What does fire chemistry primarily study?

Fire chemistry primarily studies the chemical processes that occur during combustion—the reaction of materials when they burn. This area of study examines how different substances react with one another under specific conditions. It delves into the formation and release of energy, the byproducts produced, such as gases and particulates, and the overall chemical transformations that happen during a fire.

Understanding fire chemistry is critical for fire investigators because it helps explain how fires ignite, spread, and produce various combustion products, which can impact both fire behavior and the safety of individuals involved. Knowledge of the chemical reactions involved gives insight into the types of fuels involved, the optimum conditions for combustion, and how these can be manipulated to control or extinguish fire effectively.

While thermal dynamics focuses on the heat transfer during fire and mechanical forces address the physical interactions and movement of materials during a fire, neither specifically examines the chemical reactions taking place. The environmental impacts of fires address the consequences of combustion products on health and ecosystems but do not concern the chemical processes themselves, which is the core focus of fire chemistry.