Panguitch Fire

More than a dozen members of the Panguitch Fire Department and Hatch Fire
Department participated in Utah Fire & Rescue Acadmy's (UFRA) flashover
training as part of the Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification
classes.

As technology has improved the ability of protective clothing to withstand heat in a fire situation, firefighters are able to work longer with out noticing the level of heat in the room. When equipment was not as good, if firefighters could feel the discomfort of the heat they knew it was time to get out. Your skin will begin to burn at 124 degrees and cause discomfort.

The new equipment ironically may allow firefighters to continue working in near flashover conditions without realizing the danger present and may put them in greater danger.

Training is essential to understand the signs to look for during possible
flashover conditions since improved equipment prevents early detection of
the dangerous conditions.

The UFRA flashover trailer was used to create actual flashover conditions
safely so that firefighters can experience the conditions without the anger of a real flashover. The trailer prop allow firefighters to be below floor level of the fireroom (a non-existant space in a real fire situation), below the level of the flashover.

Flashover occurs when heat generated by a fire can no longer be absorbed by ceilings, walls, and room contents. Heat begins to radiate back toward the room, raising the temperature of unburned gases, room contents, walls and flooring. At approximately 900 degrees Fahrenheit the entire room ignites creating an inferno with temperatures in excess of 1200 degrees Fahrenheit.

Firefighters wear protective clothing, referred to as turn-out gear, to
protect themselves. However, a flashover creates such extreme temperatures that turn-out gear cannot provide adequate protection. A firefighter trapped in a flashover has only 2 seconds to escape the harsh conditions before being overcome. This represents only 5 feet of movement once the flashover occurs.

The conditions are just right for a flashover. Snakes of fire in the gases signal that a flashover is about to occur. Recognizing this and other signs like heavy black smoke, intense heat, and rollover and free burning.

Gases in the smoke have ignited and are burning over the heads of the
firefighters.

The flashover occurs and all contents burst into flame at the same time.

In the training prop, firefighters experience over 500 degree temperatures.

Personal protective equipment worn by the firefighters protects them from
these extreme temperatures, but if you stare at the inferno too long or have your head above the floor level, temperatures can quickly damage equipment.

Old helments and equipment are used to protect firefighters' regular equipment.

When firefighters exit the trailer, equipment is still very hot, likely
still hundred's of degrees. The firefighters must keep their protective
gloves on in order to remove their mask, helmets and other equipment.

In addition to learning signs of a flashover, firefighters learned
strategies that might buy them an additional second or two in order to help them get out before it's too late as well as last ditch efforts for survival should they find themselves trapped in such a situation. Unfortunately, if you are caught in a flashover, without a way to extinguish it, direct flame contact will cause burns to begin within two seconds; fatal burns will occur within approximately seventeen seconds. The best way to survive a flashover is to get out before it happens.