What is fire?

When a combustible or flammable material is exposed to enough heat and an enough amount of oxygen or another oxidant, a fire will begin. Three things must be present for a fire to exist. Heat, Oxygen, and Fuel. The Fire Triangle is a name for this.

The fire triangle and the three components required for the majority of fires

The triangle serves as an example of the maxim that a fire needs these three components in order to start and burn. By removing any one of them, the fire is stopped or put out. When the appropriate combination of ingredients is present, a fire naturally occurs.

A fire cannot start and cannot grow if there is not enough heat. Dousing something in water will remove heat because the water will evaporate and create steam, which will then absorb the heat.

An unattended fire will go out. Fuel can be taken out of a fire mechanically or chemically, or it can be taken out manually when all the burnable fuel has been consumed by the fire.

A fire cannot start and cannot remain active without enough oxygen. The combustion velocity drops as the oxygen concentration rises.

Fire Classification

Fire Class IconFire ClassType of Fire / Fuel

Class A Fires

Solid Combustibles

Fires involving solid combustible materials such as wood, textiles, straw, paper, coal etc.

Class B Fires

Flammable Liquids

Fires caused by combustion of liquids or materials that liquify such as petrol, oils, fats, paints, tar, ether, alcohol, stearin and paraffin.

Class C Fires

Flammable Gases

Fires caused by combustion of gases such as methane, propane, hydrogen, acetylene, natural gas and city gas.

Class D Fires

Flammable Metals

Fires involving combustible metals such as magnesium, aluminium, lithium, sodium, potassium and their alloys. Combustible metal fires are unique industrial hazards which require special fire extinguishers.

Class F Fires

Combustible Cooking Media

Fires involving particularly hot or deep oil and grease fires, such as deep fat fryers in commercial kitchens or overheated oil pan fires in homes. Wet chemical extinguishers are unique in that they lay a cooling foam layer on top of the burning fat/oil and react with the liquid, stopping air supply to the fire. Normal water-based extinguishers with large droplets would cause an 'explosion' of steam and carry burning oils and fats from the container. Equally, a CO2 extinguisher's jet would carry burning oil out of the container and also would have insufficient cooling effect to stop re-ignition.

Electrical Fires

Electrical Appliances

Fires involving electrical appliances such as computers, electrical heaters, stereos, fuse boxes etc.

Fires are classified into one or more fire classes for the purpose of fighting them. Each class identifies the type of fuel the fire is made of and, consequently, the best extinguishing agent. Fires are divided into four groups: A, B, C, and D.

Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like paper, wood, etc
Class B fires – are fires involving flammable liquids.
Class C fires – are fires involving flammable gasses
Class D fires – are fires involving metals
Class F fires – are fires involving cooking oil fats

Lightning strikes Electricity is a source of ignition that will feed the fire until it is extinguished, hence electrical fires aren't thought to be a separate fire class on their own. After cutting off the electricity, the fire can typically be classed as "Class A" for firefighting purposes. Before tackling the fire, you must, however, isolate the electrical supply. Additionally, it should be kept in mind that some electrical equipment retains a fatal charge after being turned off for a while. Use only extinguishers with non-electrically conducting extinguishing agents created expressly for use on electrical equipment, such as Dry Powder or Carbon Dioxide (CO2).

Fire Safety in the Home

Advice on Fire Safety in General

The following three guidelines should be followed to keep you and your family safe from fire:

Prevention: To prevent fires from ever occurring is the best method to be "fire safe."

Detection: An early warning will give you the most time to evacuate if a fire breaks out in your house.
Evacuation: When a fire is detected, you must leave the area as fast and effectively as you can utilising a predetermined evacuation strategy.

By adopting a few simple, common sense precautions, most home fires can be avoided. Check your home using this checklist for anything that can start a fire. Then, you can take the required steps to safeguard your house and the occupants.

Fire Safety in the kitchen

The kitchen may be the most dangerous area of the house. Hot surfaces, open flames, an abundance of fuel, electrical equipment, a variety of items that might burn and scald, etc. are all present. Children, phones, televisions, radios, neighbours, washing machines, and a long list of other things are all potential sources of distraction.

