backdraft

Noun. (firefighting) An extreme fire behavior phenomena involving ignition of products of combustion (such as carbon monoxide) and pyrolysis products upon introduction of oxygen to a compartment. In this phenomena the fuel generally is at a high temperature (above 600 degrees C), but combustion is limited by a lack of oxygen. Introduction of atmospheric oxygen results in explosive combustion.

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This entry was last updated on RefTopia from its source on 3/20/2012.