Wisps or small fingers of flame that dance in the superheated smoke layer overhead during a compartment fire. They indicate that the unburned gases in the smoke are reaching their ignition temperature. This is a critical warning sign that the room is approaching rollover or flashover conditions.
Heard on the job
We saw angel fingers rolling across the ceiling and immediately backed out to hit it from the hallway.
Insider tip
When you see these flames in the smoke layer, you have seconds to cool the environment before the entire room ignites.