In which stage does available fuel become consumed, leading to a fuel controlled fire?

In the decay stage, the available fuel becomes consumed, leading to a fuel-controlled fire. During this stage, the fire has already utilized the majority of the available fuel, and the combustion process begins to diminish. As the fuel continues to deplete, the rate of heat release decreases, and the fire transitions into a controlled state where the amount of available fuel influences the fire's characteristics, such as temperature and intensity. This stage signifies a shift from a fully developed fire, where heat and fuel are abundant, to one that is being limited by the available fuel resources, thus demonstrating the principle of fuel control. Understanding this stage is crucial for predicting fire behavior and implementing effective fire suppression strategies.