BY FRANCIS L. BRANNIGAN, SFPE (FELLOW)
A caveman discovered that if he blew gently on a fire, it would increase. Bellows were invented to provide a stream of air to accelerate the fire. In industrial plants, huge bellows were used. Finally, mechanical air blowers were developed.
More than 30 years ago, air-conditioning engineers discovered smoke and set out to graft smoke removal onto air-conditioning systems. One enthusiast argued that the fire could be controlled by regulating the air flow. At an annual meeting of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) he declaimed, "Let the fire burn, but let it burn clean." This incomprehensible statement completely ignores the tremendous heat generated by the fire. In addition, all around the "clean burning" fire, materials are being degraded into toxic products without any comment. It is not possible to control an imbecile statement made at a meeting you sponsor, but you should not give it the cachet of your organization. If you must publish it, include the adequate discussion of the fallacy. Most of what I know about this subject came from my mentor, Fire Department of New York (FDNY) Deputy Chief (Ret.) Elmer Chapman, one of the most knowledgeable persons in the fire service on smoke control. (See BCFS3, pages 489-490, for solid information from an expert.)
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