What is a flash fire?

A flash fire is characterized as an instantaneous fire that may erupt due to specific conditions, such as the presence of flammable gases or vapors combined with an ignition source during fueling processes. This phenomenon typically occurs in environments where volatile materials are present and can ignite suddenly, resulting in a rapid and intense fire that can pose a significant risk to safety.

In contrast to a flash fire, slow-burning fires that spread gradually do not exhibit the same immediate intensity or speed and often develop over a longer period. Fires that last several minutes are generally indicative of other types of combustion events, and fires caused by electrical faults are typically more prone to smoldering or gradual ignition rather than the rapid onset characteristic of flash fires. Thus, the defining feature of a flash fire is its instantaneous nature and the conditions that can trigger it during specific activities such as fueling.