FIRE PROTECTION AND

ARSON INVESTIGATION
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“If you know your enemy and

know yourself, you need not
fear the result of hundred
battles.”

- Sun Tzu
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KNOW YOURSELF…
1. Take advantage of the benefits of review center.
- Avoid absenteeism/being late/cutting classes
- Take notes.
2. Gather review materials. There is no one review
material that contains all the information necessary
for the board exam.
3. TIME MANAGEMENT
- Review by module basis.
- Take a break.
- Motivate yourself. Don’t pressure yourself with
the expectation of others.
- In case of doubt, consult a book.
4. READ, READ, READ!!!!
1ST FIREFIGHTERS?

ROMAN VIGILES
IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES
1. JOHN WALKER
English Pharmacist who
invented the first
match in 1872, the tip
of his match was coated
a mixture sulfide and
potassium chlorate that
was held on the wooden
matchstick by gym
Arabic and Starch.
 2. ANTOINE
LAVOISIER
French Chemist who
proved in 1777 that
burning is the result of
the rapid union of
oxygen with other
substances. As
substances burn, heat and
light are produced.
 3. THOMAS ALVA
EDISON
American inventor who
was able to send an
electric current
through a carbon
filament (wire) until
the filament become so
hot that it gave off light.
FIRE PROTECTION
WHAT IS FIRE?
• Active principle of burning, characterized
by the heat and light of combustion. (PD
1185)
• The rapid oxidation of combustible
material accompanied by release of energy
usually in the form of heat and light.
 10

MIKEE DELA CRUZ

FIRE TRIANGLE
- it states the elements necessary to produce
fire
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FIRE TRIANGLE
• FUEL (soul of the fire)
▫ Combustible materials to vaporize
and burn
▫ anything that will burn when heated
with sufficient oxygen
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• OXYGEN (life of the fire)

▫ Colorless, odorless, tasteless, gaseous
chemical element, the most abundant of all
elements: it occurs free in the atmosphere
▫ aids in combustion; comes from the
atmosphere we breath; the atmosphere
contains:
21% - OXYGEN
78% - NITROGEN
1% - INERT GAS
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• HEAT (body of the fire)

▫ to raise the temperature of the fuel
vapor to its ignition temperature
▫ source of ignition
▫ Form of energy measured in degree of
temperature, a product of combustion
that causes the spread of fire
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What is the indicator of heat and

measures the warmth or coldness of
an object?

TEMPERATURE
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FIRE TETRAHEDRON
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• SELF-SUSTAINED CHEMICAL
REACTION
▫ Series of events that occur in sequence
with the results of each individual reaction
being added to the rest

• The basic difference between the fire triangle and

the fire tetrahedron is that: The tetrahedron
illustrates how flaming combustion is supported
and sustained through the chain reaction. In this
sense, the chain reaction face keeps the other three
faces from falling apart.
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• The fire tetrahedron also explains the

flaming mode of combustion. The
modes of combustion are either:
▫ Flaming mode(gas phase combustion -
flame)
▫ or
▫ Surface mode (Glowing combustion–
ember). Represented by the fire
triangle
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COMBUSTION PROCESS
• An exothermic reaction between fuel and
oxidant accompanied by the production of
heat and light
• Self sustaining chemical reaction producing
energy
IGNITION – Start of combustion process
SPONTANEOUS COMBUSTION – increase in
temperature without drawing from outside source,
prod heat because of internal chemical reaction and
eventually ignite without any exposure to fire(eg. Coal,
dust, flour, hay, grain, porous mat )
• Causes PYROLISIS
 23

Often a misconception is fire

burns the actual chair or a piece
of wood. It is the gases given
off by an object that burns.

HOW?
 24

• Before a fuel will burn, it must be changed

to its vapor state. In a fire situation, this
change usually results from the initial
application of heat. The process is known as
PYROLYSIS.
• Pyrolysis (also known as thermal
decomposition) is defined as the “chemical
decomposition of matter through the action
of heat”.
 25

• During the process of pyrolysis, the

following are involved:

• the fuel is heated until its temperature

reaches its fire point,
• decomposition takes place – moisture in the
fuel is converted to vapor,
• decomposition produces combustible
vapors that rise to the surface of the fuel
(free radicals)
• free radicals undergo combustion.
 26

• When the temperature of a certain

substance is very high, it releases
highly combustible vapors known as
FREE RADICALS (combustible
vapors such as hydrogen gas, carbon
monoxide, carbon dioxide, and
nitrogen).
 27

