DRRR | Fire Hazards

Fire

a product of combustion, where a fuel/material (usually made out of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen compounds) is ignited with heat and combined with oxygen

Fire Triangle

It shows all the components needed to ignite a fire. It implies that enough of all of them are needed to start a fire and if one goes away, it will go out.

Oxygen

Approximately 16% O2 is required to start a fire.

Heat Sources

• open flame

• the sun

• hot surfaces

• sparks and arcs

• friction

• chemical action

• electrical energy

• compression of gases

Gas Fuels

• natural gas

• propane

• butane

• hydrogen

• acetylene

• carbon monoxide

Liquid Fuels

• gasoline

• kerosene

• turpentine

• alcohol

• paint

• varnish

• lacquer

• olive oil

• cool liver oil

Solid Fuel

• coal

• wood

• paper

• cloth

• wax

• grease

• leather

• plastic

• sugar

• grain

• hay

• cork

Common Causes of Fire

• cooking equipment

• electrical equipment

• careless smoking

• open flames

• children playing with fire

• flammable liquids

• faulty wiring

• lighting

• overnight charging

• pets

Cooking Equipment

most fires occur because people get distracted and leave cooking unattended

Preventing Fires from Cooking Equipment

• Always stand by your pan.

• Keep LPG tank outside or in a well-ventilated area.

• Keep combustibles like dish towels, oven mitts, and paper towels away from heat sources.

Electrical Equipment

When wires or circuits become overloaded due to an increase the load the circuit carries without changing the size of the wires. The wires tend to overheat in the circuit due to the additional load.

Prevention Against Fires from Electrical Wires

• Don’t overuse an extension cord.

• Check for loose pr frayed cords/plugs.

• Do not run wires under rugs or heavy furniture.

Careless Smoking

People who smoke, especially in bed, tend to become drowsy or fall asleep and forget to extinguish it properly. This can be avoided by avoiding smoking.

Open Flames

unattended burning candles or kerosene lamps that are placed near flammable materials

Prevention Against Fires from Open Flames

• blow out candles before leaving the room

• place them in a sturdy holder on a level surface and make sure they are far away from combustible materials and out of reach of children or pets

Children Playing with Fire

Most children cause fires after playing with matches or lighters out of curiosity, not comprehending the risk they are taking.

Prevention Against Fires from Children Playing with Fire

• Check whether there are matches or lighters in their room or possession.

• Smell for sulphur in their room.

• Find toys or personal items that may have melted.

• Supervise and educate kids about fire safety.

Flammable Liquids

Fuels, solvents, cleaning agents, thinners, adhesives, paints, and other raw materials can ignite/explode if stored improperly, They must be stored outside in a cool ventilated area in tightly sealed containers.

Faulty Wiring

Worn out electrical wiring that cannot be seen can be dangerous. A clear warning sign is when a fuse blows or the circuit breaker trips frequently. Make sure a certified electrician examines the house’s electrical system.

Lighting

installing a bulb that is too high for the lamps and light fixtures is a leading cause of fire, as a fire may start when he bulb burns out.

Preventing Fires From Light

• Regularly check light fittings for heat build up.

• Discard lampshades that are close to light globes and lamp bases that can be knocked over easily.

Overnight Charging

Batteries may explode due to overcharging and set fire. Use only original batteries and chargers. Do not leave devices in hot areas.

Pets

they can climb and hit stove knobs or chew electrical wires which can electrocute them or a cause fire. Create a place for them to stay when you sleep or are away. Remove stove knobs or invest in protectors if needed.

Fire Emergency Phases

1. Pre-Fire

2. Incipient

3. Growth and Development

4. Fully Developed

5. Post-Fire

Pre-Fire Phase

• Helps prevent fires before they happen and ensures people know what to do when one starts

• includes risk assessment of potential hazards, installation of fire alarms, extinguishers, and sprinklers, and conduction of fire drills and emergency plans

Incipient Phase

• fire ignition phase

• the fire has started and is usually small as it is a spark, small flame, or an overhead appliance

