Crib-fire dynamics in open and enclosed ventilation conditions
| Authors: | Alexander L. Brown, Sara S. McAllister, Alexander J. Josephson, Jon Reisner, Eunmo Koo |
| Year: | 2026 |
| Type: | Scientific Journal |
| Station: | Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.firesaf.2026.104857 |
| Source: | Fire Safety Journal |
Abstract
Crib fires are a way to produce fires with higher repeatability than generally is the case for wildland and urban scenarios and consequently are used to study fire behavior. Models for simulating large-scale fires benefit from characterization against relevant test conditions. Here we describe a modeling and experimental effort to better explore fire dynamics at the larger range of what is achievable in laboratories. The modeling that corresponds to the tests is used to provide parameters to larger-scale transport modeling efforts for climate effects as well as to evaluate modeling under oxygen vitiated conditions arising from partial enclosure conditions. Modeled pyrolysis rates and environmental conditions correspond reasonably well to the extinction regimes articulated in prior experimental work for under-ventilated fires expressed via the ventilation parameter for five ventilation conditions that vary across different response regimes. This suggests several potential aspects of model utility for large urban scenarios where structures restrict ventilation, and fires burn differently in response to the change in oxygen availability.