Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting in Libraries

Rajasekhar Gopalasetti1
Prof C. Sasikala2
1 Junior Research Fellow, Deptt. Of Library and Information Science, Andhra University.
E-Mail: kingsekhar143@gmail.com.
2 Librarian, Dr. V S Krishna Library, Andhra University. E-Mail: prof.csasikala@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Libraries and information centers are exposed to a complete range of disasters. No library is entirely free
from risk and disasters. They can happen anywhere at any time. Library resources are constantly requires security,
safety and to safe guard them from environment, atmospheric hazards, natural threats, user and staff behavior etc.
The disasters can be divided in to two types according to the nature of occurrence. They are natural disasters and
manmade disasters. Natural disasters are brought about by change in natural phenomenon or what is known as acts
of god. The extent of loss experienced is dependent on the vulnerability of the population. On the other hand,
manmade disasters are influenced by humans and they are caused often as a result of negligence and human error
among other factors. Among all type of manmade disasters fire is the mainly dangerous and most damageable
disaster in libraries.
Further most of the libraries in developing countries are paper based libraries containing nearly 90% of
books, magazines and periodicals etc. Libraries are mostly equipped with wooden/ plastic chairs, wooden catalogue
cabinets, wooden reading tables etc. These materials are combustible at a low flash point which can be caused by
manmade/ electrical short circuit.
This article first provides an introduction on nature of disasters usually libraries may come across. Then it examines
specifically disasters caused because of fire, examples of libraries damaged in fire accidents from India and abroad.
It explains scientific and theoretical aspects of fire and their impact, reasons for fire accidents and preventive
measures available to avoid or lesser the damage caused due to fire accidents in libraries.
Key Words: Fire Fighting, Fire Prevention, Types of Fire, Library, Books, Furniture, Disasters in libraries,
Extinguisher, CO2 , DCP, AFFF.
Introduction:
Libraries and Information Centers as Social Institutions are bestowed with the responsibility of not only
sharing the knowledge but also preserving them for future generations. Libraries and information centers are exposed
to a wide range of disasters. No library is entirely free from risk and disasters. They can happen anywhere at any
time.
Disasters can be categorized according to the primary cause i.e natural disasters and manmade disasters.
Natural disasters happen because of change in natural phenomena and its like acts of god. Floods , tornados,
hurricanes, heavy rains, earthquakes, cyclones, landslides, droughts, cloudbursts and tsunamis are said to be natural
disasters. Manmade disasters are caused because of negligence or human errors like fires, accidents, chemical
reactions, nuclear radiations, bomb blasts, war, terrorism, building collapse and electricity failure etc. Natural
disasters are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure people and damage property and
cannot be assumed, where as manmade disasters occur due to negligence or error of humans so these types of
disasters can be prevented with care and proper use of safety material and by following the safety measures.
The following figure illustrates the basic types of disasters:

Among all types of manmade disasters fire is on top of the list always. Earlier major portion of library
resources are imprint form. But most of the contemporary libraries can be termed as hybrid libraries holding all types
of materials. Beside paper based material they hold plastic, rubber, film based materials. All the electronic & digital
gadgets are supported by electrical wiring and fittings which are prone to fire accidents. Further libraries usually
holds combustible material like books, wooden shelves, wooden cabinets, wooden chairs and plastic chairs. In this
backdrop there is a dire need to develop a good and strong fire fighting system in libraries to prevent the loss of
books and other library properties from fire besides the human lives.
Historical examples of Libraries damaged due to Fire:
Following are some examples of libraries damaged or destroyed due to fire. Some of the accidents are caused
by nature of environment and some are created by human errors.
1. In May, 1943 a fire completely destroyed the National Library of Peru, with the loss of 100,000 volumes as well
as 40,000 manuscripts.
2. The Jewish Theological Seminary Library, New York, in April, 1966 destroyed many books which had escaped
destruction in Europe during the Second World War. About 70,000 books were burned while the remaining 150,000
were damaged by water.
3. USSR Academy of Sciences Library in Leningrad, in February 1988 which destroyed or damaged about 3.6
million books. The library also lost 400,000 newspapers and scientific periodicals. (van der Hoeven, & van Albada,
1996).
4. The Artificial Intelligence Library at University of Edinburgh was destroyed due to fire in 2002. The library
housed a unique and historic collection of publications on the topic, dating from the early years of the development
of the field. (Battersby, 2005)
5 A fire due to old wiring resulted in the loss of a medical library having rare materials at Radcliffe Infirmary at
Oxford, England in 1971. (Buchanan, 1988)

