Firefighter I
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The weight of a given volume of vapor or
gas, compared to an equal volume of dry
air at an equal vapor pressure
All vapors and gases mix with air
The vapor density of air is 1
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The vapor density of air is 1
 Gases with vapor density
 Less than air, rise and dissipate
 Greater than air, sink and accumulate
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Some common
flammable gases
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The weight of a substance
compared to the weight of an
equal volume of water at an equal
temperature
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Substances with a specific
gravity
 Lighter than water, float
 Heavier than water, sink
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Water and most flammable and combustible
liquids don’t mix with each other (immiscible).
 Hazardous because the flammable fuels will float
on the water where they could ignite or burn
 Important when considering firefighting tactics
and strategies and the limits placed on
extinguishment options
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Flammable liquids burning on top of water in a
tanker spill that occurred in 1991.
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The surface area of a fuel in
proportion to its mass
 The higher the surface-tomass ratio of a fuel, the
higher its ignitability
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A piece of plywood on
its edge exposes 3
surface areas
Orientation of a fuel
matters!
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Affected by surface-tomass ratio
Depends on fuel type, fuel
quantity, and the
orientation of the fuel
Increases as more fuel
becomes involved in the
combustion process
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Most fire-related deaths
are caused by smoke
Smoke is made of gases,
vapor, and soot (solid
particulates) that are
inherently poisonous
Regard all smoke as toxic
and hazardous
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Carbon monoxide (CO)
Hydrogen cyanide (HCN)
Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Irritants
Particulates
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A byproduct of the incomplete combustion of fuels
containing carbon
 The most common product of combustion found at
structure fires
 The leading cause of civilian fire deaths
 A chemical asphyxiate that binds with hemoglobin,
inhibiting oxygen transfer
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A byproduct of combustible
fuels containing nitrogen
 A chemical asphyxiate that
prevents the body from
using oxygen at the cellular
level
 Most associated with the
combustion of polyurethane
foam, which is commonly
found or used in furniture
and bedding
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A byproduct of complete combustion
 Not considered to be toxic, but it can act as
an asphyxiate by displacing oxygen
 Also acts as a respiratory stimulant by
increasing the respiratory rate of its victims
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Byproducts of combustion that
can
 Make breathing difficult and
uncomfortable
 Inflame the eyes, respiratory
tract, and skin
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Smoke can carry different and
varied irritants, depending on
the fuel source
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Byproducts that can be inhaled
and deposited in the mouth,
trachea, and lungs
 May cause respiratory distress
and irritation to the eyes
 There may be additional
health hazards specific to the
fuels being burned
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0135151112, Essentials of Firefighting (5th
Edition), International Fire Service Training
Association (IFSTA)
Images used with permission by IFSTA.
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