Why does the Fire Department break windows or cut holes in the roof during a fire, it seems they are causing more damage?
A. As a fire burns, it moves upward then outward. Breaking the windows and/or cutting holes in the roof acts like a chimney and allows fresh air to fill the building. This action alone can save a tremendous amount of property. It cuts down on the smoke damage and makes conditions more favorable for firefighters to enter the building.
As a fire burns, it moves upward until it meets an obstruction such as a ceiling and then moves horizontally through the entire building. Cutting a hole in the roof allows the heat and smoke to go out into the atmosphere, cuts down on the smoke damage, and makes conditions more favorable for Firefighters to enter the building. Breaking the windows provides the maximum area for smoke to exit the building as well as providing an exit for Firefighters operating in the building that may otherwise become trapped. All this combined is called ventilation. This is necessary at all fires so the fire can be extinguished quickly and safely.
As a fire burns, it moves upward until it meets an obstruction such as a ceiling and then moves horizontally through the entire building. Cutting a hole in the roof allows the heat and smoke to go out into the atmosphere, cuts down on the smoke damage, and makes conditions more favorable for Firefighters to enter the building. Breaking the windows provides the maximum area for smoke to exit the vuilding as well as providing an exit for Firefighters operating in the building that may otherwise become trapped. All this combined is called ventilation. This is necessary at all fires so the fire can be extinguished quickly and safely.
Related Questions
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