In Episode 3, check out UL's Fire Safety Research Institute Advisory Board Member and LA County Assistant Chief, Derek Alkonis, as he talks about the constantly evolving fire environment and what we need to do to stay ahead:

Structure fires have changed over time. Forty-plus years ago, structures were built using old-growth, full-thickness lumber, and the furnishings inside were made mostly of natural fibers. This made for a fire environment that progressed slowly toward flashover. Compared to today’s fires, firefighters typically had time to search for victims, find the seat of the fire, and extinguish the blaze before the fire’s intensity overwhelmed their ability to control the environment.

The firefighting tactics employed by a previous generation of firefighters were based on a built environment and the firefighting and safety equipment available to them. Today’s firefighters face a different set of fire problems. The modern fire environment consists of structures constructed of lightweight building materials, open floor plans, double-pane windows, and furnishings constructed of materials capable of releasing enough heat energy to flash over a room in seven minutes or less. Fire conditions that intensify at these speeds require a greater understanding of fire behavior and fire dynamics.