Flashover occurs when:

Flashover is a critical phenomenon in fire behavior that occurs when the temperatures within a structure have increased sufficiently to raise all combustible materials to their ignition temperature at almost the same time. This results in a sudden and rapid spread of fire throughout the space, leading to a significantly more dangerous and uncontrollable situation.

The key characteristic of flashover is that it doesn’t depend solely on one item igniting but rather the simultaneous ignition of multiple items due to high thermal exposure. This typically happens after a period of heating where the fire has produced enough heat to elevate the temperature of all combustible materials present in the area to their respective ignition points.

Understanding flashover is crucial for firefighters and safety professionals, as it indicates a transition from a localized fire to a fully developed fire, which can pose severe risks to anyone within the vicinity. This knowledge underscores the importance of fire suppression and control techniques that aim to prevent flashover conditions from developing during a fire incident.