Fire Behavior and Service Terminology Flashcards

Which term refers to the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit?

Answer: BTU

A British Thermal Unit (BTU) is defined as the heat needed to raise one pound of water by 1°F and is a standard unit in fire engineering.

In the fire tetrahedron model, which element replaced the base of the older fire triangle?

Answer: Chemical chain reaction

The fire tetrahedron added the chemical chain reaction as the fourth element to the original fire triangle of heat, fuel, and oxygen.

What term describes the transfer of heat through direct contact between molecules of matter?

Answer: Conduction

Conduction is heat transfer through direct molecular contact, such as heat traveling through a metal door or structural beam.

What is the specific gravity of a flammable liquid that is LESS than 1, indicating it will do what in water?

Answer: Float on top

Flammable liquids with a specific gravity less than 1 are lighter than water and will float on the surface, allowing fire to spread over water.

Which term describes the concentration range in which a flammable gas will ignite when mixed with air?

Answer: Flammable (explosive) range

The flammable or explosive range is bounded by the Lower Explosive Limit (LEL) and Upper Explosive Limit (UEL), defining concentrations that support ignition.

What fire service term refers to the process of removing combustible material to stop fire spread?

Answer: Fuel removal

Fuel removal (also called fuel separation) is a fire control method that eliminates the fire tetrahedron's fuel side by removing combustibles from the fire's path.

When a fire is described as 'ventilation-controlled,' what does this mean?

Answer: The fire's growth is restricted by insufficient oxygen supply

A ventilation-controlled fire is one where growth is limited by the available air supply rather than fuel, producing large amounts of unburned gases.