Principles of Fire Behavior

This text covers the four forms of fire: diffusion flames, smoldering, spontaneous combustion, and premixed flames. Using a quantitative approach, the text introduces the scientific principles of fire behavior, with coverage of heat transfer, ignition, flame spread, fire plumes, and heat flux as a damage variable. Cases, examples, problems, selected color illustrations and review of mathematics help students in fire safety and investigation understand fire from a scientific point of view.

Dr. James Quintiere received his PhD from New York University in 1970, and is currently Professor Emeritus, Department of Fire Protection, at the University of Maryland in College Park. He has over thirty years of experience in fire research and teaching, and has written the popular textbook PRINCIPLES OF FIRE BEHAVIOR, and co-authored ENCLOSURE FIRE DYNAMICS with Bjorn Karlsson. He has investigated numerous fire disasters, including the Branch Davidian Compound fire in Waco, Texas, and the 1986 New Year’s Eve DuPont Plaza fire in Puerto Rico. His testimony during the civil trial on the Waco tragedy was pivotal to the jury’s conclusion that the fires were not the result of federal authorities’ actions. Dr. Quintiere is the author of more than 75 journal publications and reports, and is the past chair, International Association for Fire Safety Science. He is also the recipient of the Department of Commerce Bronze Medal (1976) and Silver Medal (1982).