When a fire enters decay stage early it happens

• A. After the growth stage
• B. Before the growth stage
• C. During the growth stage
• D. After cooling

Answer: (A)

Decay is the phase when the fire’s energy output begins to drop as fuel is consumed or conditions limit further growth. This happens after the fire has already progressed through the growth phase and reached its peak intensity in the fully developed stage. If decay starts early, it would imply the fire has begun to wind down before it has even reached its maximum intensity, which contradicts the normal sequence. So the decay stage occurs after the growth stage.

The other options don’t fit because decay isn’t something that happens before the fire grows, during the growth surge, or simply after cooling; those would not align with the defining progression from growth to peak to decline.