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    The ART of Reading Smoke: Dave Dodson

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    ronsaikowski
    This document discusses the art of reading smoke to determine critical fireground information. It is a 4-step process: 1) Evaluate key smoke factors like volume, velocity, density, and color which indicate the fire stage and behavior. 2) Weigh additional context like the container type, thermal balance, and weather. 3) Judge whether the fire status is getting better or worse. 4) Predict potential hostile fire events like flashover based on the smoke observations and context, and communicate warnings. Reading smoke accurately provides vital information to safely fight fires and protect firefighters.

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    The ART of Reading Smoke: Dave Dodson

    Uploaded by

    ronsaikowski
    178 views34 pages
    This document discusses the art of reading smoke to determine critical fireground information. It is a 4-step process: 1) Evaluate key smoke factors like volume, velocity, density, and color which indicate the fire stage and behavior. 2) Weigh additional context like the container type, thermal balance, and weather. 3) Judge whether the fire status is getting better or worse. 4) Predict potential hostile fire events like flashover based on the smoke observations and context, and communicate warnings. Reading smoke accurately provides vital information to safely fight fires and protect firefighters.

    Original Description:

    Looking at smoke

    Original Title

    SMoke

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    This document discusses the art of reading smoke to determine critical fireground information. It is a 4-step process: 1) Evaluate key smoke factors like volume, velocity, density, and color which indicate the fire stage and behavior. 2) Weigh additional context like the container type, thermal balance, and weather. 3) Judge whether the fire status is getting better or worse. 4) Predict potential hostile fire events like flashover based on the smoke observations and context, and communicate warnings. Reading smoke accurately provides vital information to safely fight fires and protect firefighters.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as ppt, pdf, or txt
    178 views34 pages

    The ART of Reading Smoke: Dave Dodson

    Uploaded by

    ronsaikowski
    This document discusses the art of reading smoke to determine critical fireground information. It is a 4-step process: 1) Evaluate key smoke factors like volume, velocity, density, and color which indicate the fire stage and behavior. 2) Weigh additional context like the container type, thermal balance, and weather. 3) Judge whether the fire status is getting better or worse. 4) Predict potential hostile fire events like flashover based on the smoke observations and context, and communicate warnings. Reading smoke accurately provides vital information to safely fight fires and protect firefighters.

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    You are on page 1of 34
    At a glance
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    The key takeaways from the document are that reading smoke can help determine various properties of the fire such as its location, intensity and potential for hazardous fire events. A four step process is outlined to evaluate smoke conditions and predict fire behavior.

    The four factors that should be evaluated when reading smoke are volume, velocity (pressure), density and color.

    Some signs that could indicate an impending flashover include black smoke that is high in volume, velocity and density as well as turbulent smoke and smoke rollover outside of the structure.

    The ART of Reading Smoke

    Developed by:
    Dave Dodson
    1
    Why Read Smoke?
    To determine HOW MUCH fire

    2
    Why Read Smoke?
    To help find the LOCATION of
    the fire

    3
    Why Read Smoke?
    To help predict COLLAPSE
    potential

    4
    Why Read Smoke?
    To help PRIORITIZE Strategies
    & Tactics

    5
    Why Read Smoke?
    To PROTECT Firefighters from a

    HOSTILE FIRE
    EVENT

    6
    The ADVANCED Basics
    What is Smoke? Gases

    Aerosols
    Particulates

    7
    The ADVANCED Basics
    Fuels have changed: Mass
    and Make-up!

    8
    The ADVANCED Basics

    The Triggers:
    Flash Point
    Fire Point
    Ignition Temperature

    9
    The ADVANCED Basics
    How does flammable range factor
    in?

    10
    Flammable Range & the Three Fires

    Too Rich . . .

    Too Lean . . .
    Just Right . . .
    11
    The ADVANCED Basics
    Need to be able to determine...

    What stage is the fire in

    Is the box absorbing heat?

    Is the fire in thermal balance ???

    12
    HOSTILE Fire
    Flashover
    Events
    Backdraft
    Smoke Explosion
    Rapid Fire Spread

    13
    FLASHOVER
    WARNING SIGNS:
    Turbulent Smoke
    Rollover
    Auto Ignition outside
    Smoke Cloud Ignition is likely after
    flashover

    14
    BACKDRAFT
    Remember Backdraft is triggered by O2
    being introduced to a pressurized
    box
    Yellowish-grey smoke
    Whistling
    Bowing windows
    Sealed containers

    15
    SMOKE EXPLOSION
    Remember A Smoke Explosion is a spark
    or flame applied to a mixture below its
    ignition temperature
    Trapped gases in upper areas
    Growing fire
    Increasing smoke density
    Air intake overtaking smoke exiting

    16
    RAPID FIRE SPREAD
    Usually Container Influenced
    Fuel for fire spread is smoke driven vs.
    contents surface flaming
    Look for fast-moving smoke in high
    pressure zones (stairs and hallways)
    May result from another event

    17
    Reading Smoke

    Observations are
    typically made
    from outside -
    inside
    observations hide
    the real picture.

    18
    Reading Smoke
    Nothing is absolute
    Visible FIRE is easy to read - look past it
    for the real story
    Compare vent openings

    19
    The ART of Reading Smoke

    A 4-STEP PROCESS to help


    predict fire behavior and hostile
    events

    20
    Step 1:
    Evaluate Key
    Factors
    Volume
    Velocity
    (Pressure)
    Density
    Color

    21
    VOLUME
    Always relative
    to the Box
    Tells how
    much fuel has
    off-gassed
    Sets the Stage

    22
    VELOCITY (Pressure)
    How fast is the
    smoke leaving?
    Can indicate
    volume or heat
    Helps find the
    location of the
    actual fire

    23
    DENSITY
    Most Important
    Factor
    Quality of
    Burning
    Continuity of Fuel
    Likelihood of an
    event
    Degree of the
    Event

    24
    COLOR
    Rarely tells
    material burning
    Stage of Heating
    Location of Fire
    Amount of Flaming
    Brown Smoke
    Black Fire

    25
    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.

    26
    Step 2:
    Weigh
    Factors
    Container (most
    important factor)
    Thermal Balance
    Weather
    Firefighting
    efforts

    27
    Step 3: Judge the Fire
    Status

    Are conditions getting better or worse?

    28
    Step 4: Predict the EVENT
    Consider that:
    One hostile event can - and
    usually will - lead to another
    event.
    Communicate your observations.
    Warning Signs are not always
    visual use your KNOWLEDGE
    and EXPERIENCE.
    TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

    30
    Some other Tricks
    When you open a door or window -
    watch what the smoke does and
    what the fresh air does!

    31
    THE ART OF READING
    SMOKE

    Some Examples

    34
    35
    37
    Be Safe Make it Safe

    38

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