Q4 W1 - Fire and Fire Related Hazards

• Fire

  Fast, Hot, Dark
• Causes of fire


  • Electricity - neglect or misuse of wiring can lead to short circuits
  • Smoking - carelessly discarded cigarette butts or lit matches are one of the major causes of fire
  • Cooking - kitchens provide opportunities for a fire to start and materials on which it can feed
  • Heating appliance - portable heaters are a threat when placed beside combustible furniture or fittings
  • Combustible materials including flammable liquids, glues, and solvents are all liable to combust unless stored and used properly
  • Arson
• Natural causes of fire

  • Lightning
  • Volcanic activity
  • Spontaneous combustion
• The fire triangle is a simple model that illustrates the three elements required for a fire to occur: heat, fuel, and oxygen. These three elements are typically depicted as the three sides of a triangle, hence the name "fire triangle."
• • Heat is the energy necessary to initiate the combustion process. It can come from various sources such as a spark, a flame, friction, or an electrical current. Without sufficient heat, the other elements will not ignite.
• • Fuel refers to any material that can undergo combustion. This can include solids, liquids, or gases. Common examples of fuel include wood, paper, gasoline, and natural gas. The type and amount of fuel present will influence the intensity and duration of a fire.
• • Oxygen is a vital component of the combustion process because it reacts with the fuel to produce heat and sustain the fire. In most cases, atmospheric oxygen is readily available for this purpose. However, the availability of oxygen can be restricted in certain environments, such as in enclosed spaces or underwater.
• Two types of causes of fire

  • Natural
  • Man-made
• Natural causes of fire

  • Volcanic Activity
  • Spontaneous Combustion
  • Lightning Strikes
• Volcanic Activity


  1. Volcanic eruptions can produce lava flows that ignite fires upon contact with flammable materials such as vegetation, forests, or structures

  2. Volcanic ash and debris can cause fires when hot material ignites surrounding combustible materials
• Spontaneous Combustion


  Materials undergo self-heating and ignition without an external heat source
• Materials prone to spontaneous combustion

  • Piles of organic materials such as hay
  • Compost
  • Oily rags
• Spontaneous Combustion


  1. Materials generate heat through microbial decomposition or chemical reactions

  2. If the heat cannot dissipate, it can reach a point where ignition occurs
• Lightning Strikes


  • Lightning strikes the ground and can ignite vegetation, especially in dry conditions
  • Lightning-induced fires can spread quickly, particularly in areas prone to drought or with abundant dry vegetation
• Man-made fire

  • electricity – neglect or misuse of wiring can lead to short circuits
  • Smoking – carelessly discarded cigarette butts or lit matches are one of the major causes of fire
  • cooking – kitchens provide opportunities for​ a fire to start and materials on which it can feed
  • Heating appliance – portable heaters are a threat when placed beside combustible furniture or fittings
  • combustible materials including - flammable liquids, glues, and solvents are all liable to combust unless stored and used properly
  • Arson
• Classification of fire:

  A - Ordinary combustibles

  B - Flammable Liquids

  C - Live Electrical Equipment

  D - Combustible Metal

  K - Commercial Cooking equipment
• 1996 Ozone Disco Fire

  • Unfolded in Quezon City, Philippines
  • 162 lives we lost in the flames
  • One of the worst fire incidents in the Philippines