A backdraft (North American English), backdraught (British English) [1] or smoke explosion is the abrupt burning of superheated gases in a fire caused when oxygen rapidly enters a hot, …

May 19, 2020 · Backdraft is usually defined as a deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of oxygen into a ventilation-limited space containing unburned fuel and gases.

Dec 12, 2025 · Among the most volatile phenomena firefighters may encounter is a backdraft – a sudden and violent combustion event that can turn a seemingly controlled incident into a …

Backdraft is a deflagration (explosion) resulting from increased ventilation of an enclosure containing a concentration of atmospheric oxygen that is too low to support significant flaming …

Feb 24, 2017 · A backdraft is caused by the sudden introduction of air into a fire that has depleted most of the available oxygen in a room or building. Since a fire requires air, fuel and heat, the …

Mar 1, 2006 · A backdraft involves deflagration or rapid combustion of hot pyrolysis products and flammable products of combustion upon mixing with air. Several conditions are necessary in …

A fire that produces a backdraft is always an underventilated fire. The fire needs to have a lack of oxygen to be able to produce large quantities of unburned pyrolyzates.

Sep 16, 2025 · A backdraft happens when a fire burns in a sealed or poorly ventilated space and runs out of oxygen. The flames may die down, but the heat and unburned gases stay trapped …

Oct 10, 2023 · A backdraft refers to the rapid ignition of a fire that occurs when oxygen is reintroduced into a confined space that is already starved of oxygen. This sudden influx of …

Mar 13, 2025 · Backdraft occurs when oxygen is reintroduced to an oxygen-deprived, smoldering fire causing an explosive ignition of accumulated gases. Both phenomena are extremely …