flashovers
Sudden fire spreads
Flashovers is the plural of flashover, a term with distinct technical meanings.
In firefighting, a flashover is the moment when a fire in an enclosed space suddenly ignites everything simultaneously—temperatures reach a point where all combustible materials burst into flame at once: The crew barely escaped before flashover.
In electrical engineering, a flashover is an unintended arc of electricity across an insulator or between conductors.
Both senses share the idea of sudden, dangerous ignition or discharge.
Starting combustion process
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- backdraftExplosive fire reignition
- rolloverVehicle flipping accident
fire behavior · thermal runaway · oxygen · ventilation · fuel-air · enclosure · flashpoint · autoignition
Measured heat intensity
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- radiant heatElectromagnetic thermal energy transfer
- flammable gasesVapors prone to ignition
- superheatedHeated beyond phase change
Surrounding and consuming completely
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
- wildfireUncontrolled vegetation blaze
Causing death or ruin
- life-threateningRisking death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
- unsurvivableImpossible to live through
catastrophic · no escape · lethal · mayday · emergency · tragedy · burn injuries · zero visibility
Happening without any delay
- rapidMoving with haste
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- explosiveProne to sudden detonation
- without warningUnexpectedly, lacking prior notice
swift · split-second · unexpected · eruption · dramatic · violent · precipitate
Forcible prevention or concealment
- fire attackHostile use of flames
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- knockdownBlow causing a fall
- PPEHazard-shielding work attire
SCBA · thermal imaging · fire academy · survival · escape
ignition
Starting combustion process
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- pyrolysisHeat-driven molecular breakdown
- backdraftExplosive fire reignition
rollover · fire behavior · thermal runaway · oxygen · ventilation · fuel-air · enclosure · flashpoint · autoignition · fire investigation
temperature
Measured heat intensity
- thermalPertaining to warmth
- radiant heatElectromagnetic thermal energy transfer
- flammable gasesVapors prone to ignition
engulfing
Surrounding and consuming completely
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firestormSelf-perpetuating intense blaze
fatal
Causing death or ruin
- life-threateningRisking death
- deadlyAble to cause expiration
- hazardousLikely to cause injury
unsurvivable · catastrophic · no escape · lethal · mayday · emergency · tragedy · burn injuries · zero visibility · untenable
instantaneous
Happening without any delay
without warning · swift · split-second · unexpected · eruption · dramatic · violent · precipitate
suppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
- fire attackHostile use of flames
- coolingLosing thermal energy
- knockdownBlow causing a fall
PPE · SCBA · thermal imaging · fire academy · survival · escape
flashoverssuppression
Forcible prevention or concealment
extinguishment · containment · knockdown · fire control · fire out