Which fire characteristic is NOT indicated by the angle of the borders of the V pattern?

Which fire characteristic is NOT indicated by the angle of the borders of the V pattern?

• A. Direction of travel
• B. Speed of Fire Growth
• C. Fire Load
• D. Vent Flow

Answer: (B)

The borders of a V pattern tell you how the fire moved and how air was moving, not how fast the fire grew. The apex of the V points toward the fire’s origin, and the orientation of the two sides reflects the direction the flames traveled and the ventilation (air entering or exiting) that shaped the pattern. So you can infer direction of travel and vent flow from the V angle. However, the speed at which the fire intensified—how quickly it grew—is not read from that angle. Growth rate depends on factors like fuel availability, oxygen supply over time, and the heat release rate, and is better inferred from changes in scorch height, smoke characteristics, and indicators of rapid fire development rather than the V’s shape. Fire load influences how intense the fire can become, but the V angle itself doesn’t quantify the amount of fuel.

The borders of a V pattern tell you how the fire moved and how air was moving, not how fast the fire grew. The apex of the V points toward the fire’s origin, and the orientation of the two sides reflects the direction the flames traveled and the ventilation (air entering or exiting) that shaped the pattern. So you can infer direction of travel and vent flow from the V angle.

However, the speed at which the fire intensified—how quickly it grew—is not read from that angle. Growth rate depends on factors like fuel availability, oxygen supply over time, and the heat release rate, and is better inferred from changes in scorch height, smoke characteristics, and indicators of rapid fire development rather than the V’s shape. Fire load influences how intense the fire can become, but the V angle itself doesn’t quantify the amount of fuel.