CHAPTER 8

FIRE HAZARD

Fire hazards include all types of live flames, causes of sparks, hot objects, and chemicals that are
potential for ignition, or that can aggravate a fire to become large and uncontrolled. Fire hazards also
include all types of potential threats to fire prevention practices, fire fighting, built-in fire safety systems
and situations that restrict the escape of people from an affected building or area in the event of a fire.
Fire hazards pose threats to life and property. It is, therefore, the prime object of safety systems to
detect, remove or reduce the risk of fire threatened by these potential hazards.

Common Fire Hazards

The following fire hazards are common at home, in public places, transports and workplaces:

• All types of flames used for any work.

• Electric wires, higher loads, loose connections, and old electrical equipment

• All cooking and heat generating appliances.

• All works and situations where fire is essential such as welding, cutting, metal casting etc.

• Improper storage of tools, equipment, and items during and at the end of the day’s work

• Smoking and personal lighters and matches.

• Fireworks, pyro-techniques, ammunitions, and explosives.

• Improper and unauthorized storage of flammable and hazardous materials and chemicals especially
the flammable ones.

• Insufficient capacity and numbers of emergency exits and stairs.

• Hindrance to sight or reach firefighting equipment, markings, and alarm systems.

• Insufficient numbers and types of fire extinguishers.

• Absence of fire detection and alarm system.

• Violation of building and fire codes.

Elements of the Fire Triangle

The fire triangle or combustion triangle is a simple model for understanding the necessary ingredients
for most fires. The triangle illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat, fuel, and an
oxidizing agent (usually oxygen). A fire naturally occurs when the elements are present and combined
in the right mixture, meaning that fire is actually an event rather than a thing. A fire can be prevented or
extinguished by removing any one of the elements in the fire triangle. For example, covering a fire with
a fire blanket removes the oxygen part of the triangle and can extinguish a fire.

Take a look at the diagram below, called the “Fire Triangle”:

Top causes of fire

Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and home fire injuries. Smoking is the
leading cause of civilian home fire deaths. Heating equipment is the second most common cause of
home fire fatalities.

Below are some other common causes of fire:

Kitchen Stoves

•When left unattended.

• Electric cords, curtains, tea towels and oven cloths are so close to the stove top.

• When long flowing sleeves are contacting gas flames.

Faulty Wiring

• If installation was not done by qualified electrician.

• Capacity overload.

• If safety switches and correct fuses were not installed.

Smoking in Bed

• Smoking in bed can cause fire tiny embers can smolder unnoticed and burst into flame much later.

Lighting

• Poor light fittings can cause heat build up.

• Lampshades are so close to light globes and lamp bases that can be knocked over easily.

• Recessed down lights are not properly insulated from wood paneling or ceiling timbers.

Flammable Liquids

• When flammable liquids such as petrol, kerosene, methylated spirits are not stored properly. Storage
should be away from heat.

• Unsafe handling and use of flammable liquids is a potential fire hazard.

Candles

• When candles are left unattended. Do not sleep with a burning candle. When curtains and other
flammable items are close to burning candles.

Children

• When children are playing with fire. Keep all matches, lighters, and candles out of reach of

small children.

• Children are not well oriented about fire hazards and fire safety
Basic Response Procedures during a Fire Incident

The following response procedure was adopted from The University of Chicago Fire Response Plan. It
was summarized by the acronym RACER:

R - Rescue: Rescue people from the immediate area of smoke and/or fire. Make people aware that there
is a fire alarm activation or actual fire within the building.

A- Alarm: Activate the nearest fire alarm station. When telephone is available, call the Police or Fire
Department hotlines. Provide your name, exact location of the emergency, telephone number from
which you are calling and type of emergency you are reporting.

C- Contain: Contain the smoke or fire by closing all windows and doors to rooms, stairways, and
corridors. This is to control fire and smoke from spreading.

E – Extinguish: Extinguish the fire using the appropriate fire extinguisher for the type of fire being fought.
Only attempt to fight the fire if you are comfortable using a fire extinguisher and the fire is small,
contained, and not spreading beyond the immediate area.

R – Relocate: Relocate to a safe area. When inside building, relocate outside of the building and away
from the main entrance. Do not use elevators within the building as a means of exit. Use the stairways,
only.

For the sake of enhancement, letter “S” is added to the acronym which stands for:

S- Secure: Secure first important documents, money, and heirlooms when fire brakes out inside your
own residence. These things are easier to take as you go out from the house than the appliances which
can be replaced easily.

Fire Emergency and Evacuation Plan

A Fire Emergency Evacuation Plan (FEEP) is a written document which includes the action to be taken
by all staff in the event of fire and the arrangements for calling the fire brigade. It can include any relevant
information in relation to the FEEP.

Listed below are the salient components of a Fire Emergency and Evacuation Plan:

• Fire evacuation strategy

• Action on discovering a fire

• Action on hearing the fire alarm

• Calling the fire brigade

• Power/process isolation

• Identification of key escape routes

• Fire marshals

• Places of assembly and roll call.

•Firefighting equipment provided.

• Training required.
• Personal Emergence Evacuation Plan

• Liaison with emergency services

I.Fire evacuation strategy

There is a need to consider how the evacuation of the premises is arranged in the light of risk
assessment undertaken and the other fire precautions intended to be put in place.

II. Action on hearing the fire alarm

The plan should instruct all personnel upon hearing the fire alarm to act in accordance with the agreed
FEEP strategy.

III. Calling the fire brigade

The Fire Service should also be informed immediately, either by switchboard operator or person
discovering fire, dependent on conditions.

IV. Power/process isolation

Close Down Procedure – Design your own ‘Close Down’ procedure as appropriate to given setting.

V. Identification of key escape routes

In premises where members of the public or persons unfamiliar with layout of the premises are present
there should be means available to identify the key escape routes. They could include schematic
drawings and most importantly emergency escape and exit signs.

VI. Fire Wardens/Marshals

A competent person who will be responsible to safeguard the safety of students should be nominated
to implement certain fire safety measures which will include the implementation of the fire evacuation
plan. The general term used for these people are and fire wardens or fire marshals. He should be
someone who is well- trained and have some knowledge of fire prevention to be able to identify possible
fire hazards.

VII. Places of assembly and roll call

Pre-determined assembly points should be arranged and a roll call of students to be taken. The person
who is in charge of the assemble point should report to the person who has been nominated as Fire
Marshal.

VIII. Fire fighting equipment available

A nominated fire team, if available, or any trained competent person should, where possible, attack fire
with appropriate equipment. However, fire fighting is always secondary to life safety.

IX. Training required

The emergency evacuation plan should be the subject of frequent training so all students will become
familiar with its contents and there should be regular evacuation drills. Effective fire routine is
dependent on regular instruction, training, and practice. Regular drills should be carried out using
varying escape routes assuming the normal evacuation route is not available.
X. Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP)

In order to assist disabled or sensory-impaired people to escape from fire it may also be necessary for
students to be trained in the correct procedures to cope with this eventuality. Advice on the specific
needs of disabled and sensory-impaired people can be obtained from organizations representing the
various groups.

XI. Liaison with emergency services

The Fire Marshal should arrange all the necessary contacts with external emergency services and make
them familiar with the school’s fire emergency and action plan. He will be the one to meet the fire and
rescue service when they arrived to provide them with any information they require.