Experimental analysis of firefighter movement characteristics in fire complex environments

Firefighter casualties regularly occur in complex fire environments, yet the movement behavior of firefighters under such conditions remains insufficiently studied. This behavior is governed by the coupled effects of individual characteristics, building structures, and environmental conditions. In this study, a coupled experimental environment integrating dense smoke, darkness, multiple obstacles, and narrow corridors was constructed using firefighter training facilities to conduct firefighter movement experiments. Results show that even along the same route, movement times vary considerably, primarily influenced by wayfinding behaviors, obstacle-crossing speeds, and individual differences. Spatial constraints from different obstacles reduce movement speed, compared to an average of 0.48 m/s in unobstructed conditions: 0.28 m/s for unstable obstacles, 0.25 m/s for continuous obstacles, 0.22 m/s for large-scale obstacles, 0.19 m/s for height-restricted obstacles, and 0.10 m/s for lateral obstacles. Variations in crossing posture further amplified these effects. Correlation analysis indicates that movement time is jointly affected by psychological, physiological, and experiential factors, with fear of smoke, darkness, and unknown environments strongly associated with increased movement time. Moreover, total air consumption increases approximately linearly with movement time. This study enhances the realism of simulated firefighting conditions and contributes to a deeper understanding of firefighter movement behavior in complex fire environments. © 2026 Elsevier B.V.