 Fire was considered by Ancient

Greeks as a major element just like

earth, water, and air. 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
just a manifestation of matter changing
from one state to another.
The fire tetrahedron which is a triangular pyramid is a visual aid that reminds us of
the four important ingredients required to initiate and sustain fire. When all four
ingredients are present in the right amount, a fire will occur naturally. Therefore
removing atleast one of the ingredients can be prevent or extinguish any fire.
 Heat – Is a energy that flows from an
object of high temperature to an object
of low temperature. It should be of an
amount which is enough to liberate the
vapor from the solid and liquid forms of
fuel and cause ignition.
Three main ways in which heat can
be transferred:
Conduction – involves direct contact
of substances.
Convection – involves the flow of
liquid and gases in the transfer of heat.
Radiation – is a manner of heat
transfer that involves only
electromagnetic waves like sunlight or in
the case of fire flame.
 Fuel – gaseous substance can be burned.
 An oxidizing agent – is a element or a compound which releases oxygen or other
oxidizers during a chemical reaction.
 An uninhibited chemical chain reaction – combustion or burning an exothermic
reaction becomes self sustained because oxygen at given off during combustion is
used again to heat the fuel and maintain the burning.

Stages of Fire
 Ignition (Incipient) stage – All four requirements for a fire have been combined.
The fire is very small that it can still controlled by a portable fire extinguisher or
small hose line or it may even go out on its own.
 Growth stage - It takes place when the heat release rate increases as result of the
burning of additional fuel. The rate of the growth fire is dependent on the amount of
available oxygen.
 Fully developed fire stage – during this stage fire has consumed almost all of the
available combustible materials. Oxygen is being consumed rapidly and maximum
temperatures are reached.
 Decay stage – which last the longest, takes place when oxygen and fuel begins to
diminish. During this stage the temperature decreases significantly and the fire
becomes weaker. One must not assume that the fire situation is already under
control because smoldering fire may star a new fire if it is not entirely
extinguished. There is also possibility that backdraft may occur.
Backdraft – is an explosive fire that happens due the sudden introduction of
oxygen into an enclosed structure like a house which has been deprived of air for
quite some time.