Special Issue on Advances in Underground Space Fire Safety

Introduction

The rapid global expansion of underground infrastructure such as metro systems, road tunnels, utility tunnels, and underground commercial hubs, has intensified the need for fire safety solutions. Unlike above-ground environments, underground spaces face unique fire risks due to confined layouts, limited ventilation, and complex evacuation passages.  

Major incidents, such as the 2013 Moscow metro fire and the 2013 Yilin Town Underground Shopping Center fire in Changchun, China (both causing significant human casualties and property damages), underscore the need for research on underground space fires. Deeper investigations are required to understand fire dynamics in underground environments, optimize smoke extraction systems, and develop fire detection technologies along with effective personnel evacuation strategies.

Current research on underground space fire safety spans multiple disciplines, including civil engineering, materials science, urban planning and human behavior studies. This fragmentation, however, hinders the development of holistic solutions. Furthermore, emerging technologies (e.g., AI-driven fire evacuation models, IoT-based fire monitoring systems) and new building materials (e.g., fire-resistant composites) need to be systematically evaluated for underground applications.

This special issue aims to deepen the understanding of fire dynamics and safety control in underground space through the rigorous selection of high-quality papers, promote international exchange via the journal platform, and provide theoretical and technical support for global underground space safety.

Topics Covered

• Smoke propagation and control in underground space fires
• Fire evacuation and emergency rescue techniques for underground spaces
• Application of digital twin technology in underground space fire safety
• Fire characteristics of new energy vehicles and challenges in fire prevention and suppression for underground spaces
• Application of intelligent firefighting technology in the early warning and control of underground space fires

Important Deadlines

• Submission close: 30 June 2026
• Final decision: 31 Dec 2026

Submission Instructions

Please read the Guide for Authors before submitting. All articles should be submitted online ; please select the special issue “Fire Safety” 

Guest Editors

Chuangang Fan, Professor, Central South University, China

Email: chuangang.fan@csu.edu.cn

Jie Ji, Professor, University of Science and Technology of China, China

Email: jijie232@ustc.edu.cn

Maohua Zhong, Professor, Tsinghua University, China

Email: mhzhong@tsinghua.edu.cn

Ricky Carvel, Senior Lecturer, The University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Email: ricky@tunnelfiresafety.co.uk