Fire Behavior Basics

Overview

Fire grows with fuel, heat, and oxygen. Control doors and ventilation to starve fire of oxygen and heat flow. Smoke kills—stay low, move fast, and have a plan.

Flow Path Awareness

Openings create paths for hot gases and smoke.

• Closing doors slows fire spread; isolates smoke/heat.
• Opening windows/doors feeds fire and can draw flames—only ventilate to escape.

Door Control

Feel door with back of hand; if hot, do not open. If cool, open slowly, staying behind the door; close doors behind you during egress.

Reading smoke and gaps

• Smoke layer: If smoke banks down to the floor, conditions are deteriorating—stay very low or choose another exit.
• Door gap/hinge side: A strong inward draw at gaps can indicate fire pulling air from your side; opening can feed it. Keep doors closed to starve fire and consider alternate routes.
• Cloth over mouth/nose may reduce irritation but does not filter toxic gases (CO/HCN); do not rely on it for safety.

Extinguishers & Kitchen Fires

• PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base, Squeeze, Sweep side to side. Keep your exit at your back; stop if fire grows or smoke thickens.
• Grease fires: Slide a lid over the pan and turn off heat; do not move the pan; do not use water. A Class K extinguisher is preferred for deep fat fryers; for small stove‑top flare‑ups a Class ABC can work if used promptly.

Stay-Low Movement

Crawl or stay low; smoke rises. Keep one hand on wall; count doors in smoke; follow landmarks.

Egress Planning

Know two exits from every room; practice family escape; keep keys near egress; don’t block exits with storage.

☑️ Checklist — Home Fire Prep

• Smoke/CO alarms tested monthly; batteries fresh
• Extinguishers accessible; know PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep)
• Placement: Keep extinguishers in kitchen, garage, and near exits; check gauge monthly and replace or service if low.
• Two exits per room; meeting point outside
• Close doors at night; clear egress paths

Examples

• Kitchen fire: Lid on pan; turn off heat; don’t move flaming pan; small extinguisher if safe; evacuate if out of control.
• Apartment smoke in hall: Close your door; seal gaps; call for help; signal at window; evacuate only if safe.

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Key Takeaways

• Control doors and vents; smoke/heat flow follows openings.
• Staying low and closing doors saves lives.
• Practice escape routes; alarms and extinguishers ready.

Scenario

🧭 Scenario (Closed‑door survivability): Night fire on another floor.
🔍 Decisions: Door closed vs open; stay or go; window signal.
✅ Outcome: You keep the door closed, seal gaps, signal at the window, and survive until firefighters arrive.
🧠 Lessons: Close before you doze; door control saves lives
🏋️ Drill: Close bedroom doors nightly.