| Science - Introduction | | How Fire Works | | How Heat Moves | | Flashovers |

Smoke is poisonous. It contains poisonous gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Other things in the smoke cause irritation like coughing and streaming eyes. Smoke is also difficult to see through. This is because of the unburnt carbon that makes it look black. Soot makes it hard to see through smoke, too. These things rise as smoke because of inefficient combustion. Smoke is also hot. Hot gases rise and smoke contains gases. The reason hot gases rise is because they are lighter than air is. If smoke can get through doorways it will go to the top of the burning building. Eventually the top of the building will fill up with smoke. If you are up there you are not going to be able to breath. That is why you have to get out fast when there is a fire because it won't be long before the whole house is full of smoke. Stay low when you are going through smoke because smoke rises.

| Science - Introduction | | How Fire Works | | How Heat Moves | | Flashovers |