Theory and Practice of Tunnel and Underground Fires

Dear Colleagues,

Tunnels and underground spaces (e.g., subways, underground commercial streets, utility tunnels, mine roadways, deep vertical spaces) serve as crucial engineering means for expanding human living space, safeguarding critical infrastructure, and exploiting natural resources. However, their enclosed nature, poor ventilation, and complex evacuation routes usually cause fires to escalate into catastrophes. These fires are typically characterized by high temperature, dense smoke, and toxic gas accumulation, which makes firefighting and evacuation extremely difficult and often leads to severe casualties and significant property loss.

Globally, major fires in tunnels and underground spaces have exposed persistent challenges in our understanding of fire dynamics, the application of prevention and control technologies, and the optimization of emergency management systems. To address these gaps and enhance the safety of such environments, it is imperative to deeply integrate fire theory with practical engineering. This integration is key not only to advancing fire science but also to ensuring the reliable operation of vital urban infrastructure.

This Special Issue on the “Theory and Practice of Tunnel and Underground Fires” aims to gather cutting-edge research results, engineering case studies, and innovative technical solutions from around the globe, establishing an interdisciplinary and cross-regional academic exchange platform. The theme of this Special Issue strictly aligns with the core scope of the journal Fire, encompassing fire science, fire safety, emergency response, and risk management. Centered on critical aspects such as fundamental theory, prevention and control technologies, engineering applications, and emergency management, this Special Issue will help the academic and industrial communities deepen their systematic understanding of the characteristics of these specific fire scenarios.

Suggested theme include, but are not limited to, the following:

Fire Dynamics and Evolution Mechanisms: including combustion characteristics, smoke propagation, and flow field distribution during tunnel and underground space fire.

Fire Detection and Intelligent Monitoring: Innovative fire detection specifically for enclosed or semi-enclosed environments.

Smoke Control and Ventilation System Optimization: Smoke transportation characteristics and ventilation control during tunnel and underground space fire.

Emergency Evacuation Strategies: Personnel evacuation during tunnel and underground space fire especially underground transportation hubs (such as subways and tunnel clusters).

Prof. Dr. Changkun Chen
Dr. Peng Lei
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fire is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• enclosure fire dynamics
• underground and tunnel fire
• smoke transportation characteristics and control
• emergency evacuation
• fire monitoring and early warning