6. The Los Angeles Central Library lost nearly 400,000 volumes out of a total of 2.1 million due to a deliberately-set
fire in April, 1986. Another 700,000 volumes were water-soaked or dampened, while all remaining books suffered
smoke damage. The largest and oldest collection of patents and inventions in the American West and large
collections of cook books were lost. (van der Hoeven, & van Albada, 1996)
7. A fire in the basement of the University of New Mexicos Zimmerman Library in April 2006 destroyed 30,000
bound volumes of periodicals and also damaged and destroyed library furniture. Shelving had leaned by 45 degrees
with wet books. An accelerant was used to start the fire. (Gugliootta, 2006)
8. The California Aerospace Museum and Library at San Diego was totally destroyed in 1977 by an arson fire
resulting in a loss of $16,000,000. (Buchanan, 1988)
9. The library of 15,000 to 20,000 books at the Sikh Cultural Society Temple in Queens, New York city was virtually
destroyed in 2002 because of a fire. Many of the destroyed books on Sikh culture and Punjbai history were out of
print and impossible to replace. (Fire..., 2002)
Some examples of fire accidents in Indian libraries:
1. The Nalanda University, one of the greatest centres of
learning during the ancient period, dates back to
the sixth century B.C. Considered to be a
monastic university of international repute, this
university once sheltered both Buddha and
Mahavira. According to Tibetan accounts, ancient
NalandaUniversitys
library
called
Dharmaganjaconsisted of three grand buildings
called
Ratnasagara,
Ratnodadhi
and
Ratnaganjaka. The whole establishment is
surrounded by a brick wall. When the savage Bakhtiyar Khilji sacked Nalanda, the library burnt for 3 months.
Nothing denotes the violent end to the knowledge enshrined at Nalanda more than the image of the burning
library: a library whose vast resources are captured in the vivid image of the length of time it took to burn.
2. On 26th april, 2016 smoke rises from the National Museum of Natural History in New Delhi. it is said to have
housed over 60,000 Books, bound Journals
and old editions of Indian and International
wildlife Magazines. It had handwritten books
by surveyors from the British era with rare
info on Indias flora and fauna species in the
19th and 20th century. When fire was
controlled it is found that the entire collection
of books and periodicals and other material of
library was burnt.
3. On 23rd march, 2016 the AKG Memorial
Library, Malappuram, Kerala went up in a burst
of flames. More than 5,000 books, several rare
manuscripts and numerous musical instruments
were lost. The cost of the damages is estimated to
be around Rs. 40 lakh Indian rupees.
4. On 9th september,2016 inside the server room of the
library of Presidency University at College Street,
Kolkata was fired due to some kind of electrical botch-up from the air conditioning machine, the officials were
taken a quick action and the library was not effected with any loss.
Theory of Fire:

Chemical reaction causing fire: using a fire tetrahedron we can explain how a chemical reaction causes fire in a
particular environment. Essentially four elements must be present for fire to occur. Removal of any one of these
essential elements will result in the fire being extinguished. The four elements are oxygen to sustain combustion,
sufficient heat to raise the material to its ignition temperature, fuel or combustible material and subsequently an
exothermic chemical chain reaction in the material. Theoretically, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking away one
or more elements of the fire tetrahedron.

Fire Tetrahedron

Classification of Fire:
Fires can be classified into following categories according to the fire causing substances as class A, B, C, D, E and F
(K).
Class A: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Ordinary combustible materials such as
wood, cloth, paper, and some rubber and plastic materials is classified as class A fire.
Class B: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Flammable or combustible liquids such as
petrol, propane, kerosene, gasoline, paint and paint thinners etc is classified as class B fire.
Class C: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with flammable gases such as propane, butane,
methane etc is classified as class C fire.
Class D: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Combustible metals such as magnesium,
titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium, and zirconium is classified as class D fire.
Class E: These are fires involving any of the materials found in Class A and B fires, but including electrical
appliances, wiring, or other electrically wound up objects in the vicinity of the fire, with a resultant electrical shock
risk if a conductive agent is used to control the fire.
Class F (Class K): These are fires involving cooking fats and oils. The high temperature of these types of fats and
oil when on fire far exceeds that of other flammable liquids.
The emergency protection plan should consider the following aspects of safety.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Life safety.
Fire prevention.
Safeguarding ignition sources.
Safeguarding fuel sources.
Passive fire protection measures.
Fire detection system.
Fire suppression system.

