Fire Behavior and Combustion Flashcards
7 cards from real CPS 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 Behavior and Combustion flashcards as text
What is a BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion)?
Answer: An explosion caused when a container holding pressurized liquid fails while the liquid is at or above its boiling point
A BLEVE occurs when a pressurized vessel fails catastrophically while containing liquid heated above its atmospheric boiling point, causing a violent explosion and fireball.
Which type of heat transfer does NOT require a physical medium and can travel through a vacuum?
Answer: Radiation
Radiation transfers heat through electromagnetic waves that require no physical medium, which is why you can feel heat from fire even without touching it or being in its smoke path.
What primary warning sign indicates a backdraft may be imminent when approaching a structure?
Answer: Smoke-stained windows, smoke puffing in and out of openings, and little or no visible flame
Backdraft warning signs include smoke-stained windows, smoke puffing rhythmically from openings (breathing), and little visible flame indicating an oxygen-starved fire.
Which extinguishing method works by removing heat from the combustion process?
Answer: Cooling
Cooling removes heat from the fire tetrahedron by absorbing thermal energy, which is why water is so effective — it absorbs large amounts of heat as it converts to steam.
What does 'auto-ignition temperature' mean for a fuel?
Answer: The minimum temperature at which a fuel will spontaneously ignite without an external ignition source
Auto-ignition temperature is the minimum temperature at which a substance will spontaneously ignite in normal atmosphere without an external spark or flame.
During the incipient (early) stage of a fire, what is the primary characteristic?
Answer: Heat, smoke, and flame production are minimal and the fire is still small
The incipient stage is the earliest phase where the fire is small, heat output is low, and there is limited smoke production — the best stage for suppression.
What effect does wind have on wildland and structural fire behavior?
Answer: Wind increases fire spread rate, drives fire toward unburned fuel, and increases oxygen supply to the fire
Wind accelerates fire spread by supplying additional oxygen, drying fuels ahead of the fire, and physically pushing flames toward unburned material.