What characterizes a clean burn?

A clean burn is characterized by the effective combustion process in which fuel is entirely consumed, resulting in minimal waste and byproducts. This process leads to the complete oxidation of carbon-containing materials, particularly in scenarios involving non-combustible surfaces. When a fire burns cleanly, it often results in the removal of all carbon deposits, indicating that the combustion was efficient and complete.

In a clean burn, there is limited soot production and smoke generation because the materials are combusted thoroughly. Consequently, this absence of soot and excessive smoke means that surfaces influenced by the burn do not show significant leftover residues. As such, burning away all carbon deposits on a non-combustible surface effectively exemplifies the concept of a clean burn. This is crucial in fire investigations, as investigators analyze burn patterns and residue to understand the fire's dynamics and its behavior.