– it is the manner in which fuel ignites,

flame develops, and fire spreads.

– deals with the knowledge
and study, cause and the point of origin of the fire.
• 1.
- Three elements necessary to
create/produced fire in equal proportion;
ways to extinguish the fire.
• 2.
- The fourth element of fire known as the
“Chemical chain reaction.”
* 3.
- Stages/steps wherein fire is created.
FIRE
TRIANGLE
FIRE
TETRAHEDRON
 ( )

• 1. - a form of energy measured in degree of

temperature, the product of combustion that
caused the spread of fire.
• 2. - a colorless and odorless gas and
one of the composition of air that supports fire
which is approximately 21% by volume.
• 3. – any substance/combustibles which
reacts chemically with oxygen and produces
flames.
 Fuel Sources:
• 1. Solid - molecules are closely
packed together.
• 2. Liquid - molecules are loosely
packed.
• 3. Gas - molecules are free to
moved.
Common types of solids:
• A. Bulky B. Finely Divided C. Dust
• 1. Coal 1. Plastic 1. Saw
dust
• 2. Wood 2. Paper 2. Sugar
• 3. Wax 3. Cork 3. Grain
• 4. Grease 4. Leather 4. others
Common types of gases:

• 1. Natural gas
• 2. Propane
• 3. Butane
• 4. Hydrogen
• 5. Acetylene
• 6. Carbon monoxide
• 7. others
 Common types of liquids:

• 1. Gasoline 8. Lacquer
• 2. Kerosene 9. Olive oil
• 3. Turpentine
• 4. Alcohol
• 5. Cod liver oil
• 6. Paint
• 7. Varnish
• 1 ( )material/substance that yield
oxygen or oxidizing gases during the process of a chemical
reaction.
• 2. ( ) - material or substance being
burned in the combustion process.
• 3. ( ) - the energy component of the fire
tetrahedron. When heat comes in contact with a fuel, the
energy supports the combustion process.
• 4. (the fourth element) – a
series of events that occur in sequence with the results of each
individual reaction being added to the rest.
Once flaming starts, it can only continue when enough
heat or energy is produced to cause the continued chain
reaction.
.
• Input Heat
• Fuel
• Oxygen
• Proportioning
• Mixing
• Ignition continuity
• 1. Causes pyrolysis or vaporization of solid and
liquid fuels and the production of ignitable
vapors or gases;
• 2. Provides the energy necessary for ignition;
• 3. Causes the continuous production and ignition
of fuel vapors or gases to continue the
combustion reaction or burning process.
 (Common Sources of
Heat):
• 1.
• 2.
• 3.
• 4.
• 5.
• 6.
 Definition of terms:

• Combustion - is a self-sustaining chemical reaction producing energy or

products that cause more reactions of the same kind.
• * Fire - is a rapid oxidization process accompanied by the release of heat and
light of different intensities.
• * Pyrolysis - a chemical process whereby fire consumes the most solid part of
the fuel.
• - a thermal decomposition of a solid fuel through the action of heat.
• - the release of combustible gases due to heat action.
• * Endothermic reaction – changes whereby energy is absorbed or is added
before the reaction takes place.
• * Exothermic – reaction or changes that release or give off energy.
• * Oxidation - a chemical change in which combustible material and an
oxidizing agent react
• * Flashover – a condition wherein a room or other area is heated enough that
flames sweep over the entire surface.
• * Spontaneous heating – a chemical reaction independent of any outside
source of heat.
• Arson – the purposeful of setting a fire with criminal
intent.
• Backdraft – A smoke explosion caused by a sudden
introduction of oxygen into a confined building/area.
• Conflagration – An extremely large fire that effectively
destroys a municipality’s ability to function.
• Firebreak – A planned or naturally existing open area that
impedes the spread of fire.
• Fire Curtain – A barrier that prevent the spread of smoke
and flames between the stage and the audience’s seating in
a theatre.
• Fire Stop - A piece of masonry, wood, or other material
inserted between studs or joists to impede/stop the spread
of fire.
• Firestorm - An intense conflagration during which rising
heated air creates a vacuum beneath that surrounding air
rushes to fill, forming extremely strong winds.
• Fire Tetrahedron – The modern fire “triangle” that
depicts the basic components necessary to a fire’s
existence: oxidizing agent, heat source, and reducing agent.
• Fire Wall – A fire resistant wall built to stop the spread of
fire through a building.
• Jaws of Life – A hydraulic rescue tool used to remove the
doors, window grills from a damage building, vehicle,
allowing access to trap victims to be rescued.
• Plant – A mechanical, electrical, or chemical device used
by an arsonist to start an incendiary fire.
• Reducing agent – Any substance that through heat action,
can be broken down into its constituent, flammable parts-
usually gases such as hydrogen and carbon monoxide.
• Rollover – An eruption of flames following the ignition of
gas that has collected at the top of an enclosed space or
structure.
• Trailer – An arson materials such as cloth or paper to
increase the spread of fire.
•1. Fire gases - chemical composition of the fuel,
percent of oxygen present, and the temperature of the
fire.
• 2. Flame - The luminous body of a burning gas. It is
the manifestation of fire when the fire is in its gas
phased combustion.
• 3. Heat - a form of energy generated by the
transmission of some other form of energy.
• 4. Smoke - a visible product of incomplete
combustion, a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, CO, CO2
and finely divided particles released from the burning
material.
• 1. Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)
• 2. Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
• 3. Hydrogen Chloride (HCL)

