the four characteristics of smoke: volume, color, velocity and density.
Smoke Color is the visible shade of the spectrum and tells the stage of the fire as well as helps determine the location of the fire

Smoke

• In examining smoke color, it is also important to consider changes over time (e.g., smoke becoming darker or lighter).
• It may not be clear what is the major influence on smoke color (fuel or ventilation limitations), as with the other indicators it is important to consider color in context. (maybe can view in different color space, like consider RGB, HSV together, or using some filter to modify images' color)
• Unless it is a single fuel fire, smoke color is not predictable to what is burning. However, smoke color can enlighten the firefighter as to what stage of burning is taking place or where the fire is burning *within the building.

Specific Color

white

As smoke travels throughout a building, carbon content is left along walls and contents. This causes the smoke to be filtered and can lighten the smoke color. Therefore, white or “light” smoke should never be overlooked.

• from:
  • moisture, light/flashy fuels(grass, twigs)
  • Virtually all solid materials emit white smoke when first heated, this is moisture being released.
• Changing Colors:
  As the materials start to dry out the smoke changes colors.
  The color of the smoke depends on the material that is burning.
  Natural materials such as unfinished wood will change to tan or brown colored smoke,
  whereas plastics and painted surfaces appear to be grey in color.
  However, black smoke can appear grey when it is mixed with moisture from other heated materials.
• indicate:
  • fire just start
  • Slow, white, dissipating smoke (first thick but thinning quickly) is a sign of steam, and indicates early stage heating.
• result: can leave you stranded with a dead car, but will not lead to an auto fire or explosion
  • thin:
• condensation, particularly if it dissipates quickly
  • thick:
    • from the exhaust pipe that continue after the vehicle is completely warmed up is usually due to coolant being leaked into the engine;
    • a blown head gasket, damaged cylinder head, or cracked engine block, an overheated engine
      

      black

      from:

• manmade material(tires, vehicles, structure)
• Petroleum products, rubber, and many plastics
• car: air filtration problems to sensor or injector failures
  indicate:
• more black the fire more volatile, fuels not being consumed.
• Thin, black, fast smoke indicates a well-ventilated fire is nearby.
  result:
• an electrical fire
• dangerous due to the noxious smoke produced more than any risk of explosion
  

  grey

  from:

• Wood and other ordinary combustibles will commonly produce smoke ranging from light gray to yellowish.
• car
  • transmission or oil problems, such as issues with transmission fluid or faulty transmission vacuum modulator.
  • a turbocharger in vehicles so equipped.
  • a stuck positive crankcase ventilation system.
    indicate: the fire is slowing down and materials is running out.
    result: should not be expected to generate a fire or explosion.

    blue

    indicate: car’s engine is burning oil.
    result:

• A car can burn oil from an oil leak into the combustion chamber, a failed piston ring, or malfunctioning valve stem seal.
• a significant decrease in engine performance and power. Running a car with low oil, or none at all, can be fatal to the engine.
• is not a good sign for a car, but unlikely to lead to any explosion.
  

  brown

  indicate: unfinished wood burning. In lightweight construction, this can be a warning sign for building collapse.

General Color/ Color Theme

Lighter-colored

from:

• Wood and other ordinary combustibles will commonly produce smoke ranging from light gray to yellowish.
  contains:
• a substantial concentration of unburned, highly flammable, and deoxygenated materials.
  result:
• Under these conditions, the smoke can ignite and create a hazardous and possibly deadly situation for firefighters.
  

  Dark-colored

  contains:

• When a fire produces dark brown or even black it is an indication that the fire is underventilated and/or it contains an abundance of petroleum products

• Fire

  I haven't find many color information in the essay set, we need more.
  maybe there are only red, orange, yellow in a true fire situtaion because there are usually many impurities in burning material, not purity chemical elements

   

  

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