Lesson 8

• Fire can be considered as one of the most significant discoveries during the ancient times
• Fire can be a friend because of its many uses


  Fire can also be an enemy
• Errors and accidents involving electricity, chemicals, vehicles, and machines can lead to fire
• Even households items such as candles, matchsticks, and stoves can trigger fire
• Fire


  The combustion or burning of substances combined chemically with oxygen from the air and typically give off light and heat
• Fire triangle

  • Oxygen is needed to sustain combustion
  • There must be fuel or combustible material
  • Sufficient heat is needed to raise the material to its ignition temperature
• Fire tetrahedron

  • Oxygen is needed to sustain combustion
  • There must be fuel or combustible material
  • Sufficient heat is needed to raise the material to its ignition temperature
  • A chemical chain reaction should take place in the material
• Stages of fire

  1. Ignition stage

  2. Growth

  3. Fully developed

  4. Decay (burnout)
• Fire continues until all of the available fuel is consumed, the fuel/oxygen is removed, the temperature is reduced by cooling, and the number of molecules is reduced and the chain reaction is broken
• Classes of fire

  • Class A (Metro Ayala fire, Twins B1 and B2 house fire, Riverdale wildfire)
  • Class C (Monica Delos Reyes house fire)
  • Class B (LPG tank explosion in restaurant)
• Types of fire

  • Natural hazards (earthquake, volcanic eruption, drought and high temperatures)
  • Human-made conditions (transportation accidents, chemical explosion, faulty electrical connections)
  • Mismanagement (negligence, irresponsible handling of fire)
• Bureau of Fire Protection contact number: (032) 254 - 8385 (Cebu City)