Definition of "backdraft" []

• An extreme fire behavior phenomena involving ignition of products of combustion (such as carbon monoxide) and pyrolysis products upon introduction of oxygen to a compartment. In this phenomena the fuel generally is at a high temperature (above 600 degrees C), but combustion is limited by a lack of oxygen. Introduction of atmospheric oxygen results in explosive combustion. (noun)

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• "When a fire is starved for air, an explosion - called a backdraft - can occur when a door is opened, he said."
• "This is the reason there is a “flash over” [or "backdraft" if you watched the movie] effect when a door, window, or some other opening is cleared in a fashion where O2 can come into the high temperature enviroment and support [rapid!] combusion of the hot gasses."
• "According to Brady, "[a] backdraft occurs when an oxygen-starved fire suddenly receives oxygen."