What is the term for the systematic removal of heated air, smoke, and fire gases from a burning building?

The term that describes the systematic removal of heated air, smoke, and fire gases from a burning building is ventilation. This process is crucial in firefighting as it helps to improve visibility and create a safer environment for both firefighters and any potential occupants. Effective ventilation reduces the heat, smoke, and toxic gases inside the structure, thereby preventing fire from spreading and aiding in extinguishing efforts.

While exhaust might refer to the act of expelling air, it does not specifically convey the organized process of controlling smoke and heat flow that ventilation does. Evacuation refers to the process of removing people from a dangerous area, which, although important in emergencies, is not related to the physical dynamics of managing smoke and heat during a fire. Clearing is a more general term and does not specifically pertain to the management of air and smoke in a structural fire context.