What does vaporization refer to in fire investigations?

Vaporization in the context of fire investigations refers specifically to the transition from a liquid or solid phase to a gas phase. This process is crucial for understanding how fuels ignite and burn in a fire scenario. When a material vaporizes, it becomes gaseous, allowing it to mix with air and potentially ignite if the conditions are right, such as having sufficient temperature and oxygen. This phenomenon is vital for fire investigators because it helps them analyze how the fire started and spread, as well as determine the types of materials involved in the incident.

Understanding vaporization also aids in recognizing the behavior of various fuels under fire conditions and can inform the assessment of fire dynamics, making it a fundamental concept in fire science and investigation.