Fire Behavior & Combustion

Catalog description

<b><font color="7A0018">Begins Fall 2025</b></font><br> This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of fire behavior and combustion, providing a scientific foundation for understanding how and why fires start, spread, and are controlled. Students will study the physical and chemical properties of fire, the combustion process, ignition, heat transfer, flame spread, and the stages of fire development. The course also examines fire dynamics in different fuel types and building environments, as well as the influence of oxygen, fuel, heat, and chemical reactions on fire growth. Emphasis is placed on applying these concepts to firefighter safety, suppression strategies, and community risk reduction. Fire 31 is a core requirement in the Merced College Fire Technology Program and prepares students for more advanced fire science courses and professional fire service training.