"It is 2:30 a.m. and you are responding to a report of smoke on the second floor of a two story apartment house. The building is approximately 30 feet wide by 75 feet deep and has several apartments on each floor. Built in the late 40’s, the building only has local fire alarms, and no fire suppression systems.

Your company arrives at the scene and you and your officer proceed into the building to investigate. On the second floor you find a light smoke condition that smells like a mattress fire. Your officer takes the can from you and orders you to go get an 1 ¾ line.

As you begin stretching the line you notice there is now heavy smoke venting from the second floor windows. As you get to the stairs the smoke is banking down, black and you can feel a lot of heat. You slip your mask on and call out to your officer.........."

Read the rest and comment by following the link below:

http://backstepfirefighter.com/2010/12/13/a-primer-on-flashover/