Fire: Prevention and Respone

• Natural causes:

  – Lightning

  – Earthquake

  – Volcanic eruption

  – Drought

  Human-made causes:

  – Chemical explosions

  – Vehicular accidents

  – Electrical problems
• The concept of fire was previously represented by the Triangle of

  Combustion. The triangle shows the three components necessary

  to have fire: fuel, heat, and oxygen.
• However, recent studies show that there is a fourth element. A

  chemical chain reaction is also a necessary elements of fire. Thus,

  the Fire Tetrahedron is now used to describe the elements of fire:

  The diagram establishes that:

  1. oxygen is needed to sustain combustion;

  2. there must be a fuel or combustible material;

  3. sufficient heat is needed to raise the material to its ignition

  temperature; and

  4. a chemical chain reaction should take place in the material
• Fire or Combustion is rapid oxidation at a very high temperature.
• Oxidation is the chemical process where atoms, molecules, or ions

  loose their electrons.
• CLASS A - Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, cloth,

  rubber and some plastics.
• CLASS B - Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane.
• CLASS C - Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools.
• CLASS D - Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.
• CLASS K - Fires involving combustible cooking fluids such as oils and fats.
• Ignition Stage – The first stage where fuel and oxygen are exposed to heat, resulting in a sustained chemical reaction.
• Growth Stage – The initial flame becomes another source of heat and additional fuel ignites.
• Fully Developed – Fire spreads and consumes all available fuel.
• Decay (Burnout) – When the fire consumes all available fuel, the temperature decreases. Since the heat as an element of fire ceases, the fire gets less intense.
• Fire Extinguisher - A handy, first aid fire fighting equipment.
• PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep
• Hexafluoropropane HFC-236fa (FE-36)

  • Clean Agent

  • An environmentally preferred

  alternative to Halon with zero Ozone

  Depleting Potential (ODP).

  • Montreal Protocol & RA 8749 (aka The

  Philippine Clean Air Act) compliant.

  • Recommended for A, B and C types of

  fire
• Dry Chemical

  • Today’s most widely used type of fire

  extinguisher is the multipurpose dry

  chemical that is effective on Class A, B

  and C fires.

  • This agent also works by creating a

  barrier between the oxygen element

  and the fuel element on Class A fires.
• Aquaeuos Film Forming Foam (AFFF)

  • This type of fire extinguisher puts out the

  fire by taking away the heat element of the

  fire triangle. Foam agents separate the

  oxygen element from the other elements

  • Water extinguishers are for Class A fires only

  – although they can sometimes be used on

  Class B fires. The discharge stream could

  spread the flammable liquid in a Class B fire

  if the mixture of the fire agent is inaccurate,

  or could create a shock hazard on a Class C

  fire.
• Wet Chemical

  • A new agent that extinguishes the fire by

  removing the heat of the fire triangle and

  prevents re-ignition by creating a barrier

  between the oxygen and fuel elements.

  • Wet Chemical or Class K extinguishers were

  developed for modern, high efficiency deep

  fat fryers in commercial cooking operations.

  Some may be used on Class A fire in

  commercial kitchens.
• Dry Powder

  • It is similar to dry chemical except that they

  extinguish the fire by separating the fuel

  from the oxygen element or by removing

  the heat element of the fire triangle.

  • However, dry powder extinguishers are for

  Class D or combustible metal fires only.

  They are ineffective on all other classes of

  fires.
• Agency that manages fire is Burau of Fire Protection under DILG