Life Safety in libraries:

Libraries should give more importance to safeguarding the lives of its staff and visitors than the preservation
of the library collections. Libraries should follow the policy of safety first. Library authority should ensure that
staff knows what to do in case of fire in libraries.
Fire Prevention in Libraries:
In case of fire accidents, always prevention is better than cure
As righty said by Kofi Annan (1999) More effective prevention strategies would save not only tens of
billions of dollars, but save tens of thousands of lives. Funds currently spent on intervention and relief could be
devoted to enhancing equitable and sustainable development instead, which would further reduce the risk for war
and disaster. Building a culture of prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present,
its benefits lie in a distant future. Moreover, the benefits are not tangible; they are the disasters that did NOT happen
Fire prevention must be adopted in a canonical way by every library as fire constitutes one of the most
potential and lethal hazards for the books as well as libraries. It is entirely the responsibility of management and staff
to minimize the possibilities of outbreak of fire by following certain rules and regulations meant for this purpose.

Although, the chances of fire taking place by accident can never be completely eliminated but the chances of its
occurrence can certainly be reduced to minimum.
Right from the designing of the structure of the library building to the implementation of the rules and
regulations and implementation of safety standards, each area should be upgraded continuously in the light of the
increase in experience and better technology to prevent fires that occurs in library.
Many fire accidents occur due to poor housekeeping operations performed in homes and organizations.
Libraries are not exempted from an exemption to this. Good housekeeping is as essential outdoors as it is within
structures. Standard cleanliness and order is perhaps one or the important element in fire prevention. Regular
disposal of wastepaper and other combustive waste are of utmost importance to prevent the fire. Exposed light bulbs
near flammable material, careless disposal of cigarettes and matches and unprotected electrical wirings and fittings
also the sources of fire accidents in libraries.
Fire Detection system:
Fire can be detected in two ways i.e first way is by humans visible eye and smell of smoke and second one is
fire detection by available fire detectors. Device that gives a warning in case of occurance of fire is called fire
detector, it works on the principle that whenever fire occurs the atmosphere around the fire place gets changed and
these changes are sensed by the fire detector which in that case raises the alarm. Automatic fire detection is more
reliable than relying entirely on the detection of the fire by the human beings. Any sign of fire even if of the slightest
nature is immediately detected by the system. It works round the clock and so keeps a vigil continuously. It gives
ample time for the fire fighting personnel to act accordingly because any delay in the detection and the action taken
as a consequence may prove to be more fatal and more devastating, heat, smoke and flame are the most common
elements used to detect fire.
Types of fire Detection:
All the fire detectors sense heat, smoke, flame or other indications of fire. They are of different types and some of
them are as follows:
1. Heat detectors operate when the rate of the temperature in the surrounding increase beyond a set limit.
2. Smoke detectors which operate when smoke obscures a beam of light falling on a photo electric cell.
3. Smoke detectors which operate when a beam of light is scattered by smoke and caused to fall on photo
electric cell.
4. Smoke detectors which operate when an electric current flowing through an ionized atmosphere is changed
by combustion products.
5. Flame detectors which react to radiation emitting from flame.
6. A sprinkler system also incorporates an automatic fire detection alarm and extinguishing system.
Heat activated fire detectors:
These are heat sensitive and operate between 54 C to 78 C temperature. There are three types of heat activate
detectors:
1. Fixed temperature detectors these initiate a fire alarm when the temperature around the device reaches to
pre defined or a pre set temperature value.
2. Rate of rise of temperature detectors they are activated when the rise in temperature increases faster than
the pre set value. Rate of rise detectors sense temperature changes rather than the temperature itself.
3. Combination of fixed temperature and rate of temperature rise detectors fixed temperature detector will not
initiate an alarm until the detector temperature reaches pre set operating temperature. Thus fixed temperature
detector will not activate alarm immediately when a fire breaks out. Hence in most of the cases fixed

temperature detectors and rate of rise detectors are used together. Here alarm is activated when the
temperature rises at faster rate than a pre set rate. Both of them when used in combination is more effective
Smoke detectors:
They are smoke sensitive and the change in density of smoke intiate them. They operate when smoke density is in
the range of 2% to 12 % per cubic meter in air. A smoke detector will detect most fires much faster than a heat
detector. It is also covers more area for detection of fire than the heat detectors. There are two types of smoke
detectors:
1. Ionization smoke detectors.
2. Photo electric smoke detectors.
Flame detectors:
The normal flame consists of three parts viz. infra red rays, visible light and ultra violet rays. Infra red rays
and ultra violet rays are invisible to naked eyes. Like light, flame also travels in the form of electromagnetic waves
known as electro radiation. The infra red rays radiation and ultra violet rays radiation can also be used to detect fire.
Visible light is not used for detection of fire as the flame detector cannot differentiate between visible light of fire
and from other sources. These infra red radiation and ultra violet radiation have particular frequency of 25 hz.
Infrared flame detector lense/ filter unit allow only infrared rays to pass through goes to amplifier unit and time
delay unit before passing into alarm circuit. This is most useful in open space and very quick in detection.

