FIRE TRIANGLE

- is a simple model for understanding the necessary

ingredients in most fires

- illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite:

heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent (usually oxygen)
HEAT
A heat source is responsible for
the initial ignition of fire, and is also needed
to maintain the fire and enable is to spread.
Heat allows fire to spread by drying out
and preheating nearby fuel and warming
surrounding air.
The first element in the fire triangle is HEAT, which is
perhaps the most essential of fire elements.
A fire cannot ignite unless it has a certain amount of heat,
and it cannot grow without heat either.
One of the first things firefighters do to extinguish a fire is
to apply a cooling agent usually water. Another cooling agent
is a chemical fire retardant such as the ones used in fire
extinguishers.
FUEL

Fuel is any kind of combustible material.

It is characterized by its moisture content,
size, shape, quantity and the arrangement
in which it is spread over the landscape.
The moisture content determines how
easily it will burn.
The second element in a fire triangle is FUEL.
A fire needs a fuel source in order to burn. The fuel source
can be anything that is flammable, such as wood, paper, fabric or
chemicals.
Once the fuel element of the fire triangle is removed, the fire
will go out.
OXYGEN
Air contains about 21% of oxygen,
and most fires require at least 16% of
oxygen content to burn. Oxygen supports
the chemical processes that occur during
fire. When fuel burns, it reacts with oxygen
from the surrounding air, releasing heat
and generating combustion products
( gases, smoke, embers, etc. ). This process
is known as oxidation.
The final element of the fire triangle is OXYGEN, which is
also an essential component of fire.
A fire needs oxygen to start and continue, that is why one
recommendation for extinguishing a small fire is to smother
it with a non-flammable blanket, sand or dirt.
A decrease in the concentration of oxygen retards the
combustion process. In large fires where firefighters are
called in, decreasing the amount of oxygen is not usually an
option because there is no effective way to make that happen
in an extended area.
THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF HOUSE FIRES
(MAN-MADE)
1. Cooking equipment
- Pots and pans can overheat and cause
a fire very easily if the person cooking gets
distracted and leaves cooking unattended.

2. Heating
- Keep portable heaters at least one meter
away from anything that could easily catch fire
such as furniture, laundry, clothes and even
yourself.
3. Smoking in bedroom
- Bedrooms are best to be kept off
limits for smoking. A cigarette that is not
put out properly can cause flame, as the
butt may still alit for a few hours.

Did you know that fires started in the bedroom or lounge make up 73% of all
house fire fatalities?
4. Electrical equipment
- An electrical appliance such as a toaster
can start a fire if it is faulty or has a frayed
chord. A power point that is over loaded
with double adapter plugs can cause a fire
from an overuse of electricity.

5. Candles
- Candles look and smell pretty, but if left
unattended, they can cause a room to easily burst
into flames.

Did you know that in Perth, last year, 34 house

fires started as a result of candles?
6. Curious children
- Kids can cause a fire out of
curiosity to see what would happen
if they set fire to
an object.

7. Faulty wiring
- Homes with inadequate wiring can cause fires
from electrical hazards. Some signs to see if you’ve
bad wiring are:
i. Lights dim if you use another appliance
ii. For an appliance to work, you have to
disconnect another;
iii. Fuses blow or trip the circuit frequently.
8. Barbeques
- Barbeques are great for an outdoor
meal, but should always be used away from
the home, tablecloths or any plants and tree
branches.

9. Flammable liquids
-If you have any flammable liquids in the
home or garage such as petrol, kerosene or
methylated spirits, keep them away from heat
sources and check the label before storing.
(NATURAL)
10. Lightning
- (meaning kang lightning with
regards to fires)

11. Volcanic Eruption

- (meaning kang volcanic eruption
with regards to fires)
CLASSES OF FIRE

CLASS A
- fuels are ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, plastic or
anything that leaves ash.
CLASS B
- fuels are flammable or combustible liquids like petroleum oil,
gasoline, paint, and flammable gases such as propane and butane.
Cooking oils and grease are NOT part of class B fires
CLASS C
- fuels are energized electrical fires like motors, transformers and
appliances. Once the power or source of electricity is removed, the fire
becomes one of the other class of fire.
 CLASS D
- fuels are combustible metals like potassium, sodium,
aluminum, titanium and magnesium.
CLASS K
- fuels are cooking oils, grease such as animal fat and
vegetable fats.
SOME SAFETY TIPS TO DO
,
AND A FIRE
Install smoke detectors. Check them monthly. Check the batteries
yearly, whether they need or not.
Develop an escape plan for different areas of the home,
particularly, focusing on escaping from the bedroom areas. Each
room should have two different ways of escape in case one is
blocked by fire. Practice it regularly.
Choose a safe meeting place outside the home. Make sure that
everyone knows where it is.
Put all your important files in one folder.
Practice setting off the smoke alarm at night when everyone is
asleep. Studies show that children may not be able to hear the
alarm. Practice other methods of awakening them, perhaps by bell
or bullhorn.
Keep flashlights in every room. Keep at least one fire escape
ladder on upper levels.
Practice evacuating while blindfolded. Smoke from house fires
van be so thick that you will not be able to see. Practice staying
low on the ground while evacuating
Know simple fire rules, such as feeling a door before opening it
to determine if it is safe. If it is hot, find another way out.
Remember, to stop, drop and roll if your clothing catches fire.
Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher.
Participate in activities regarding fire survival.
Once you hear fire alarm, evacuate to a safe area right away.
If you see fires, pull fire alarms as you exit the area. Inform other
people present in the area of the fire that is occurring.
If the fire is still small and can be extinguished, use an
appropriate fire extinguisher. Usually, normal fire extinguishers do
the job, but if unavailable, buckets of water or dump clothes
would do.
If the fire is already large and is rapidly spreading, immediately
find the nearest exit and exit the area.
Touch doors first to check if they are warm before opening them.
If they are warm, do not attempt to open and proceed to a
different route.
Close all windows that you can reach as you exit.
If there is smoke, stay as low as possible. Also try to cover your
nose to prevent inhalation.
Yell “FIRE” several times and go outside right away. If you live in
a building with elevators, never use it. Use the stairs. Leave all
your things where they are and save yourself.
Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and call for help.
If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the
smoke to your exit. Close doors behind you.
Once outside, move away from the exits and assemble in safe area
designated by the evacuation plan of the area or by emergency
response teams.
If outside the burning area, do not attempt to go inside the
burning area.
Call the fire department as soon as possible.
Listen and follow the orders of the emergency response teams.
Organize/Participate in a bucket relay.
If you catch the fire, “stop, drop and roll” right away.
If you are unable to leave the area unscathed or you have suffered
burns, immediately attend to them depending on the degree of
burn.
Getting out quickly and safely is your only goal. Do not try to
“save” any objects, no matter how valuable.
If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks
around doors with cloth or tape to keep the smoke out.
Contact your local disaster relief service, such as the Red Cross, if
you need temporary housing, food and medicines.
Check with the fire department to make sure your residence is
safe to enter. Be watchful of any structural damage caused by the
fire.
The fire department should see that utilities are either safe to use
or are disconnected before they leave the site. DO NOT attempt
to reconnect utilities by yourself.
Try to locate valuable documents and records.
Let friends and family know you are safe.
Stay out of fire-damaged home until local fire authorities say it is
safe to re-enter.
Be sure that all individuals who are injured ― be it from burns,
smoke inhalation or injuries incurred while escaping ― should be
treated by a doctor.
Throw out all food that was exposed to the fire and smoke.