INTRODUCTION TO FIRE

Nowadays Fire is a common and Frequent Hazard in Daily Life, because a fire which starts unseen as small flickers of flame may grow at such a pace that it can quickly get out of hand.
This is due to carelessness, Ignorance, Lack of Knowledge, Stupidity, Unavailability of Proper fire fighting extinguishers.

This course is prepared in such a manner a Person can easily understand:
What is Fire?, How to detect a fire?, What is the exact procedure to fight against of fire?, What is correct procedure to use fire extinguishers?, What is fire prevention? and more.

Introduction:

Fire is the most common hazard which we face in industries, homes, and office premises. While complete and proper procedure of training and awareness can minimize the chances of an accidental fire to almost safe considerations, we must still be very much prepared to deal with a fire emergency in case it occurs. This document aims to teaches the basics about fire fighting techniques and equipments -- proper types, how to use them, when and where to use them and when not to use them, as along with the proper procedures to follow if a fire occurs.


HISTORY OF FIRE FIGHTING:

The American Fire Control Board fire fighting team is exists from the first century B.C. Ancient Rome too had a fire department with close to 7000 paid fire fighters. The fire brigades responded and fought not only fires, but also patrolled the cities with the power to impose punishment upon those violating fire-prevention codes. The first fire pump was invented in 200 B.C. by inventor Ctesibius of Alexandria.

In 1648 Governor Peter Stuyvesant of New Amsterdam (New York City) was appointed as a fire inspector with the power to impose fines for fire code of conduct. In 1672 leather hose and couplings for joining lengths of pipe together were produced, leather hose had to be sewn like a fine boot.

Boston (MA) imported the first fire engine in America in 1679. Inventor Thomas Lote of New York City built the first fire engine made in America in 1743. A steam fire engine was built in London in 1829.

Fabric and rubber-treated hose did not come into general use until 1870. But the fire companies of the day were very slow to accept these rapid advances in the field.

Modern equipments are usually diesel powered and many variations of the basic fire engine have enabled firefighters to respond to many types of emergency situation, prevalent in these industrial times.

Definition of Fire:

Fire can be defined as an external sign of chemical reaction, usually with the combination of hydrocarbons with oxygen, resulting in the release of energy. To start the action it is necessary to apply a flame or a spark, having a certain amount of energy value, to a material that has been raised to a certain threshold temperature sufficient to release inflammable gases, which conduct the continuation of fire; or else to raise the substance to its auto ignition temperature or the temperature where spontaneous combustion of the liberated gases occurs.

Once the fire has started, the heat energy released is available to raise the temperature of a greater amount of the substance to that of combustion, so the amount of gases liberated from the burning material increase and fire spreads more rapidly. If the temperature is close to self-ignition, less amount of energy is required to cause the combustion, and fire will appear to break out at points at some distance from the main fire.

However the air/fuel ratio limits the rate at which different substances will burn and limitation of air will cause long tongues of flame to reach out searching for the air required, once given a good start and plenty of combustible material. Incomplete combustion can result in the formation of gas pockets, which may explode in case air suddenly becomes available, whilst heated hydrocarbon, if lacking air, will decompose and form sooty particles characteristic of thick, black smoke. It can be seen that there are three elements required for the propagation of fire.

There are three things that result in fire or combustion:
1. Combustible material
2. Oxygen the fuel sources, and
3. Ignition Source, the heat source.

Priniciple of Fire Fighting:

The fire fighting principle rests on the basis of the removal of one of the sides of the fire triangle, fire tetrahedron or fire square.

For example: -
Fire starts when paper or wood comes in contact of flame or heat in presence of oxygen, a fuel source.

We have to take the following steps to control this fire:
1. Remove the source of fuel by marking a boundary or removing the fuel itself.
2. Remove oxygen by obstructing the air or oxygen supply.
3. Remove heat or flame by supplying water or fire extinguisher against fire.

Fire stands for:
FIND the fire, the location, and its size.

INFORM person in charge.
• If there is a general alarm system then raise the alarm.
• Make a call to the nearest fire control party.
• Activate emergency firefighting equipment.

RESTRICT the fire.
• De-energize electrical systems in the affected space.
• Set fire boundaries to confine the fire.
• Shut-off ventilation.
• Prior to activating fixed extinguishing system, ensure evacuation from the area.

EXTINGUISH the fire.
• Determine the class of fire (explained later), appropriate equipment and extinguishing agent to be used and plan the method of extinguishing.

If unable to control fire, prepare to abandon the location.

Fire Prevention and Fire Safety:

Fire Prevention Tips
Fires and burns are the third leading cause of unintentional home injury and related deaths. Fire safety and survival begins with everyone being prepared. Following the below mentioned safety measures reduces the chance of fire:


Fire Safety At Home
Safe fire practice and awareness at home are a part of a fire protection plan and it is also critical to be prepared to react quickly in case a fire occurs at home.


Safe Fire Fighting and Practice
• An hour of planning may save years of life. Practice fire.

• Make sure the home/office has at least one smoke alarm on every floor. They will give time to escape in case of fire.

• Make sure everyone knows the ways out of each room.

• A window can be used as an exit. Make sure windows and screens can be easily removed from inside, in case you need to escape a fire.

• Folding escape ladders may be needed in higher buildings. In an emergency, take caution when escaping down a stairway. It might become a chimney for smoke, hot gas, and fire.

• Don’t jump in panic from a high window. Stay in the room with the door closed and the window slightly open. Hang a sheet out the window to show rescuers your location. Sit on the floor to avoid breathing in smoke.

• A hot door is a warning. Feel the door before opening it and look to keep the room, kitchen, and basement doors closed at night to act as a barrier, in case of fire.

• Never go back into a burning building for any reason!


FIRE FIGHTING STRATEGY:

Inspect and review:
1. The scene of fire as rapidly as possible.

2. Assess the nature of fire by determining its intensity and extent.

3. The type and abundance of fuel.

4. The danger of entering the fire area.

5. Most effective techniques for extinguishing the fire.

6. Location and rescuing endangered person.

7. Containing the fire and protecting adjacent areas.

8. Ventilation of the fire area to allow for the escape of heat and toxic gases.

9. Finally extinguishing the fire.

In case your clothing is on fire (and the floor is not), drop and roll on the ground to extinguish the flames. If you are within a few feet of a safety shower or a fire blanket, use these instead, but do not try to run if you are on fire. If one of your coworkers catches fire and runs down the hallway in panic, tackle them and extinguish the fire in their clothing.