• A. According to Color and Completeness of

• Combustion
• B. According to Burning Fuel & Air Mixture
• C. Based on Smoothness
• A. :
• 1. Specific gravity
• 2. Vapor density
• 3. Vapor pressure
• 4. Boiling point
• 5. Ignition temperature
• 6. Fire point
• 7. Flashpoint
• 1. Endothermic reaction - changes whereby energy
is absorbed or is added before the reaction takes
place.
• 2. Exothermic reaction - reactions or changes that
release or give off energy thus they produce
substances with less energy than the reactants.
• 3. Oxidation - a chemical change in which
combustible material and an oxidizing agent react.
• 4. Combustion/Flame - A matter that is produced
by fire.
 Vapor Density of the More
Common Flammable
Materials:
Materials Vapor Density
• * Acetylene * 0.9
• * Butane * 2.0
• * Gasoline *3–4
• * Hydrogen * 0.1
• * JP-4 * 3.0
• * Kerosene * 3.0
• * Propane * 1.6
• 1. - - the initial or beginning
stage of fire.
• 2. - the second phase of
burning whereby materials or structures are
burning in the presence of adequate oxygen
supply.
• 3. - the final phase of burning
wherein flame ceases but dense smoke and
heat completely fill the confined room.
Incipient Phase/Stage of Burning:
Free-Burning Phase of
Burning:
Smoldering Phase/Stage of
Burning:
• A. :
• 1. Natural fire
• 2. Accidental fire
• 3. Intentional fire

• B. :
Four (4) Classes of Fire:
1. Class A
2. Class B
3. Class C
4. Class D
5. Class K This classification was added to the NFPA
portable extinguishers Standard (for kitchen fire)
 – The transfer of heat from
the initial source to other fuel fuels in and beyond
the area of fire origin.

•1. - the transmission of heat

through an object/conductor.
•2. - the transmission through
the discharge and spread of heat from a
heated or burning source.
•3 - the transmission of heat by
the moving currents of liquid or gas.
•4. - fire spreads along or
through a burning material by flame contact.
RADIATIO
N
CONDUCTI
ON
DIRECT FLAME
CONTACT
 – materials that have its own
oxygen or oxidizing gases released during the
course of a chemical reaction.

• Common Oxidizing Agents:

• 1. Bromates 7. Nitrates
• 2. Bromine 8. Nitric acid
• 3. Chlorates 9. Nitrites
• 4. Chlorine 10. Perchlorates
• 5. Fluorine 11. Permanganates
• 6. Iodine 12. Peroxides
 :
• 1. (Removing heat) – a process using
an extinguishing agent whose primary
characteristics is heat absorption.
• 2. (Removing oxygen) – a process of
excluding the oxygen from the fuel so that gases or
vapors cannot ignite and continue the combustion.
(blanketing effect)
• 3. – the removal of the fuel.
• 4. – the sequence of
events in suppressing or extinguishing a fire by
interrupting the chemical reaction.
COOLIN
G
SMOTHERIN
G
FUEL
REMOVAL/SEPARATION
 CHEMICAL
INTERRUPTION/INHIBITION
 Extinguishing Agents:
• 1. Water
• 2. Carbon Dioxide
• 3. Dry Chemical
• 4. Dry Powder
• 5. AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam)
• 6. Halons
 – a mechanical device made of
metal that contains chemicals, fluids, or gases for the
purpose of stopping fires of limited size.
• :
• 1.
• 2.

