Growth Stage follows which stage?

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

Answer: (B)

In fire behavior, the progression goes incipient → growth → fully developed → decay. Growth stage follows the incipient stage because once the fire starts to spread beyond the origin, heat release accelerates, more fuels ignite, and the flames and hot gases begin moving through the space. This stage is marked by rapid growth in size, intensity, and ventilation effects, which is why it comes after the initial incipient phase. Decay comes later as fuels are consumed and conditions cool, and fully developed is the peak where the fire has maximal growth. The option that repeats the growth stage doesn’t describe a progression, so it wouldn’t fit.