Describe and apply the process of burning.

Course Learning Outcomes for Unit VIII Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 4. Describe and apply the process of burning. 4.1. Analyze the value in using computational modeling of fires. 4.2. Compare and contrast deterministic and a probabilistic fire models. 4.3. Define the limitations of computer fire models. Reading Assignment Chapter 14: Computational Modeling of Fires Unit Lesson According to Firetactics (2014) the, “transition in replacing hard earned fire-ground experience with advanced training [has] failed to take place” (Firefighter life losses on the increase, para. 2). The authors surmised that with the number of building fires decreasing, “we now have a situation where the death rate amongst firefighters (traumatic life losses versus the number of building fires) is spiraling to the highest levels for thirty years” (Firefighter life losses on the increase, para. 2). Why is this occurring? Is it the lack of experience as suggested? Is it the lack of training? Is it the lack of knowledge of fire behavior and combustion? Is it false nostalgia for fire-ground experience? For decades in the fire service we have used experience as a guide on how to fight fires. Decades ago Crosby, Fiske, Forster Handbook of Fire Protection (1936) states: Experience has shown that heavy streams in large numbers are essential to controlling a conflagration. Ordinary streams from hand lines are not only ineffective on a large body of fire, but it is frequently impossible for men to get near enough to use them effectively due to the great heat. (pp. 991-992) Fire ground experience is important and decades ago that was the only way to learn fire behavior and combustion. Today, computational modeling of fires can be used for the, “assessment of fire hazards and risks…using a series of calculations or a computational model of a fire in a building” (Gann & Friedman, 2015, p. 208) to teach firefighters fire behavior and combustion. In fact, computational modeling of fire could be used to understand why ordinary streams from hand lines are ineffective as seen in 1936. Computational modeling of fire is used today to understand and see what went wrong in fatal fires. The modeling “begins with the local movement within the fire plume and progresses to movement throughout a building” (Gann & Friedman, 2015, p. 213). Computational modeling of a fatal training fire was used by NIST (2002) to determine the cause of flashover. The incident was a live fire training exercise in an acquired structure that was conducted partially in compliance with the requirements of NFPA 1403. As a result, two firefighters lost their lives because officers and firefighters on the scene did not sufficiently assess fire behavior and combustion of the burning characteristics and the quantities of material used (NIOSH, 2003). The incident occurred on July 30, 2002 where a lieutenant and firefighter died while participating in live fire training. “Fuel for the fire consisted of pallets and straw placed in and outside of a closet in the bedroom. The fuel was ignited with a road flare” (USFA, 2014, para. 4). Due to weather conditions the fire was decaying and a “foam mattress was placed on top of the burning pallets and straw” (USFA, 2014, para. 4). The firefighters made entry into the fire compartment performing primary search and rescue in front of two attack lines. Horizontal ventilation was called for and many believed it induced a flashover while the search team was in the fire compartment. As a result NIST (2002) conducted retrospective computer modeling to reconstruct the actual fire. The results UNIT VIII STUDY GUIDE Other Suppression Strategies, Methods and Techniques of Fire Extinguishments FIR 3301, Fire Behavior and Combustion 2 UNIT x STUDY GUIDE Title indicated the foam rubber mattress used on the fire emitted large amounts of carbons and fire gases that lead to the flashover because the fuel load was more than the amount required to create the desired fire effects.

Attachments:

• 1516712070-Unit IV Research Paper Topic.pdf
• 1516712078-Unit IV Study Guide.pdf
• 1516712079-Unit VIII Research paper.pdf
• 1516712088-Unit VIII Study Guide.pdf