1. H2O (water)
• 2. Dry Chemicals
• 3. Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
• 4. AFFF (foam)
• 5. Halons
• 6. Dry Powder (metal/sand fire extinguishers)
• 7. Halotron I
• 8. FE-36 (Hydrofluorocarbon-236fa) HFC-236fa
• 9. Water Mist
• 1. – used for metal fires involving
magnesium, sodium, potassium/potassium alloys,
uranium and powdered aluminum.
• 2. (Cu metal) – used for fires
involving lithium and lithium alloys.
• 3. – designed for use on lithium
fires. Very effective on fires involving high melting
metals such as zirconium and titanium.
• 4. – suppress fires with
most metals alkyls, pyrophoric liquids such as
triethylaluminum.
• 5. - can be used
with most Class D fires.
 Fire Extinguisher’s Classification and Ratings:
- Different type of fire extinguishers are designed to
extinguish fires involving different types of fuels.
• 1. Class A – used on fires involving ordinary
combustible materials.
• 2. Class B – used on fires involving liquids, grease,
and gases.
• 3. Class C – used on fires involving energized
electrical equipment.
• 4. Class D – used on fires involving combustible
metals.
• 5. Class K – used on fires involving materials in
the kitchen.
 Fire Extinguisher
Ratings:

• Class A and Class B extinguishers carry a

numerical rating to indicate how large a fire an
experienced person can put out with the use of an
extinguisher.

• The ratings are based on reproducible physical

test designed to determine the extinguishing
capability for each size and type of extinguisher.
Class C Ratings:
• Extinguishers rated for Class C fires are tested only
for electrical conductivity. However, there is no
extinguisher gets a Class C ratings without a Class
A and B rating.

• Class D Ratings:
• Class D extinguishers are tested on metal fires. This
type of extinguisher generally have no rating nor
they are given a multi-purpose rating for use on
other types of Class D fires.
 Steps in using portable fire
extinguishers:
• 1. Pull the pin at the top of extinguisher.
• 2. Aim or point the nozzle or outlet toward the
base of the fire.
• 3. Press the handle above the carrying handle to
discharge the agent. To stop the discharge,
release the handle.
• 4. Sweep the nozzle in side to side motion before
the flames to spread the extinguishing agent.
Direct the agent at the base of the flames.
 Types of Extinguisher
Testing:

• 1. - the operational testing of an

extinguisher conducted yearly to determine its functions
to operate properly.

• 2. - an internal pressure check of an

extinguisher or shell to detect possible failure under
pressure
 Category of Fire Extinguishers According
to their Contents and Classes:
• Type Mechanism Effective Discharge Classes
of fire:
• 1. H20 Reduces Temp 30-40 ft 60 sec A

• 2. CO2 Displaces oxygen 3-8 ft 8-30 sec A

• 3. Dry
• Chemical binds oxygen 5-20 ft 10-40 sec ABC

• 4. Halon Binds oxygen 4-10 ft 8-24 sec BC

• 5. Met-L-X Smothers N/A D

 :
The specific differences in the properties are known
as characteristics, and all flammable materials have
characteristics peculiar to themselves.

•1 – fluids that do no generate more than

40 psia when heated to 100 degrees F.
• 2. – fluids that generate more than 40
psia when heated to 100 degrees F.
• 3. – materials that will ignite, burn and
change chemically when subjected to heat or fire.
• A. - liquids with a flashpoint below
100 degrees F and a vapor pressure not over 40 psia at
100 degrees F
• * Class IA
• * Class IB
• * Class IC
• B. - liquids that have a flashpoint at
or above 100 degrees F.
• * Class II
• * Class IIIA
• * Class IIIB
a) Alkanes b) Alkenes c) Alkynes d) Aromatics
 :
1. Produce vapors that:

