| One of the first things taught in a Fire Safety | | | | usually very high temperatures are required |
| Training course is how a fire starts. Knowing how | | | | Dust - airborne particles which can be highly |
| fires start can considerably increase awareness of | | | | explosive |
| potential hazards and also helps in providing an | | | | Materials/clothing/upholstery - present virtually |
| understanding as to how fire extinguishers work. | | | | everywhere, these can produce toxic smoke |
| In order for a fire to start, there needs to be | | | | Oxygen |
| sufficient quantities of three elements in place - | | | | When there is a lack of oxygen, a fire cannot |
| fuel, oxygen and heat. Once a fire has started, | | | | begin nor can it continue. Oxygen can be |
| removal of any of these three elements will | | | | removed from a fire by dousing it with foam, |
| cause the fire to extinguish. The term for this is | | | | spraying it with inert gas, dry chemicals (powder) |
| the ‘Fire Triangle’. Recently, this has | | | | or by enclosing the fire in an area where all the |
| largely been replaced in the industry by the term | | | | available oxygen will be used up. Imagine using a |
| ‘fire tetrahedron’ which takes into | | | | candle snuffer on a burning candle, instantly the |
| consideration the ignition or combustion process. | | | | candles source of oxygen has been removed and |
| Fuel | | | | therefore the flame will go out. |
| Without fuel a fire will stop. Fuel can be removed | | | | Heat |
| naturally, where by the fire has consumed all the | | | | Without sufficient heat a fire cannot begin nor can |
| burnable fuel, or manually, by mechanically or | | | | it continue. Heat can be removed by dousing |
| chemically removing the fuel from the fire. | | | | some fires with water; the water turns to steam |
| Sources of fuel include: | | | | taking the heat with it. However, it is worth noting |
| Petrol | | | | that adding water to some types of fire (i.e. |
| Paraffin/kerosene | | | | combustible metal fires) can have the reverse |
| Alcohol | | | | affect and can cause the fire to spread. That is |
| Oil | | | | why it is extremely important to use the correct |
| Paint | | | | type of fire extinguisher depending on what type |
| Wood / paper / card | | | | of fire it is you are tackling. |
| Plastics - most plastics will release toxic smoke | | | | The next article on ‘good housekeeping’ |
| during combustion | | | | will offer further guidance on ways to reduce the |
| Metals - some metals are flammable, although | | | | risk of a fire. |