It is crucial to possess;

a "safe work" procedure to keep everyone focused

a fully packed First Aid kit, a fire blanket, and a fire extinguisher

Tips to Increase Kitchen Fire Safety

Children are most frequently burned and scalded in the kitchen. Never let kids play unattended in the kitchen.

Keep lighters and matches out of children's reach. Get childproof lighters and matches if you need to use them in the kitchen.

Gas appliances can be ignited more safely using spark devices or heated components.

Fire Safety in the Bedroom

Bedrooms frequently serve as the scene of fires. Inappropriate usage or poor maintenance of electrical equipment, such as overloading extension cables or placing portable space heaters too close to combustibles, is a major contributor to many of these fires. Children who play with matches and lighters and irresponsible adults who smoke are the main causes of several additional bedroom fires. Before you turn in for the night, there are a few quick checks you can make to safeguard your house and family against fire.

Install a smoke detector in your home at all times.

Never smoke in bed, especially if you're sleepy or taking medicine.

If you do smoke in your bedroom, make sure to clear the ashtray after each use.

Never use candles if you anticipate nodding off.

Keep candles away from things like clothes, mattresses, and drapes.

Make sure to only use candles in the right candle holders.

Never use a candle to light a child's room at night. (Use a low-watt mains or battery-powered light).

Never cover a light to dim it; instead, use a bulb with a lower wattage.

Before going to bed, make sure any superfluous electrical devices are unplugged.

A portable heater should never be put next to a bed.

Always keep a flashlight in your bedroom just in case.

Electrical Safety in the Home

Every year, a sizable percentage of house fires are started by electrical equipment.

Ensure that every electrical item is installed and maintained by a certified individual.

Never overload electrical outlets since it poses a serious fire risk.

Flexes shouldn't be run below carpets or rugs since they could become ruined.

If cables are worn out or damaged, you should either repair the item or call an electrician.

Don't leave them running all night. If you plan to leave them running during the night, they should be located in rooms that are walled off from the escape route.

If it is possible to do so safely without impeding an escape, turn off the electricity at the main isolation switch in the case of a fire.

Wiring

Ask a licenced electrician to examine your wiring if you observe any of the danger indicators listed below.

hot sockets and plugs.

Fuses that suddenly blow without a good reason.

flickering lights.

On plugs, sockets, and fuse boxes, there are brown scorch marks.

Checklist for last thing at night

Most people check on their homes "Last Thing at Night" to make sure they are safe from intruders, etc. A "Routine Fire Safety Check" should be added. It should only take a few minutes, but the outcome could determine life or death.

Take a tour around your house and:

checklist

Switch off all unneeded gas appliances and unplug any unnecessary electrical gadgets.

Ensure that all candles and open flames are put out.

Any open fire should have a fireguard in front of it.

Fill up each ashtray.

Verify that no obstacles are in the way of any escape routes. In the dark, it is simple to trip.

Verify that the doors that need to be unlocked have the keys nearby.

To stop the spread of fire and smoke, shut all doors.

Plan your fire escape now!

Keep in mind that time is your biggest adversary in a fire and that every second matters! You can rapidly leave your home with the aid of an escape plan. A little flame can become entirely out of control and develop into a large conflagration in less than 30 seconds. A house can burn down and fill with thick, black smoke in a matter of minutes.

Everyone in your home should be informed of your escape plan in the event of a fire. Create a home escape plan and post a reminder of it somewhere it will be seen frequently and easily, like the fridge door.

Method of escape: running

When creating your action plan, take into account the following:

Identify your escape plan. Your regular entrance and exit routes are the finest means of escape.

Plan two escape routes from each chamber, if you can.

The plan should be perfected by practise.

As you depart, close all doors behind you.

Keep the stairs free because they are your main escape route.

"Stop, Drop, and Roll" should be used if your clothing catches fire.

Get out and stay out! Do not enter the residence again for any reason.

Make a call to the fire department from a nearby outdoor phone.

Choose a gathering spot outside the house close to the fire department's expected arrival.

What is fire? How We Can Escape from this fire emergency situation?