- Burn
- Corrosive
- Oxidizers
- Toxic
- Narcotic
- Unstable

2. “Slopover”
Water trapped at bottom of storage tanks vaporizes
from heat expanding and expelling contents above it.
• A.
• * Flammable gases
• * Non-flammable gases
• * Reactive gases
• * Toxic gases
• B.
• * Compressed gases
• * Liquefied gases
• * Cryogenic gases
• C.
• * Fuel gases
• * Industrial gases
• * Medical gases
1. Natural Gas:
The most common flammable gas
2. Methane – lighter than the air and not toxic
3. Propane and Butane
- colorless, tasteless, odorless, and not toxic
- heavier than air
4. Acetylene
- colorless, tasteless, odorless
- shock sensitive
- burns ethylene 4217 degrees F
5. Hydrogen
- difficult to keep in container
- lighter than air – extremely flammable
6. Ethylene Oxide
- gas at room temperature
- extremely wide explosive range – 3.0 to 100 %
7. Oxidizer
- can burn inside its own container
1. Oxygen
- most common
- does not burn - supports combustion
2. Ammonia
- non-flammable – but does burn
- flammable range is less than 10 %
- water soluble
3. Refrigerants - may be toxic when heated
4. Halogens:
a) Fluorine – most powerful oxidizer, extremely toxic, extremely reactive, water
reactive
b) Chlorine – toxic, corrosive, irritating
5. Acid Gases
- turn to acids when dissolved in water
- toxic, corrosive, irritating
6. Inert Gases:
a) Helium b) Nitrogen c) Argon d) Carbon dioxide e) Krypton f) Neon
7. Other Gases
 Classification of Solids:
• A. – materials which ignite,
burn and change chemically when subjected to heat or
fire. Heat must be approximately 350 degrees F or higher

• B. – these are combustible solids

which may ignite or detonate at lower temperature.

• Some of the common Combustible Metals:

• 1. Sodium 5. Magnesium
• 2. Titanium 6. Potassium
• 3. Uranium 7. Lithium
• 4. Zirconium 8. Sodium-potassium alloys
 :

1. Wood
2. Carbon
a) Coal & charcoal b) Carbon monoxide c) carbon dioxide
- carbon monoxide is flammable
- burns very hot
3. Phosporous
aPyrophoric – reacts violently when it contacts air
b) Bombs, pyrotechnic devices
) 4. Sulfur
- non-toxic in elemental form
- sulfur dioxide formed when burn, toxic
5. Metals
6. Cellulose Nitrate
- common, flammable, toxic
- clear plastic materials
- oxidizing agent
7. Ammonium Nitrate
- explosive, oxidizing agent
- fertilizer, explosive when contaminated with fuel
8. Other Nitrates
- must be considered flammable and/or explosive
- liberates toxic nitrogen oxides
9. Solids with Flashpoints
a) Naphthalene
- Does not burn, gives off flammable vapors at 174 degrees F.
 Hazardous Material
Identification:
• 1. Class 1 – Explosives
1. Class 1 – Explosives
• * Class Division 1.1
• * Class Division 1.2
• * Class Division 1.3
• * Class Division 1.4
• 2. Class 2 – Gases (compressed, liquefied or dissolved
under pressure).
• 3. Class 3 – Flammable liquids
• 4. Class 4 – Flammable solids
• 5. Class 5 – Oxidizing substances & Organic Peroxides
• 6. Class 6 – Poisonous (toxic) & infectious substances
• 7. Class 7 – Radioactive substances
• 8. Class 8 – Corrosives
• 9. Class 9 – Miscellaneous Dangerous substances
 Emergency Action Guide for
Hazardous Materials:
Chlorine: (Non-flammable gas,
poisonous):
• Potential Hazards:
• * Fire: – cannot catch fire but may ignite
combustibles
• * Explosion: - container may explode due to
heat of fire.
• * Health:
• - contact may cause burns to skin or eyes
• - vapors may be fatal if inhaled
• - runoff/spills may pollute water supply
 Immediate
Action:

• * Get help and notify local authorities

• * If possible, wear self-contained breathing
apparatus and full protective clothing
• * Keep upwind and estimate immediate danger
area
• * Evacuate according to evacuation table
 Immediate follow-up
action:
• Fire:
• * move containers from fire area if without
risk.
• * cool containers with water from maximum
distance until fire is out
• * do not get water inside containers.
• * do not use water on leaking container.
• * stay away from ends of tanks.
• Spill or Leak:
* do not touch spilled liquid.
• * stop leak if without risk.
• * use water spray to reduce vapors.
• * isolate the area until gas has dispersed.
• * do no get water inside container.

• First Aid:
• * Bring victim to fresh air and open area.
• * give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing, give
• oxygen.
• * flush skin or eyes with running water for 15 minutes if
• victim contacted the material.
• * remove contaminated clothes.
• * keep victim warm and quiet.
Evacuation Table - Based on Prevailing Wind of 6 – 12 mph:

Approximate Size of Spill Distance to Evacuate From For Maximum Safety,

Immediate Danger Area Downwind Evacuation Area
Should Be

200 square feet 160 yards (192 paces 1 mile long, ½ mile wide

400 square feet 240 yards (288 paces) 1 ½ miles long, 1 mile wide

600 square feet 300 yards (360 paces) 1 ½ miles long, 1 mile wide

800 square feet 340 yards ( 408 paces) 2 miles long, 1 ½ miles wide