This extreme fire behavior presentation supports firefighters and officers who respond to structure fires. Chief Ed Hartin delivered this TED-style talk at the 2026 Washington State Firefighters Association Annual Fire School & Conference in Wenatchee, Washington.
Chief Hartin challenges firefighters to go beyond definitions and lists. For example, flashover, flash fire, backdraft, smoke explosion, wind-driven fire, and low-intake/high-exhaust flow paths do not occur at random. Instead, they develop from fire conditions that firefighters can often read and anticipate.
A central theme is anticipation. Firefighters and officers must ask three basic questions. What is likely to happen next? What cues should I look for? What will I do about it? As a result, fire behavior knowledge becomes part of tactical decision-making.
The presentation also focuses on cue patterns. For instance, smoke color, smoke movement, heat, ventilation, flow path, wind, and water application all matter. However, no single cue tells the whole story. Therefore, firefighters must read conditions as a pattern, not as isolated signs.
Finally, the presentation connects recognition with action. Crews can reduce the chance of extreme fire behavior when they control ventilation, apply water at the right time, manage flow path, and match tactics to conditions. These actions help firefighters prevent dangerous changes before they occur.
Download the extreme fire behavior presentation (PDF) to review the key concepts, and patterns. For more fireground decision-making resources, visit the Command Competence website. To build skill in anticipating changing conditions and selecting appropriate tactics, explore the 10-Minute Training Tactical Decision Games.