A rapid, self-sustaining chemical reaction that releases energy in the form of heat and light, and produces by-products that can cause further reactions.
What is combustion?
100
The tendency of gases to form into layers at the top of a compartment
What is Thermal Layering?
100
The elements are: Fuel, heat, oxidizers and a self-sustaining chemical reaction.
What are the elements of the Fire Tetrahedron?
100
The fire classification which includes laundry baskets, houses and forests.
What is Class A?
200
When a substance remains chemically the same but changes in appearance, size or shape.
What is a physical change?
200
The stage of fire development that includes ignition. During this stage the fire is usually confined to the first ignited material and may self-extinguish.
What is the incipient stage?
200
A condition where the unburned fire gases accumulated at the ceiling of a compartment begin to ignite and flames move through the gas layers or across the ceiling. No other fuel packages are involved.
What is rollover?
200
This form of fire extinguishment is achieved by applying enough water to absorb the heat (BTUs) generated by the combustion process.
What is temperature reduction?
200
The fire classification for animal and vegetable oils most often found in the kitchens of restaurants and institutions.
What is Class K?
300
Any change in the composition of matter that involves the conversion of one substance into another.
What is a chemical reaction?
300
Turbulent black smoke, extremely high heat, free-burning fire, heavy roll-over
What are the signs of a flashover?
300
Pressurized smoke exiting small openings; black smoke becoming a dense gray/yellow; confinement and excessive heat; little or no visible flame; smoke leaving the building in puffs or at intervals; smoke stained windows
What are the signs of a possible backdraft?
300
This method of fire extinguishment is achieved by turning off the gas or creating a fire break.
What is fuel removal?
300
The classification for fires involving flammable metals such as magnesium, aluminum and titanium.
What is a Class D fire?
400
Chemical reactions between two or more materials that changes the materials and produces heat.
What is an Exothermic Heat Reaction?
400
A form of heating which occurs when a material increases in temperature without the addition of external heat.
What is self-heating? (aka spontaneous heating, spontaneous combustion)
400
The type of ventilation used by firefighters to reduce the potential for backdraft.
What is vertical (or top side) ventilation.
400
This method of fire extinguishment that may be achieved by covering a grease fire with a lid, or blanketing a fuel with a fire suppressant foam. It will not work with self-oxidizing fuels.
What is oxygen removal?
400
The classification for fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline or paint thinner.
What is Class B?
500
The scientific principles that explain why the reduction in the mass of a fuel results in the release of energy in the form of heat and light.
What is the Conservation of Mass and Energy?
500
The transfer of heat by the movement of heated fluids or gases, usually in an upward direction.
What is convection?
500
Smoke, heat, light, and toxic gases
What are the products of combustion?
500
The extinguishing method used by extinguishing agents such as dry chemicals and halogenated agents which interrupt the combustion process and stop flaming.
What is Chemical Flame Inhibition? (or interruption of the chemical chain reaction)
500
This fire classification would include plastic fuels.