Automatic sprinkler system:

They are automatic fire detection, alarm and extinguishing system. The system consists of pressurized pipes
filled with a number of sprinkler heads, which are so arranged that every part of each space requiring protection is
adequately covered. Each head has glass or quartzoid bulb which retains a diaphragm seal at the outlet if the water
pipe. This bulb is partially filled with a special fluid so arranged that rise in temperature in the concerned
compartment will cause the liquid to expand and when the liquid has expanded entirely and filled the space the bulb
unable to with stand further pressure, bursts the water pressure forces diaphragm out and water flows from the
sprinkler. The usual temperature at which bulb bursts in 68 C or 93 C and each sprinkler cover an area of 12 square
meter.

Working of automatic sprinkler system

Methods of Fire Fighting:
The selection of fire extinguisher is determined by what is burning, and the method of attacking the fire is
determined by location of fire. Plan for firefighting is worked out before a fire actually occurs depending upon so
many factors eg. Type of libraries, type of material available and man power.
Fire fighting requires great team work, skills, which can only be developed through constant drills, pre fire
plans and developing coordination among personnel.
There are two acronyms popular regarding fire fighting method, they are FIRE and RACE
FIRE

Find find out where the fire occurred

Inform Inform the occurrence of fire by shouting Fire Fire Fire to attract others.
Restrict restrict the fire to spread.
Extinguish stop the fire by using proper and suitable extinguisher.

RACE

Rescue assist any one in immediate danger and help get them to a safe area as fast as possible
Alarm alert others by activating any available alarm system.
Contain confine the fire as much as possible by closing doors and windows behind you during evacuation.
Extinguish only attempt to put out the fire if it is small, you have proper equipment and it is safe to do so
yourself.

The initial attack for firefighting must be backed by a full onslaught in a determined manner. Water should be
very judiciously used for firefighting purpose. Fixed extinguishing systems must be used as a last resort. The fire

must be confined to the place of its origin, by restricting the flow of air to and from the place of fire by cooling the
adjacent places.
Principles of Fire Fighting:
The principles of firefighting rest on the removal of one of the sides of the fire triangle/ fire tetrahedron. It has
been shown by the fire triangle and fire tetrahedron that three of four factors are essential to combustion. Namely
fuel, oxygen and heat. Fire extinction, in principle, consist in the limitation of one or more of these factors and the
methods of extinguishing fire may therefore be classified conveniently under the following headings:

Starvation Removal of fuel from the fire

Smothering - Removal of oxygen from the neighborhood of burning material. This can be achieved by
Blanketing, sanding, extinguishing with CO2 or Dry Chemical Powder (DCP)
Cooling Removal of Heat/ reducing the temperature.

Basic and small fires can be extinguished by using sand, blanket or water. Water is the most usable extinguisher
for general fires. Chemical Extinguishers can be broadly divided into two types i.e fixed fire extinguishers and
portable fire extinguishers. Fixed fire extinguisher system is most expensive and may not be suitable to our libraries.
Portable fire extinguishers are for immediate use in the early stages of a fire. They should not be expected to deal
with large fires since they have a limited duration of use and capacity. Portable extinguishers may be divided into
five categories according to the extinguishing agent they contain, namely:
Portable Fire Extinguishers:
1. Water Type This type of extinguishers are purely works with water for extinguishing the fire where as co2
cartridge is used for compressing the water to send it forcefully. This type of extinguishers are used for only
class A type fires.
2. Foam Type in this type of extinguishers, foam concentrate (AFFF) is stores as a solution in water and a co2
cartridge also used. These types of extinguishers are used for Class A and Class B type fires.
3. Dry Chemical Powder These types of fire extinguishers are suitable for tackling Class A, Class B, Class C
and fires involved in electrical equipments (Class E) also. These extinguishers are noted for their speedy
action, are mainly used on low flash point liquid fires and high pressure gas fires. The powders employed are
usually sodium based and when applied to a fire, undergo a chemical reaction. The free radicals which are
responsible for sustaining any fire are put out of action by the dry powders and the fire dies out very fast.
4. Dry Special Powder special dry powders containing mixtures of sodium, potassium an barium compounds
have been found useful in extinguishing fire in metals (Class D) such sodium and magnesium.
5. Co2 Gas - carbon dioxide is effective as an extinguishing agent because it reduces the oxygen content of air
to a point where combustion cannot continue. Co2 is non combustible and does not react with most
substances. Being a gas it penetrates and spreads to all areas affected by air. These type of extinguishers are
use for Class B and Class E fires.
6. Wet Chemical - Wet Chemical Extinguishers are suitable for use on Class A & F Fires. These ranges of
extinguishers are specialists in regards to cooking fires caused by fat and oils.
Suggestions to be followed in every library to prevent and control fire accidents:
For prevention of fire in libraries the following measure may be followed and strictly implemented:
1. Fire plan should be prepared for all libraries and displayed at main entrance of library, which shows the
location of fire extinguishers and way guides for emergency exit.
2. Contact details in bold letters should be pasted at all entrances to view clearly by library users when they
are entering the library. This will help to contact in case of fire.
3. Library users and staff should be oriented about the fire extinguishers and emergency exits at the time of
library orientation class.

