LESSON 5

• Fire


  The rapid oxidation of a flammable material accompanied by the production of light and heat
• Fire brought significant advancement to people and industries
• Fire is an external source of heat, light, and power
• Natural fires of low intensity may benefit the environment and restore ecological balance through the removal of pests and plants that compete with other species for nutrients
• Elements of fire


  • Heat
  • Oxygen
  • Fuel

  
• Fire starts


  1. Fuel is heated from an external source and reaches its ignition temperature

  2. Oxygen reacts with the fuel to sustain the fire

  3. Once fire has started, it will continue to burn until an element of the fire triangle is removed

  
• Stages of fire development


  • Incipient
  • Growth stage
  • Fully developed stage
  • Decay stage

  
• Incipient stage


  • The fire just started and has not yet affected a large area
  • It may produce a small flame and some smoke, but the heat of the fire produced is still low
  • It is the best to extinguish the fire at this stage while it is still small

  
• Growth stage


  • The fire continues burning by itself as it uses its own heat to burn fuel sources around it
  • Smoke is already visible and may start accumulating
  • The temperature of the affected area will start to increase, and the fire will continuously grow bigger as it burns more fuel

  
• Fully developed stage


  • The fire reaches its hottest point
  • Firefighters at this stage will likely extinguish the fire from a distance as it is dangerous to go near or enter the vicinity

  
• Decay stage


  • The fire runs out of fuel to burn, or it runs out of oxygen
  • No fuel must be added as it will cause the fire to reignite

  
• Causes of fires


  • Faulty electrical wiring or connection
  • LPG-related
  • Neglected cooking or stove
  • Lighted cigarette butts
  • Left unattended open flame: torch or sulo
  • Left unattended open flame: candle or gasera
  • Matchstick or lighter kept near flammable materials
  • Direct flame contact or static electricity
  • Neglected electrical appliances or devices
  • Unchecked electrical types of machinery
  • Flammable chemicals
  • Incendiary device or ignited flammable liquid
  • Spontaneous combustion
  • Under planned pyrotechnics
  • Bomb explosion
  • Lightning
  • Others (forest fire, vehicular fire, etc.)

  
• Spontaneous combustion


  When an object produces its own heat without absorbing heat from its surroundings, and when it reaches a temperature enough for ignition, it will start a fire by itself

  
• Flammable materials that can cause spontaneous combustion include spilled oil, oily rags, paper, dried leaves, or hays
• It is better to store flammable materials in well-ventilated areas or outdoors to prevent ignition and to easily dissipate the heat
• Uncontrolled fires, whether natural or man-made, may lead to injury, death, loss of livelihood, and damage to property with its toxic fumes and high temperature

  
• A person may die of asphyxiation as fire consumes oxygen and the concentration of CO and other toxic gases increase
• Heat from a hostile fire is far from any temperature that a person is normally exposed to – this cause extreme pain, severe burns, and other casualties
• Fire may result in black and impenetrable smoke that may sting the eyes and block one's vision
• Once a person is caught in a fire, it would be difficult, if not impossible to escape the area
• People must participate in fire drills to be knowledgeable of the fire escape plans
• Buildings and infrastructures should have a well-planned evacuation plan showing multiple escape routes to increase the chances of survival during a fire
• Never leave a fire unattended, whether it is a stovetop, a candle, or a bonfire

  
• Always check electrical equipment as a faulty appliance or electrical cord can easily malfunction and ignite
• Overloaded electrical socket or extension cords can heat up and ignite due to the overuse of electricity
• Electrical wiring should be regularly checked to make sure there is nothing wrong with the system
• Keep a good distance between things that can catch fire by decluttering the area and making sure that anything that can cause ignition and serve as fuel is distant from each other
• Educate children and adults about fire safety as curious children may accidentally set anything on fire
• It is best to keep flammable materials stored in areas that are out of reach for children and teach them the danger of playing with fire and how it can be prevented
• Always label and keep the fuel of fire from any heat source, and wipe out any spills in the working space as they can easily forgotten and may cause a fire

  
• Make sure there are no sources of ignition around the area where flammable materials are stored
• Keep a fire extinguisher or a bucket of handy sand before using any flammable material, and prepare wet cloth, a source of water, or a fire extinguisher in strategic places that everyone knows and is easy to reach
• To use a fire extinguisher, pull the pin located at the handle then aim its nozzle at the base of the fire, slowly squeeze the lever while sweeping it from side to side (PASS)
• Install fire alarms and smoke detectors to alert everyone and signal them to escape when they can and before the fire become bigger
• Participate in fire drills, be aware of the exit points of your house, school, or workplace, and educate yourself and the people around you about what to do in case a fire breaks out
• Develop a fire preparedness plan that is a floorplan containing the possible sources of fire and a guide on what a person can do in the event of fire incident, including the location of fire assembly points and designated safe areas
• The key of preventing fires from occurring is to make sure that the elements of the fire triangle do not come together
• Prevent ignition by making sure that flammable materials do not heat up and reach the ignition temperature, and keep fuel sources away from ignition sources

  
• In case a fire breaks out, smother it to eliminate the source of oxygen
• People need to know emergency contact numbers, exit points, location of fire hose and fire extinguishers, proper use of fire hose and fire extinguishers, and proper precautionary measures before an actual fire incident occurs