PRODUCTS OF COMBUSTION
1. Fire Gases – Carbon Dioxide or Carbon Monoxide
TYPES OF POISONOUS GASES:
• HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S)
• Formed during fires involving organic materials
(rubber, hair, wood)
• Smells like ROTTEN EGGS
• HYDROGEN CYANIDE (HCN)
• Toxic gas from oxygen–starved fires involving
nitrogen materials (wool, silks)
• Smells like BITTER ALMONDS
• HYDROGEN CHLORIDE (HCL)
• From fires involving chloride containing plastics.
• Gas which can be fatal involving after only few
breaths
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2. Flame – visible part of fire

3. Heat – a form of energy measured in
degree temperature. One of the primary
hazards of fire among with oxygen
depletion and carbon monoxide formation
4. Smoke – visible product of incomplete
combustion
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PROPERTIES OF FIRE

• A. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
• B. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
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A. PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
1. Specific Gravity – the ratio of the
weight of a solid or liquid substance to
the weight of an equal volume of water.
2. Vapor density – the weight of a
volume of pure gas composed to the
volume of dry air at the same
temperature and pressure.
3. Vapor Pressure – the force exerted by
the molecules on the surface of a liquid.
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4. Temperature – the measure of the

degree of thermal agitation of
molecules.
5. Boiling Point – the constant
temperature at which the vapor
pressure of the liquid is equal to the
atmospheric pressure.
 32

º C º F Response
37 98.6 Normal human oral/body temperature
44 111 Human skin begins to feel pain
48 118 Human skin receives a first degree
burn injury
55 131 Human skin receives a second degree
burn injury
62 140 A phase where burned human tissue
becomes numb
72 162 Human skin is instantly destroyed
100 212 Water boils and produces steam
 33

6. Ignition/Kindling temperature – the

minimum temperature at which the
substance must be heated in order to
initiate combustion.
7. Fire point – the lowest temperature of a
liquid in an open container at which vapors
are evolved fast enough to support
combustion.
8. Flash point – the temperature at which a
flammable liquid forms a vapor-air mixture
that ignites (mixture with in the explosive
range).
 34

B. CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
1. Endothermic Reactions –
changes whereby energy (heat) is
absorbed or is added before the
reaction takes place.
2. Exothermic Reactions – those
that release or give off energy (heat)
thus they produce substances with
less energy than the reactants.
 35

3. Oxidation – a chemical change that is

exothermic, a change in which combustible
material (fuel) and an oxidizing agent (air),
react. Example of oxidation is combustion
which is the same as actual burning (rapid
oxidation)
4. Flames – flames are incandescent (very
bright/glowing with intense heat) gases. It
is a combustion product and a
manifestation of fire when it is in its gas-
phased combustion.
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TYPES OF FLAME
A. According to COLOR and
COMPLETENESS of Combustion
LUMINOUS FLAME NON-LUMINOUS
FLAME
• Reddish orange • Bluish
• Deposits soot • Does not deposit soot
• Because it is a product • Because it is a product
of incomplete of complete
combustion combustion
• Lower temperature • Higher temperature
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B. According to BURNING FUEL and

AIR MIXTURE
PREMIXED FLAME DIFFUSION FLAME
• Example is flame of • Example is flame of
Bunsen burner oxyacetylene torch
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C. According to SMOOTHNESS
LAMINAR FLAME TURBULENT FLAME
• “SMOOTH FLAME” • “ROUGH FLAME”
• Follows a smooth path • Unsteady, irregular
swirls
FIRE ELEMENTS
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The Solid Fuels

• Types of Flammable solids

Pyrolyzable solid fuels – include many of

the ordinary accepted combustibles: wood,
paper and so on.
Non-pyrolyzable solid fuels – solid fuels
that are difficult to ignite. A common example
is charcoal.
LIQUIDS
2 General Groups of Liquid
Fuels
• Flammable liquids – they are
liquids having a flash point of
BELOW 37.8 C (100F)
• Combustible Liquids – these liquids
have flash point AT OR ABOVE
37.8 C (100F).
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Latent heat
- is the quantity of heat absorbed by a
substance from a solid to a liquid and
from a liquid to gas. Conversely, heat is
released during conversion of a gas to
liquid or liquid to a solid.
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CHANGES OF STATE
MIKEE DELA CRUZ
 GASES
Physical Properties
COMPRESSED LIQUEFIED CRYOGENIC
GAS GAS GAS
Solely gaseous Partly gas and Remains as
state in its partly liquid liquefied gas in
container inside its its container at
container temperature
far below
normal temp.
METHODS OF HEAT TRANSFER
 48
RADIATION
 49

FIRE BEHAVIOR, CAUSES

AND CLASSIFICATION
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• The behavior of fire maybe understood by considering

the principle of thermal balance and thermal
imbalance.

