This photo was taken 25 minutes after discovery. It is the largest flame inside a building-- yet, and designed (unintentionally) by a man. By chance the wind pressurized the only stairway. Most of the 750 occupants were protected by the wind that day. Just 16 persons were killed. Heroic efforts were required. It occurred in the Andraus Building, São Paulo, Brazil. It shows the 5 stages of flame leaping upward.

On the lower right, the floor of origin (4th) is burned out and black. Then Leap 1 - floors 5,6,7 and 8 (still on the right) are mostly burned out and almost black. The deep small red/black area (L2) shows the "oldest" flame still burning; the dull orange (L3)-- is "old" flame; the orange (L4)-- is "middle-aged" burning; and the bright yellow (L5) is the "youngest" flame.

In this 31 story building, the designer of the lower 28 floors used a highly combustible ceiling, and an all glass front. These combined to allow the giant flame to leap up floor by floor. A different designer put fire-resistant ceilings on the top four floors. On these top 4 floors, the ceiling did not ignite.

As in a bonfire, the combustibles inside any building --high rise or low-- will change the speed and size of the flames. The building will shape the resulting fire. Unwanted fire is simple physics in action.

This Site is dedicated to those who want to dominate unwanted fire. All fire is local.
By sharing what we know, local specialists can master unwanted fire and act.