What is the state of the fire during the smoldering phase?

During the smoldering phase, the fire is characterized by low oxygen availability, resulting in combustion that produces heat without the presence of significant flames. This phase usually involves glowing embers, indicative of incomplete combustion, where the materials are burning at a low temperature.

In this phase, the combustion process may continue for an extended period, as the materials involved still produce heat and may sustain the fire even without visible flames. Understanding this state is crucial for fire prevention and control efforts, as it can be easily overlooked but has the potential to reignite or spread if not properly managed.

The other phases of combustion, such as the extinguished state or the incipient phase, do not accurately describe the characteristics of the smoldering phase. In the extinguished state, no combustion is taking place, and in the incipient phase, the fire is just beginning to ignite. The presence of bright flames, on the other hand, typically occurs in the active burning phase rather than during smoldering. Thus, recognizing that the smoldering phase is indeed represented by glowing embers clarifies the correct understanding of fire behavior in this context.