Growth and Development Phase

• fire escalation

• fire grows rapidly, fueled by nearby combustible materials

• smoke spreads quickly, visibility drops, and temperatures rise

Fully Developed Phase

• Crisis point

• fire has spread significantly

• structural damage and risk of collapse

• most dangerous stage

Post-Fire Phase

• fire is extinguish

• assessment of damage and investigation of fire’s cause

• support and psychological first aid for victims

Effects of Fire Hazards

1. Destruction of houses/buildings.

2. Loss of wildlife habitat

3. Harm human health.

4. Death

Philippine Fire Prevention Month

occurs in March because the highest number of fire incidents occurs during month

Low Hazard Materials

• appliances

• electrical cables and wiring on reels

• fertilizers

• leather

• metal on wood pallets

• sugar

• raw tobacco

• wallboard

• gypsum

• wool

• inert materials

Average Hazard Materials

• stocks in cartons, clothing, and pillows

• books, stationary, paper, pulp, plastics

• ceramics, cereal

• fiberboard, vegetable

• foods, frozen

• glass, glycols in cans

• hydraulic fluids, in cans

• insulators, lubricants

• metals, oil-based paints

• pharmaceuticals, elixrs, tonics

High Hazard Materials

• flammable liquids in metal cans

• baked cork and other insulating materials

• upholstered furniture

• linoleum rugs or piles

• alcohol in barrels/tank

• paper products in loosed form

• baled waste paper

• pharmaceutical with high alcohol

• plastic products

• bags and mats with plastic, foam, or rubber

Very High Hazard Materials

• pulp/waxed paper, asphalt coated paper

• pyroxylin or foam/plastic products loosed/packed

• rubber goods, plastic products loosed/packed

• acetone, alcohol, lighter fluids, varnish, paints, cleaning fluid and the like, packed in plastic containers, glass bottles

• cork or other insulating materials, not baled

• ammonium nitrate

Hazardous Areas

• boiler and heater rooms

• laundries

• kitchens

• repair shops

• handicraft shops

• employee locker rooms

• soiled linen rooms

• paint shops

• trash collection rooms

• gift shops

• areas covered with dry grass, cogon, reeds, brush, and other highly combustible growth

• any area used for stockpiling waste

• rooms that store combustible supplies and equipment in hazardous quantities

What to Do Before Fire Emergencies

Following the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 (RA 9514):

• Install Smoke Alarms

• Have a Fire Extinguisher

• Have an Emergency Exit Plan

What to Do During Fire Emergencies

• Go and stay outside.

• Call the emergency services (fire station and red cross)

• If trapped, stay close to the floor, covering your nose, and mouth with a wet cloth

  • Go where there are leading windows

  • Find a way to signal/catch attention that you’re still in the building

  • Secure space

  • Collect bed sheets and cushions to help you escape through the windows.

• If clothes are on fire, stop, drop and roll

What to Do During Fire Emergencies When Trapped

1. Go towards leading windows.

2. Signal that you are still in the building,

3. Secure the space.

4. Collect bed sheets and cushions to help you escape through the windows.

F. I. R. E. Method

• Find or call local authority.

• Inform them immediately there is a fire incident nearby.

• Relax and be calm yet alert.

• Exit quickly but in orderly manner

R. E. A. C. T. Method

1. Remove persons in immediate danger

2. Ensure that the doors are closed.

3. Activate the fire alarm in the barangay.

4. Call local fire department.

5. Treat fire as dangerous.

Class A Fire Hazards

solid materials

Class B Fire Hazards

flammable liquids and gases

Class C Fire Hazards

electrical short circuits

Ways to Extinguish Fire

1. Cooling

2. Smothering

3. Starvation

Cooling

• the removal of heat

• fire goes out when it is less than that which is absorbed by the water

Starving

• the removal of fuel

• the fire goes out when it runs out of flammable materials

Smothering

• removal of oxygen

• the fire goes out when oxygen goes below the 16% required to react

• can be done by covering the fire

• mostly for solid fuel fires

Extinguishing Class A Fires

• for ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, cloth, etc.

• can be extinguished by water, foam, powder, and a wet chemical

• marked by a green triangle label

Extinguishing Class B Fires

• for flammable liquids like grease, oil paint, solvents, etc.

• can be extinguished by foam, CO2, and powder

• marked by a red rectangular label

Extinguishing Class C Fires

• for live electrical equipment like electrical panels, motors, wiring, etc.

• can be extinguished by CO2 and powder

• marked by a blue circular label

Extinguishing Class D Fires

• for combustible metal like magnesium, aluminum, etc.

• can be extinguished by powder

• marked by a yellow star label

Extinguishing Class K Fires

• for commercial cooking equipment metal like cooking oils, animal fats, vegetable oils, etc.

• can be extinguished by wet chemicals

• marked by a black hexagon label

How to Use Fire Extinguishers

1. Pull the pin

2. Aim the nozzle at the base.

3. Squeeze the handle.

4. Sweep nozzle side to side.

What to do After Fire Emergencies

• Avoid fire area until it is declared safe.

• Ensure the fire department inspects your home or the fire site.

• Remove things that may cause additional harm, like broken glasses, etc.

Fire Proofing Homes

• Save phone numbers of the nearest fire department.

• Eliminate fire hazards.

• Keep matches and lighters out of children’s reach.

• Never leave lighted materials unattended.

• Keep a first-aid kit handy.

• Prepare and evacuation plan

• Install fire alarm systems

• Prepare fire extinguishers,

• Fire-proof walls.

• Have roof vents for fire fighter use.

• Practice fire safety training