A fire in a compartment is classified as _____.

A fire in a compartment is classified as ventilation-limited when the growth and intensity of the fire are restricted by the available oxygen supply rather than the amount of combustible material present. In such scenarios, the fire's behavior is heavily influenced by how much air can enter the enclosure, which determines the rate of combustion.

In a ventilation-limited situation, a fire may not reach its full potential because it is unable to obtain sufficient oxygen to sustain or increase its intensity. This can lead to a phenomenon known as 'flashing over' when sudden and enhanced ventilation occurs, allowing more oxygen to enter, which can result in rapid and explosive fire growth. Understanding this classification is crucial for fire officers, as it informs their tactics in firefighting, ventilation strategies, and safety precautions within a burning structure.

The other classifications, such as fuel-limited or heat-limited, do not accurately capture the primary factor limiting the fire in favor of oxygen availability, highlighting why ventilation-limited is the most appropriate answer.