What is a unique characteristic of the Fire Point?

A unique characteristic of the fire point is that it indicates the temperature at which the vapors of a substance will ignite and continue to burn even after the ignition source has been removed. This means that at the fire point, the material not only produces enough vapors to ignite but also sustains combustion, showing that it has sufficient heat and fuel to maintain the fire independently.

This characteristic distinguishes the fire point from the flash point, which is the lowest temperature at which vapors can form an ignitable mixture with air but does not imply that the material will continue to burn once the ignition source is removed. Moreover, the fire point is a specific measurable temperature, which eliminates the idea that it cannot be measured, and it does not indicate when a fire extinguishes, as that relates to a different aspect of combustion behavior. Understanding the fire point is critical in evaluating the combustibility and ignition risks associated with various materials.