Final answer:
The application of water to a fire causes a transition by reducing the fire's energy through cooling and smothering, similar to condensation and freezing phase changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When water application begins on a fire compartment, the fire starts to transition from a high-energy phase to a lower-energy state, primarily through processes like cooling and smothering the fire. This can be related to phase changes such as condensation (gas to liquid) and freezing (liquid to solid), although in the context of firefighting, the primary goal is reducing the temperature and oxygen available to the fire thereby reducing its intensity or extinguishing it altogether.
In the given scenario, as water is applied, the energy of the fire system decreases. When firefighters use water, fluorinated solutions, or foams, they are aiming to reduce the fire's energy. The applied substance absorbs heat from the fire as part of its heat capacity, and in the case of foam, it may also create a barrier between the fire and its fuel source, further reducing the fire's energy by preventing oxygen from reaching it.