Fire Safety- Introduction

1. What is FIRE? “FIRE” stands for “Find Inform Restrict/Resist Extinguish” shortly it means steps to take when a fire is discovered: Fire is the result of a chemical reaction called combustion, which requires a combination of fuel and oxygen as well as a source of ignition. Different methods can be used to extinguish fires. The methods often involve the removal of heat by cooling the burning material, the cutting of fuel or air source or the adding of chemical substances.
1.1 FIRE CHEMISTRY:

1.2 Classes of Fire: Fires are identified using a classification system. Each class identifies the type of fuel involved and allows appropriate fire extinguisher media to be identified.

S.NO

CLASSES

TYPE OF FIRE / MATERIAL INVOLVED

MATEIAL ICONS
1

A

Freely Burning Materials:

i.e. Wood, Paper, Rubber, Cloths

2

B

Flammable Liquids

i.e.: Petrol, Diesel, Oils, Paraffin etc

3

C

Flammable Gases

i.e.: Methane, Propane, Hydrogen, Natural Gas etc.

4

D

Flammable Metals

i.e.: Magnesium, Aluminum, Lithium etc.

5

F

Combustible Cooking Media

i.e.: Cooking Oil, Fats, Grease etc.

6

E

Electrical Appliances

i.e.: Computers, Stereos, Fuse boxes etc.

1.3 FIRE RESPONSE: Response to any fire scenario, regardless of the form of the response, should have these three basic priorities listed by importance:

1.3.1 Life Safety and Personal Protection. The most important thing to accomplish in any fire incident is to protect life and avoid injury. Property, product, processes and material can be replaced and rebuilt. Human life and health is most precious and cannot be replaced. If nothing else is accomplished in a fire incident other than the complete safety of all persons involved, then the first and most important goal in a response to fire has been accomplished.

1.3.2 Incident