Experimental analysis of firefighters crossing multiple obstacles in fire environment

Abstract

This study investigates firefighter movement behavior in coupled fire environments with dense smoke, elevated temperatures, multiple obstacles, and restricted spaces. Results showed that group movement reduced individual differences through cooperative behaviors such as split searching and mutual assistance. However, larger team sizes (four firefighters per group) lead to straggling and congestion, reducing efficiency. Under restricted-space conditions, team size had no significant effect on individual obstacle-crossing speed, which is primarily influenced by the type of obstacle and posture. Group movement also reduced the average air consumption rate compared with individual movement. These findings advance understanding of firefighter movement in complex fire environments and provide guidance for optimization of team coordination and operational safety.