In fire development, what follows the growth stage?

Following the growth stage in fire development is the decay stage. During the growth stage, the fire is actively developing and consuming available fuel and oxygen, leading to increased heat release and smoke production. Once the available fuels are depleted or the fire runs out of sufficient oxygen, the fire enters the decay stage.

In this stage, the intensity of the fire decreases. The flames may become smaller, and the overall heat output diminishes as the available fuel is exhausted. This can lead to cooler temperatures and less smoke production. It’s an important phase, as it indicates that the fire is nearing its end unless additional combustible materials or oxygen are introduced. Understanding this progression helps firefighters anticipate the changes in fire behavior and adjust their tactics accordingly.

The other stages mentioned do not follow the growth stage. The incipient stage occurs before the growth stage when a fire has just started and is still small and manageable. The flashover stage is a critical point where combustion can rapidly spread throughout an area, typically leading to a fully developed fire rather than following the growth stage. Lastly, backdraft is a dangerous situation that can occur when a fire is starved of oxygen and then suddenly receives it, leading to an explosive combustion. Thus, the decay stage is the correct answer as it