LESSON 4.

CAUSES AND BEHAVIORS OF FIRE

Objectives: In this lesson, you will be learning about the circumstances that cause fire
and its behaviors. It is also the aim of this lesson for the students to be able to:
1. enumerate the causes of fire through activity on brainstorming; and
2. differentiate the behaviors of fire by performing a mini activity.

CAUSES OF FIRE

I. NATURAL CAUSES
1. SPONTANEEOUS HEATING – automatic chemical reaction that result to
spontaneous combustion due to auto – ignition of organic material; the gradual
rising of heat in a confined space until ignition temperature is reached.
2. LIGHTNING – a form of static electricity; a natural electric current with great
magnitude, producing tremendous amperage and voltage.
• Lightning usually strikes objects that are better electrical conductors than air.
Lightning can cause fire directly or indirectly. Indirectly when it strikes telephone
and other power line or transmission lines, causing induced line surge.
• Lightning can cause a flash fire or dust explosion. When lightning strikes a steel
or lightning rod covered with dust, the dust will suddenly burn thus resulting to an
explosion. A lightning may be in the form of: A) HOTBOLT or B) COLDBOLT.
3. RADIATION of sunlight – when a light hits a concave glass, concentrating the
light on a combustible material thereby igniting it.

II. ACCIDENTAL CAUSES

ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS
1. SHORT CIRCUIT – unusual or accidental connection between points at
different potentials (charge) in an electrical circuit of relatively low
resistance.
2. ARCING – Production of sustained luminous electrical discharge between
separated electrodes; an electric hazard that results when an electrical
current crosses the gap between 2 (two) electrical conductor.
 3. SPARKING – Production of incandescent particles when two potentials
come in contact, occurs during short circuit or welding operations.
4. INDUCED CURRENT or INDUCED LINE SURGE – Increase of electrical
energy flow or power voltage; or increase of electrical current resulting to
the burning of insulating materials, exploding of the fuse box, or burning of
active electrical appliances.
5. OVERHEATING of electrical appliances – increase or rising of amperage
while electric current is flowing in a transmission line resulting to the
damage or destruction of insulating materials, maybe gradual or rapid,
external or internal.

III. INTENTIONAL CAUSES

If in the burned property, there are preparation or traces of accelerant, plants and
trailers then the cause of fire is intentional.

FIRE BEHAVIOR
Behavior of fire maybe further understood by considering the principles of thermal
balance and thermal imbalance. THERMAL BALANCE refers to the rising movement or
pattern of the fire, or it is the normal behavior when the fire is undisturbed. THERMAL
IMBALANCE on the other hand is the abnormal movement of fire due to the interference
of foreign matter. Thermal imbalance usually confuses the fire investigator in determining
the exact point where the fire originated.

DANGEROUS / FATAL BEHAVIOR OF FIRE:

1. BACKDRAFT
Is the sudden and rapid burning of heated gasses in a confined area that occurs
in the form of explosion. This may occur because of improper ventilation. If a room is not
properly ventilated, highly flammable vapors maybe accumulated such that when a door
or a window is suddenly opened, the room violently sucks the oxygen, a sudden
combustion may occur which may result to/ or happen as an explosion.

2. FLASHOVER
It is the sudden ignition of accumulated radical gasses produced when there is
incomplete combustion of fuels. It is the sudden burning of free radicals, which is initiated
by a spark/ flash produced when temperature rises until flash point. When accumulated
volume of radical gasses suddenly burns, there will be a very intense fire that is capable
of causing flames to jump at a certain distance in the form of FIRE BALL. Fireballs can
travel within a hundred yard in a matter of few seconds.
3. BITEBACK
A fatal condition that takes place when the fire resists extinguisher operation and
becomes stronger and bigger instead.
4. FLASH FIRE
It is better known as dust explosion. This may happen when a metal post that is
covered completely with dust is going to be hit with a lightning. The dust particles
covering the metal burst simultaneously, thus creating a violent chemical reaction that
produces a very bright flash followed by an explosion.