the art of reading smoke
DESCRIPTION
The ART of Reading Smoke. Developed by: Dave Dodson. Why “Read” Smoke?. To determine “ HOW MUCH ” fire. Why “Read” Smoke?. To help find the LOCATION of the fire. Why “Read” Smoke?. To help predict COLLAPSE potential. Why “Read” Smoke?. To help PRIORITIZE Strategies & Tactics. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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The ART of Reading Smoke
Developed by: Dave Dodson
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Why “Read” Smoke?To determine To determine ““HOW MUCHHOW MUCH” fire” fire
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Why “Read” Smoke? To help find the To help find the LOCATIONLOCATION
of the fireof the fire
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Why “Read” Smoke?To help predict To help predict COLLAPSECOLLAPSE
potentialpotential
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Why “Read” Smoke?To help To help PRIORITIZEPRIORITIZE Strategies Strategies
& Tactics& Tactics
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Why “Read” Smoke? To To PROTECTPROTECT Firefighters from aFirefighters from a
““HOSTILE FIRE HOSTILE FIRE EVENT”EVENT”
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The “ADVANCED” BasicsConcept #1: Smoke Concept #1: Smoke
is Fuelis Fuel
Particulates Particulates Aerosols Aerosols
Gases Gases
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The “ADVANCED” Basics
Concept #2: Fuels have Concept #2: Fuels have changed: Mass and Make-changed: Mass and Make-up!up!
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The “ADVANCED” Basics
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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The “ADVANCED” Basics
How does How does “flammable range”“flammable range” factor factor in?in?
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Flammable Range & the Three Fires
Too Lean . . .Too Lean . . .
Too Rich . . .Too Rich . . .
Just Right . . .Just Right . . .
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The “ADVANCED” Basics
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
• FlashoverFlashover• BackdraftBackdraft• Smoke ExplosionSmoke Explosion• Rapid Fire SpreadRapid Fire Spread
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FLASHOVERWARNING 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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BACKDRAFTRemember – 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 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
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RAPID FIRE SPREADUsually “Container” InfluencedUsually “Container” InfluencedFuel 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”
• 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”• 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
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• VolumeVolume • Velocity Velocity
(Pressure)(Pressure)• DensityDensity• ColorColor
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VOLUMEAlways 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)How fast is the How fast is the
smoke leaving?smoke leaving?Can indicate Can indicate
volume or heatvolume or heatHelps find the Helps find the
location of the location of the actual fireactual fire
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DENSITYMost 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
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COLOR 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” 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
• 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
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 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 observations.Communicate your 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”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”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
Some ExamplesSome Examples
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Special THANKS to:
Mike Scott, Battalion Chief, Kent (WA) FireDavid Ross, Chief of Safety, Toronto Fire
ServicesPeter McBride, Shift Safety Chief, Ottawa
Fire
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Be Safe – Make it Safe