What term describes the rapid transition from a smoldering phase of fire to a full blaze?

The term that describes the rapid transition from a smoldering phase of fire to a full blaze is "flashover." This phenomenon occurs when the temperature in a room rises to the point where combustible materials ignite almost simultaneously due to the intense heat released from earlier burning materials. Flashover typically leads to a rapid spread of fire, creating a significantly more dangerous situation for those involved in firefighting or evacuation.

Flashover is usually triggered when the heat from the fire raises the temperature of surrounding fuels to their ignition point, resulting in a quick and dramatic increase in fire intensity. Understanding flashover is crucial for fire inspection and safety because it highlights the importance of early detection and intervention to prevent fires from reaching this catastrophic stage.

The other terms refer to different fire-related concepts. Backdraft, for instance, refers to an explosive event that can occur when oxygen is suddenly introduced to a smoldering fire. Intermittent flame describes a fire that is not constant but fluctuates, while burning brand typically refers to a burning piece of material that can ignite new fires. Each of these concepts plays a role in fire dynamics but does not specifically denote the transition from smoldering to full blaze like flashover does.