backdraft means sudden, dangerous recombustion that occurs when there is a rapid reintroduction of oxygen to an enclosed space containing a fire.
backdraft is pronounced /ˈbækˌdɹæft/.
Why “backdraft” is a great word
A sudden, explosive re-ignition of fire caused by the violent introduction of oxygen into a sealed, super-heated space, from back ("reverse direction") + draft (variant of draught, "a current of air or gases"). Unlike "flashover," which describes the near-simultaneous ignition of all combustible surfaces from radiant heat, or "smoldering," a slow, flame-starved burn, a backdraft is a contained pressure-cooker of unburned fuel waiting for its single, catastrophic breath. It is the silent, bloated heat behind a closed door, the inrush of wind through a shattered windowpane, and the terrifying, orange bloom that follows—the moment combustion reverses its course and the fire remembers how to roar.
Etymology
From back + draft.
noun
- Sudden, dangerous recombustion that occurs when there is a rapid reintroduction of oxygen to an enclosed space containing a fire.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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