Fire Dynamics and Behavior Flashcards
7 cards from real CFPS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Fire Dynamics and Behavior flashcards as text
What term describes the minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel produces enough vapor to ignite when an ignition source is present?
Answer: Flash point
Flash point is the minimum temperature at which a liquid produces sufficient vapor to momentarily ignite in the presence of an ignition source.
During flashover, the approximate temperature in the upper gas layer typically reaches:
Answer: 900–1200°F (482–649°C)
Flashover occurs when the upper gas layer reaches approximately 900–1200°F (482–649°C), causing all combustible surfaces in the compartment to simultaneously ignite.
Which combustion product is the leading cause of fire fatalities in the United States?
Answer: Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is the leading cause of fire-related fatalities because it is colorless, odorless, and rapidly incapacitates victims at relatively low concentrations.
The flammable (explosive) range of a gas is bounded by the:
Answer: Lower Flammable Limit (LFL) and Upper Flammable Limit (UFL)
The flammable range is defined by the LFL (minimum fuel-air mixture that sustains combustion) and UFL (maximum mixture that sustains combustion).
A fuel package that is burning at the maximum rate limited by available oxygen rather than fuel surface area is said to be:
Answer: Ventilation-controlled
A ventilation-controlled fire cannot increase its heat release rate because oxygen supply is the limiting factor, not the available fuel.
The 'two-layer model' of compartment fire behavior refers to:
Answer: A hot upper gas layer and a cooler lower layer separated by a thermal interface
The two-layer model describes the hot, buoyant smoke layer accumulating at the ceiling and the cooler, cleaner air layer remaining near the floor.
Backdraft is most likely to occur when a fire compartment has been:
Answer: Ventilation-controlled and then suddenly receives fresh air
Backdraft occurs when a ventilation-controlled, oxygen-depleted compartment receives a sudden inflow of fresh air, causing rapid ignition of accumulated unburned gases.