Fire Hazards

fire has been used for thousands of years by early humans for survival. Fire has been one of the most
important tools in building both ancient and early civilizations. Up to this day, the fire still maintains an
important role in man's daily life.

what is fire?

Fire was considered by the ancient Greeks as a major element just like Earth, water, and air. But unlike
the three, Fire is not a form of matter. It is indeed tangible; its flame can be seen, its heat can be felt,
and smoke can be smelled, but it is actually a manifestation of matter changing from one state to
another.

The ingredients of fire

1. Heat

2. Fuel

3. Chain reaction 4. Oxygen

Backdraft_1s an explosive fire that happens ege to the sudden introduction of oxygen into an enclosed
structure, like house, which has been deprived of air for quite some time.

Types of fires

Natural disasters such as earthquakes and .vqlgnic eruptions also result in fire as collapsing buildings
disrupt gas vents and cause explosions, while‘ electric equipment spark incendiary materials that lead on
fire.
Forest fire

According to authorities, the fire originated from slash-and-burn or kaingin practices of the farmers,
fanned by very strong winds. It is a common source of forest fires especially in trOpical countries around
the world. Forest

fires are also called bush fires, or grass fire. 3

Urban fire

On March 18, 1996, the Philippines witnessed its worst urban fire disaster‘as fire broke out in the ozone
disco club, killing at least 162 people, most of which were college students celebrating their graduation.

Fire Hazards

Fire hazards are the objects or types of environment that increases the likelihood on Fire occurrence, or
serve as obstacles to escape in the event fire.

what are Wildfires ?

A wild fire is any natural or anthropogenic-caused uncontrolled fire in remote areas where there is
extensive combustible vegetation and/or organic material like forests, grasslands, shrublands,
brushlands, scrubland,

peatlands. A wildfire can spread out from the source of ignition very quickly and can change direction
unexpectedly.

Types of wild fires

Ground fires involve burning of buried decomposed organic matter and extensive tree roof systems. The
smoldering fire associated with the burning of roots is particularly dangerous because even when the
fire already seems to have extinguished, the smoldering fire can actually ensue for daysor Months
underground and then resurface again somewhere along any of the network of roots.

Surface fires, the most common type of wildfires involve the burning of fuel scattered on the surface like
fallen leaves, branches, bark stems, tree cuttings, and dried-up low-lying vegetation like shrubs and
grasses. An abundance of accumulated fuel on the ground, especially if these have been

dried up during droughts or dry spells; allow surface fires induce ground fires.

Crown fires burn tree canopies, other higher parts of trees, and suspended materials like veins. This type
of wildfires spreads very rapidly because of the strong winds which supply more and more oxygen.

Ladder fuels are any combustible material found between the ground and the tree tops which allow fire
to climb up all the way to the canopies. These include small trees, tall grasses, tree branches, downed
trees, vines, ferns, and other plants than span the length of the tree trunks.

Choosing fire extinguishers

a) Water and foam

It both isolate the heat element while foam extinguishers block oxygen to prevent it from interacting
with other elements in the fire tetrahedron.

b) Carbon dioxide

Isolate the oxygen the oxygen from the fuel in the fire tetrahedron and also reduce the heat due to the
very cold emission.
c) Dry chemical

Put out the fire mainly by breaking the continuity of the chemical reaction of the fire tetrahedron. A
multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher is the most widely used extinguisher which can be used to put
out class A, B and C fires.

d) Wet chemical

Remove the heat in the fire tetrahedron and prevent the fire from starting again by preventing oxygen
and fuel from interacting. This is for class K fires.

e) Clean agent

Also known as halogenated extinguishers, contain halon agents and halocarbon agents. These put out
the fire mainly by breaking the continuity of the chemical reaction of the fire tetrahedron and are used
commonly for class B and C fires.

f) Dry powder

Put only to class D fires by preventing the oxygen and fuel from interacting or by removing the heat in
the fire tetrahedron.

g.) Water mist

Put out primarily to class A fires, but could work as well for class C fires by isolating the element from
the other elements of the fire tetrahedron.