Fire

Its Causes and Prevention

Principles of Fire Safety

• A fire can happen to you!

• A fire is dark!

• There is very little time!

• Smoke usually kills, not flames!

• A fire’s heat is intense

• You must have a plan!

Types of Fires and Fire Extinguishers

• Type A - Burning wood, paper, or textile material

• Type B - Flammable liquids• Type C - Electrical• Type D - Combustible metals• ABC Extinguisher

• Know how to use it• Have it checked often• Should have UL or FM (Factory Mutual) approval

Class A

Class A

Class B

Class B

Class C

Class C

Class ABC

Class ABC

What type of fire extinguisher is this?

Class D

Elements of Combustion

• Combustion - The continuous, self-sustaining process in which fuel and oxygen molecules combine to yield heat, gas, smoke, and flame.

• Pyrolysis - chemical decomposition of matter through the action of heat

• Ignition temperature or kindling point - minimum temperature for fuel to be reached before it reacts with oxygen and begins to burn

Elements of Combustion

• Four elements or conditions needed for combustion:

• fuel

• heat

• oxygen

• chemical reaction

Leading causes of residential fire deaths

• Cigarette ignition

• Heating

• Incendiary/suspicious

• Children playing

• Cooking

• Electrical

• All other causes

Fire prevention in the home (1)

• Have rules regarding smoking• Don’t overload electrical circuits• Make sure cords and wires are in good

condition• If you use wood stoves or fireplaces,

make sure they are properly installed and maintained

• Rules for electric and kerosene heaters

Fire prevention in the home (2)

• Keep smoking materials, including matches and lighters out of the reach of children

• Keep combustible materials away from kitchen stove and oven

• Turn pot and pan handles inward• Don’t accumulate combustible materials• Be aware of spontaneous combustion and its

causes

Project EDITH (Exit Drills in the Home)

• Smoke detectors• Floor plans and escape routes• Alert others• Stay low• Check doors• Keep smoke out if possible• Have prearranged meeting place• Once out, stay out• Notify fire department

RCA - Rescue, Confine, Alarm

• Used in larger buildings - hospitals, office buildings, universities

• Rescue - warn or rescue those in immediate smoke or fire danger

• Confine - close doors to prevent the spread of fire or smoke

• Alarm - operate nearest fire alarm or call fire department

Fire detection devices

• Heat detectors - not for use in residences

• Photoelectric smoke detector

• Ionization chamber smoke detector

• Smoke detectors should be• on each floor level

• away from vents

• maintained properly

• preferably near sleeping areas

Using a fire extinguisher

• Time is important - use a fire extinguisher only in the first few minutes of a fire.

• Break seal, pull pin and test• Aim low and about 6 to 10 feet away• Aim extinguisher at base of the flame• Use sweeping motion

P.A.S.S.

• P – Pull

• A – Aim

• S – Squeeze

• S – Sweep

Pull

Aim

Squeeze

Sweep