A passenger's laptop catches fire. After extinguishing the flames, they reignite seconds later. This is an example of what?

The scenario involves a fire that reignites shortly after being extinguished, which is indicative of "Thermal Runaway." This term describes a situation where a device—like a laptop—overheats to the point that its internal components, such as batteries, can cause a rapid increase in temperature and combustion even after apparent extinguishment. This can occur especially with lithium-ion batteries, which can become unstable under certain conditions leading to recurrent ignition.

In this instance, after the flames are put out, residual heat or damaged components could cause flammable materials to reignite, making it a classic case of thermal runaway. It's crucial for flight attendants to understand this phenomenon to ensure safety protocols are properly implemented in the event of such incidents.

The other options, while related to fire, do not accurately describe the phenomenon of immediate re-ignition seen in this scenario. Flashover refers to the rapid spread of fire throughout a space, backdraft involves a sudden explosion of fire when oxygen is reintroduced, and the fire triangle outlines the elements necessary for fire to occur. None of these terms correspond to the specific issue of a fire re-igniting after being extinguished.