What is the second stage of fire development?

• A. Incipient
• B. Growth
• C. Fully Developed
• D. Decay

Answer: (B)

The second stage is growth. After ignition, the fire begins to spread beyond its origin, causing flames to extend to new fuels and surfaces. In this stage the heat release rate climbs rapidly, more room contents ignite, and ventilation effects push the fire to become more intense. Temperature rises and the fire becomes more difficult to control, setting up the conditions for a fully developed fire where most or all of the room and contents are involved. The decay stage comes later, as fuels are exhausted or ventilation changes reduce the fire’s intensity.

So growth is the phase where the fire transitions from initial ignition to rapid expansion and increasing intensity.