape times

• Shorter time to collapse

Larger

HomesOpen

SpacesInc. Fuel

Loads

Voids

SpacesChanging Bldg

Materials

Larger Homes

1,500

1,700

1,900

2,100

2,300

2,500

2,700

1972 1978 1984 1990 1996 2002 2008

Average Square Footage of New Single-Family Homes

Source: http://www.census.gov

26% of Houses

built in 2008

were greater

than 3000 ft2

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Open Spaces

Great Rooms

Open Foyers

9-14 ft Ceilings

•All of these features add volume/air which allows the

fire to grow and smoke to spread.

Open Floor Plans

Increased Fuel Loads

The contents of

a single-family

home.

Now dominated

by synthetic

materials.

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Increased Fuel Loads - Experiment

Modern Room Legacy Room

Modern Room Legacy Room

Increased Fuel Loads - Experiment

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Modern Room Legacy Room

Increased Fuel Loads - Experiment

Increased Fuel Loads - Experiment