is a situation which can occur when a fire's product-gases are starved of oxygen; consequently combustion slows (due to the lack of oxygen) but the combustible fuel gases (primarily CO) and smoke (primarily hydro-carbon free-radicals and particulate matter) remain at a temperature above the fire-point of the fuel gases. If oxygen is r...
Firefighter SP 70
A backdraft is a situation which can occur when a fire's product-gases are starved of oxygen; consequently combustion slows (due to the lack of oxygen) but the combustible fuel gases (primarily CO) and smoke (primarily hydro-carbon free-radicals and particulate matter) remain at a temperature above the fire-point of the fuel gases. If oxygen is re-introduced to the fire, e.g. by opening a door (or window) to a closed room, combustion will restart, often resulting in an 'explosive' effect as the gases are heated by the combustion and expand rapidly because of the rapidly increasing temperature.