4. External stair cases should be constructed for all floors of library and these should be free from blockage.
5. Cigarette smoking must be strictly prohibited inside the library. Smoking is a fire hazard because of the
temperature of a burning cigarette, which is 500 C.
6. Library users should be instructed not to bring any type of flammable material inside.
7. If possible libraries may restrict the mobile phones inside the library.
8. Library staff should be trained at least once in a year about the fire fighting methods and use of portable
fire extinguishers.
9. Use pattern of portable fire extinguishers should be displayed at every stand of fire extinguisher. So that
library user also can react immediately in case of fire occurs.
10. Ensure the doors and windows of library rooms for their tight closeness.
11. Ensure the proper ventilation provided in libraries.
12. Ensure the electrical fittings and wirings in libraries and in main server room for their proper insulation.
13. Big libraries may fix the automatic sprinkler system, which is most advanced and reduces the loss of
library properties.
14. Libraries may fix the heat, smoke and flame detectors for a fast and immediate fire fighting action.
15. Escape routes should be provided and proper guiding routes to be displayed in libraries.
16. Power to unoccupied cabins should be put off.

CONCLUSION:
The focus of this paper is to emphasize prevention measures one should be following to avoid the most
prevalent threat faced by all libraries i.e. FIRE. No library is immune from fire. Until the managements of
libraries develop plans for dealing with the fire threat, they place the building and its occupants, visitors, and
collections at risk. The complexity of these plans may vary from a simple evacuation plan, to a fire prevention
program, to a more complex plan that includes passive and automatic fire protection systems.
Damage from fire, however, is usually permanent and irreparable. Property damaged by floods can often be
dried out and restored. Structural damage from an earthquake might be repaired. Stolen property always has a
chance of being recovered. Historical buildings or contents, once reduced to ash, can never be restored. Fire is
more cunning and less discriminating than a thief (Wilson, J Andrew). It can travel (spread) through very small
openings and concealed spaces to reach other parts of a building, deprive occupants of a life supporting
environment, and cause partial to total destruction of property. So, prevention is better than cure in fire accidents.
At the very least, every library should have an emergency self-protection plan that spells out how to report a fire
and safely evacuate the premises by the incumbents. A thorough, objective, periodic inspection of the library by
municipal fire inspectors or by fire safety specialists, and the regular inspection, testing and maintenance of fire
detection and extinguishing installations by specialists is also very important for maintaining the fire safety
system in the library.
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Authors Biography:
First Author:
Rajasekhar Gopalasetti is a Junior Research Fellow in Deptt. of Library and
Information
Science, Andhra University, India. He received his bachelor's degree in Computer Science
from Andhra University and a Master degree in Library and Information Science from
Acharya Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He has Qualified UGC NET
JRF in Dec-2015 and APSET in Sept-2016. His Interests of Research include Information
Technology in Libraries, usage of mobile application for Library needs, Cloud Computing in
Libraries

Second Author:
Prof. Sasikala Chagari is a Professor in Library and Information Science, Deptt. of
Library and Information Science, Andhra University. She is presently serving as a
Librarian in Dr. V S Krishna Library (Main Library), Andhra University and Chairman,
Board of Studies in Deptt. Of Library and Information sicence. Her interests are
Information Technology in libraries, digital libraries, etc.