• Thermal Balance refers to the rising movement or

the pattern of fire, the normal behavior when the
pattern is undisturbed.
• Thermal imbalance, on the other hand is the
abnormal movement of fire due to the interference of
foreign matter. Thermal imbalance often confuses the
fire investigator in determining the exact point where
the fire originated.
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DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR OF FIRE

• 1. Backdraft
• 2. Flashover
• 3. Bite back
• 4. Flash Fire
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BACK DRAFT
• sudden and rapid (violent) burning of
heated gasses in a confined area that
occurs in the form of explosion,
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FLASH OVER
• sudden ignition of accumulated
radical gasses produced when there is
incomplete combustion of fuels.
 54

BITE BACK
• fatal condition that takes place when
the fire resists extinguishment
operation and becomes stronger and
bigger instead.
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FLASH FIRE
• aka “DUST EXPLOSION”
 56

THREE (3) STAGES OF

FIRE

Incipient Free-burning Smoldering

Phase Phase Phase
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1. INCIPIENT PHASE
- initial stage of fire
 
Characteristics
- normal room temperature
- oxygen plentiful
- thermal updraft rise accumulates at
higher point
- temperature at 1000 F
- Producing C02, CO, SO2, water and
other gases
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2. FREE BURNING PHASE

- a phase of burning in which materials or
structures are burning in the presence of
adequate oxygen
 
Characteristics
- fire has involved more fuel
- oxygen supply has depleted
- heat accumulates at upper area
- temperature exceeds 1,330 F
- area is fully involved
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3. SMOLDERING PHASE
• - final phase of burning wherein flame ceases
but dense smoke and heat completely fill the
confined room

CHARACTERISTICS
- flame may die and leave only glowing
embers or superheated fuel
- temperature throughout the building is very
high and normal breathing is not possible
- oxygen deficiency may cause backdraft
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
•Providential Fire
•Accidental Fire
•Incendiary Fire
•Unknown Fire
KINDS OF FIRE Based on Cause:

1. NATURAL CAUSE:
 Spontaneous Heating
 Lightning
 Hot Bolt
 Cold Bolt
 Radiation of Sunlight
2. ACCIDENTAL CAUSE:
•Short Circuit • Production
Accidental ofconnections
sustainedof
incandescent
luminous
between two particles
electrical
points at
•Arcing when
different two potentials
discharge different
between
•Sparking charged
(charge) conductors
separated electrodes
in come
an electrical
in contact
circuit
•Induced
Current
•Overheating
of Electrical
Appliances
3. INTENTIONAL CAUSES:
•Accelerant •• Accelerate
Preparation ofthe
andspread
materials or
to
gathering
spread
of of combustible
fire the fire.
•• materials
Arrangementneeded
of to start a
flammable
Highly flammable
fire
materials to carry fire from
•Plant • chemicals
“Feed” thethat are
fire
one location to another
used
when
to facilitate
ignition device lighted flame
propagation.
•Trailer
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE

Combustible
Metals
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COOLING MIKEE DELA CRUZ

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SMOTHERING
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FUEL REMOVAL/SEPARATION
 70

FIRE EXTINGUISHER
• A Fire Extinguisher is a mechanical device,
usually made of metal, containing chemicals,
fluids, or gasses for stopping fires, the means
for application of its contents for the purpose
of putting out fire (particularly small fire )
before it propagates, and is capable of being
readily moved from place to place.
• 
• It is also a portable device used to put out
fires of limited size.
 71

EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

1.WATER
• Use only on Class A fires
• Most effective in cooling
• Most commonly used
agent in firefighting
• Should not be used in
electrical fires
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• Water is generally used on Class A

fires. Fires involving high flashpoint
liquids like heavy fuel oil and
asphalt may be extinguished when
water is effectively applied in spray
form.
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2. CARBON DIOXIDE
(CO2)
• Non-conductive and non-
reactive with most substances
• Very effective in Class C fires
• Extinguishment is primarily by
smothering
• Possible re-ignition of embers
if CO2 dissipates
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3. DRY CHEMICAL
• Mixture of powders and various additives
that improve the storage, flow and water
repellency of powders (usually potassium
bicarbonate and sodium bicarbonate)
• It inhibits chemical chain reactions
• Flames banish almost at once when dry
chemical is applied directly to the fire area.
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2 BASIC TYPES OF DRY

