Deck General · Fire Theory & Classes
The fire tetrahedron adds a fourth element to the fire triangle. What is that fourth element?
- ACarbon dioxide
- BSmoke
- CUninhibited chain reaction✓ Correct
- DFlashpoint temperature
Explanation
The fire tetrahedron adds the uninhibited chemical chain reaction as the fourth side. This self-sustaining chain reaction propagates the fire even after the initial ignition source is removed. Halogenated agents (Halon, clean agents) extinguish fire by chemically interrupting this chain reaction — a mechanism not explained by the simple fire triangle.
Authority: Firefighting (USCG deck topic)
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