FIRE

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 fire

Definition
It is a chemical chain reaction
which takes place with the
evolution of heat and light.

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Fire triangle

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 Essentials of Fire

Fuel FIRE
Oxygen

Heat 4
OXYGEN SOURCE HEAT SOURCES
Approx. 16% Required To Reach Ignition Temp.
Normal air contains 21% of oxygen Open Flame, the Sun,Hot Surface,
Some Fuels contains its own oxygen Sparks & Arcs, Friction, Chemical
supply Action, Elec. Energy & Gas Compression

Oxygen Heat
Fuel
GASES LIQUIDS SOLIDS
Natural Gas, Gasoline, Kerosene, Coal, Wood, Paper,
Propane, CO, Turpentine, Alcohol, Cloth, Wax, Grease,
Butane, Hydrogen, Paint, Varnish, Olive Leather, Plastic,
Acetylene, oil, Lacquer Sugar, Grain, Hay,

FIRE TRIANGLE 5
 Principles of Fire Extinction
1. Starvation
Removal of un-burnt material from fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
2. Smothering
Cutting off the supply of oxygen from fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
3. Cooling
Removal of heat from the burning material/fire area

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 Principles of Fire Extinction
4. Breaking of chain reaction
It is a chemical process
Mono-ammonium phosphate

NH3
&
H2O

Ortho-Phosphoric Acid

Meta-Phosphoric Acid

Flame
Steam

Fig: Extinguishing mechanism of multipurpose mono-ammonium phosphate dry chemical 9

 Phases of Burning
It depends on the following factors

i. The amount of time the fire has burnt.

ii. The ventilation characteristics of the
confining structure
iii. The amount and type of combustibles

present.
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 Three progressives stages of burning

•Incipient or beginning phase

•Free burning phase
•Smoldering phase

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Oxygen Rich Oxygen Deficient
Atmosphere Atmosphere

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Incipient or beginning phase

•Oxygen plentiful
•Temperature has not built up
to high peak
•Thermal updraft rises,
accumulates at highest point
•Breathing not difficult
•Fire extinguishments :
–Direct application of water
at base of fire.
•Ventilation :not a problem
•Little steam production
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Free burning phase
•Fire has involved more fuel
•Oxygen supply is being depleted
• Heat accumulated at upper
areas
•Breathing difficult : Masks
recommended
•Fire extinguishments is reaching
the area of major involvement
•Ventilation : Not a definite need
•Good steam production

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Smoldering phase
•Oxygen supply not equal to
demands of fire
•Temperature throughout
building is very high
• Normal breathing is not
possible
•Oxygen deficiency may cause
back-draft
•Fire extinguishments indirect
method
•Ventilation : A must
•Maximum steam production
from water fog
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Smoldering phase

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 Modes of spread of fire
Conduction
It occurs only in solids i.e.
metallic objects.
Convection
It occurs both in liquids &
gases
Radiation
It is neither conduction nor
convection. These are heated
rays emanating from the hot
object. 17
 Conduction •Heat energy is passed on
from one molecule to the
Highly Excited Less Agitated
next
•The molecule vibrates
above its mean position
•Pass on heat energy by
colliding with their
neighbors
•The ability to conduct
heat varies between
materials.

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Conduction

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Convection • When a liquid or gas heated,
it expands
• It becomes less dense
• The lighter fluid arises being
displaced by colder and
therefore denser fluid
• In turn becomes heated and
so a circulation is set up
• Heat energy is carried
throughout the fluid by
actual movements of
molecules.
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Fig: Fire Plume 21
Radiation • It does not involved
any contact between
bodies
• It is independent of
any material in the
intervening space
• These are the heated
rays, travels in
straight line in all
directions with same
intensity
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 Other chemical reactions which produce

1. Combustion (heat & light)

2. Combustion (without heat & light)

3. Combustion ( without heat)

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 Types of combustion…
iii. Deflagration - which
takes place with a
considerable rapidity,
evolving heat & light
iv. Explosion - is a very
rapid combustion with a
loud noise within an
extremely short time with
generation of very high
pressure & temperature.

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 Rate of Combustion
A rate of combustion or the spread of fire would
depends on :
•The area of solid/liquid in contact with air.
•The amount of heat generated to raise the
temperature of un-burnt portion.
•The ability of materials to conduct heat away.
•Atmospheric humidity.
•Wind velocity.
•Temperature.
•Atmospheric pressure.

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 Each of these three elements must be present at
the same time to have a fire. A fire will burn until
one or more of the elements is removed.
Fuel

Any combustible material – solid, liquid or

gas Heat
Oxygen

The air we breathe The energy necessary

is about 21% to increase the
oxygen – fire temperature of fuel to
needs only where sufficient
16% oxygen vapors are given off
for ignition to occur
 There are 4 classes of fire:
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.
 To Prevent Fires

Class  Ordinary Combustibles:

• Keep storage and working areas free of trash.

• Place oily rags in covered containers.

Class  Flammable liquids or gases:

 Don’t refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space,

in the presence of an open flame, or while the equipment is
hot.

 Keep flammable liquids stored in a tightly closed container and

away from spark producing sources.

 Use flammable liquids only in well ventilated areas.

Class  Electrical Equipment:

 Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit.

 Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells

strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of a potential fire.

 Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over
them.
Class  Flammable metals:

• Knowledge of the properties of the metals and using good

judgment and common sense will assist you in controlling or
avoiding potential fires/reactions.
Be prepared for a fire emergency
• Check the location of fire alarms and know how they work.
• Learn your building evacuation plan.
• Know where your two nearest exits are located.
Learn how doors swing and where stairs lead.
• Make sure nothing blocks fire pulls, extinguishers
and emergency exits.
• Learn the sound of your building fire alarm.
• Post emergency numbers (including security
and first aid) near your telephone.
• Make sure you know what to do if the fire alarm sounds.
Plan your escape.
When you notice a fire:
· Pull the nearest fire alarm “pull station” while exiting the floor.
· If there is no pull station:

Dial 911
Emergency Number OR Alternate
Emergency Number

· Do not assume that anyone else has already called the

fire department.
· Stay calm and be prepared to answer the operator’s
questions regarding the emergency.
· EVACUATE !
When you hear the fire alarm:

· Leave at once, taking direction from

the emergency warden.

· Do not delay yourself by gathering

personal items. Your safety always comes first.

· Before you open any door, feel the door with the back of your
hand. If the door is cold, slowly open it a crack.

· If there is no smoke in hallways or stairwells, follow your

building’s evacuation plan. Get out quickly using designated fire
exits.
When you hear the fire alarm (continued):

· Close doors behind you, however do NOT lock the door. Locking
the door hinders the fire department’s search and rescue efforts.

· The stairway will be your primary escape route. Never, never use
elevators under any circumstances.

· Once in the stairway, proceed down to the first floor and out of the
building. Never go up.
If you are trapped in smoke or heat:
· Before you open any door, feel the door with the back of your hand.
If the door is warm to the touch, DO NOT attempt to open the door.

· Stuff the cracks around doors with towels, rags, clothing or tape,
and cover vents to keep out smoke.

· Stay low to the floor, and if possible, cover your mouth and nose
with a damp cloth or dust mask to help you breathe.

· If there is a phone in the room where

you are trapped, call the fire department
to tell them exactly where you are located.
Do this even if you see fire apparatus
on the street below.
If you are trapped (continued):

· Wait at a window and signal for help. Do not panic or jump!!

WAIT!

· If possible, open the window at the top

or bottom, but do not break it, you may
need to close the window if smoke rushes in.

· Be patient. Rescuing all the occupants

of a building can take several hours.
After a fire emergency:  

· Once you are out of the building, STAY OUT!

Do not go back inside for any reason.

· Report to your warden for roll call at your

designated assembly point.

· Tell the fire department via your warden if you

know of anyone trapped inside the building.

· Only re-enter if and when the fire department tells

you it is safe to do so.
 In the event of a fire,
your personal safety is your
most important concern.

Remember – you are

not required to fight a fire.
BEFORE you consider fighting a fire . . .

 Call the fire department.

 Confirm that the fire is small and is not spreading.
 Confirm you have a safe path to an exit not threatened
by the fire.
 You know what kind of
extinguisher is required
and the correct extinguisher
is immediately at hand.
NEVER fight a fire if . . .

 The fire is spreading beyond the immediate area in

which it started, or if it is already a large fire.

 The fire could block your escape route.

 You are unsure of the proper operation of the

extinguisher.

 You doubt that the extinguisher you are holding is

designed for the type of fire at hand or is large
enough to fight the fire.
Multi-Class Ratings 
Many extinguishers available today can be used on different types
of fires and will be labeled with more than one designator, e.g. A-B,
B-C, or A-B-C.
This label shows that this extinguisher
can be used on ordinary combustibles
(A) or flammable liquids (B). The
red slash through the last symbol New Style of Labeling
tells you that the extinguisher cannot
be used on electrical fires (C).
Be advised that most fire
extinguishers will function for
Old Style of Labeling
less than 40 seconds.
10 Tips on How and When
to Use a Fire Extinguisher
1
Most fires start small. Except for explosions,
fires can usually be brought under control if they
are attacked correctly with the right type and size
of extinguisher within the first 2 minutes!

2 A fire extinguisher should be "listed and

labeled" by an independent testing laboratory. The
higher the rating number on an A or B extinguisher,
the more fire it can put out. Be careful, high-rated
units are often heavier models. Make sure you can
hold and operate the model you are using.
 3 Before attempting to fight a small
fire, be sure everyone is out of the area.
Ensure someone has called the fire
department.
If the fire starts to spread or threatens
your escape path, get out immediately!

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The operator must know how to use the
extinguisher quickly without taking time to
read directions during an emergency.
Remember that the extinguishers need care
and must be recharged after every use.
IF YOU FIGHT A FIRE, REMEMBER THE WORD
PASS
PULL . . . AIM . . . SQUEEZE . . . SWEEP

5 PULL... the pin. Some extinguishers

require releasing a lock latch, pressing a
puncture lever or other motion.

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AIM... low, pointing the
extinguisher nozzle (or it's horn
or hose) at the base of the fire.
 7 SQUEEZE... the handle. This
releases the extinguishing agent.

SWEEP... from side to side at the base 8

of the fire until it appears to be out. Watch the
fire area in case fire breaks out again, and
repeat use of extinguisher if necessary.

9 Read and follow the directions on your

extinguisher. If you have the slightest doubt
about whether or not to fight a fire – DON’T!
Get out and close the door behind you.