CHEMICAL:
1. ORDINARY AND REGULAR DRY
CHEMICAL
- used on Class B and Class C Fires
2. MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL
- used on Class A, B, C, Fires
 76

4. DRY POWDER
• Used to extinguish
combustible metal
fires (Class D)
• Extinguishes fire by
excluding air from the
combustible metal
 77

5. AFFF
• “Aqueous Film Forming Foam”
• Used primarily on Class B Fires,
but maybe also used Class A but
less effective than water.
• Effectiveness depends on proper
application:
▫ Rainfall manner/ lobbing effect (to
allow rapid spread over surface)
• It provides a vapor sealing effect
when applied to the surface of
flammable liquid fire
 78

BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION

• Republic Act # 6975, the DILG Act of 1990 (Chapter
4, Section 53-59) created the Bureau of Fire Protection
(BFP) to be responsible for the prevention and
suppression of all destructive fires and to enforce the
laws on fire.
• Fire Protection is the descriptive term referring to the
various methods used by the bureau to stop, extinguish
and control destructive fire for eventual prevention of
loss of life and property. It has the following objectives:
▫ To prevent destructive fire from starting
▫ To extinguish (stop or put out) on going destructive fire,
▫ To confine a destructive fire at the place where it began,
▫ To prevent loss of life and property when fire starts
 79

FIRE FIGHTING OPERATION

1. Pre-Fire Planning
2. Evaluation/Size-up
3. Evacuation
4. Entry
5. Rescue
6. Exposure- Cover Exposure
7. Confinement
8. Ventilation
9. Salvage
10. Extinguishment
11. Overhaul
12. Fire Scene Investigation
 80

1.PRE-FIRE PLANNING - this

activity involves developing and
defining systematic course of actions
that maybe performed in order to realize
the objectives of fire protection:
involves the process of establishing
the SOP in case fire breaks out.
 81

2. EVALUATION / SIZE – UP (on-

the-spot planning or sizing-up the
situation) - this is the process knowing
the emergency situation. It involves
mental evaluation by the operation
officer-in-charge to determine the
appropriate course of action that
provides the highest probability of
success.
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3. EVACUATION – This the activity

of transferring people, livestock, and
property away from the burning area
to minimize damage or destruction
that the fire might incur in case it
propagates to other adjacent buildings.
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4. ENTRY – This is the process of

accessing the burning structure. Entry
maybe done in a forcible manner:
-to provide access to firefighters
-to provide rescue
-to aid in ventilation
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5. RESCUE – This is the operation of

removing (extricating), thus saving,
people and other livestock from the
burning building and other involved
properties, conveying them to a secure
place
 85

What is the cause of the

majority of fire death?

Asphyxiation
 86

6.EXPOSURE – also called cover

exposure, this is the activity of securing
other buildings near the burning
structure in order to prevent the fire
from the extending to another
building.
 87

7. CONFINEMENT – This is the

activity of restricting the fire at the
place (room) where it started : the
process of preventing fire from
extending from another section or
form one section to another section of
the involved building.
 88

8. VENTILATION – This the

operation purposely conducted to
displace toxic gases. It includes the
process of displacing the heated
atmosphere within the involved building
with normal air from outside
atmosphere.
 89

Types of Ventilation:
1. Vertical ventilation - heated gases and
smoke rise to highest point (tend to
mushroom). Must be worked from top to
bottom.
2. Cross or horizontal ventilation - used
if gases have not reached the higher level
through the opening of windows
3. Mechanical force ventilation - a
method whereby a device such as smoke
ejector is utilized to remove faster excessive
heat and dense smoke
90
 91

9. SALVAGE – The activity of

protecting the properties from
preventable damage other than the fire.
The steps are:
a) remove the material outside the
burning area, and
b) protecting or cover the materials by
using tarpaulins (cotton canvass treated
with water proofing).
 92

10. EXTINGUISHMENT – This is

the process of putting out the main
body of fire by using the 4 general
methods of fire extinguishments.
 93

11. OVERHAUL – This is the complete

and detailed check of the structure and
all materials therein to eliminate
conditions that may cause re-flash;
involves complete extinguishments of
sparks or smoldering (glowing)
substances (embers) to prevent
possibilities of re-ignition or rekindling.
 94

12. FIRE SCENE

INVESTIGATION - This is the final
stage of fire suppression activities. It is
an inquiry conducted to know or
determine the origin and cause of fire.