What is Fire? Classes of Fire, 3 A’s, Types of Fire Extinguishers, Use of a Fire Extinguisher

1. Fire Safety Training
By:
Ahmed Moftah

2. Training Overview
What is Fire?
Classes of Fire
3 A’s
Types of Fire Extinguishers
Use of a Fire Extinguisher
Summary

3. What is Fire?
Fire is a self-sustaining, chemical chain reaction with
varying degrees of light and heat.
Fire is made up of four components
• Fuel
• Oxygen
• Heat
• Chemical Chain Reaction

4. Fire Tetrahedron
By removing one of these
four components the fire
will go out.
Fire extinguishers are
designed to do just that.

5. Classes Of Fire
Fires are classified according to the type of fuel
that is burning.
If you use the wrong type of fire extinguisher on the
wrong class of fire, you might make matters worse.
Its very important to understand the four different
fire (fuel) classifications…

6. Classes Of Fire(cont.)
Class A: Wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics—solids
that are not metals.
Class B: Flammable liquids—gasoline, oil, grease,
acetone. Includes flammable gases.
Class C: Electrical—energized electrical
equipment. As long as it’s “plugged in.”
Class D: Metals—potassium, sodium, aluminum,
magnesium. Requires special extinguishing agents.
Class K: Cooking Oils.

7. If You Discover a Fire Follow The 3 A’s
Activate
Assist
Attempt

8. The 3 A’s (cont.)
Activate
 Activate the buildings fire alarm system or call 911 to notify
emergency services.

9. The 3 A’s (cont.)
Assist
 Assist those who are in immediate danger or who are
incapacitated. Do this without risk to yourself!

10. The 3 A’s (cont.)
Attempt
Before going on with this step make sure of the
following:
The Fire isn’t too large to control.
Having the right type & size of extinguisher.
Always have an exit to your back in case you need to
escape.
 Never attempt to fight a fire if there is a heavy smoke
condition.

11. Types of Fire Extinguishers
Different types of fire extinguishers are designed to
fight different classes of fire; here are some of the
commonly used extinguishers:
• Dry Chemical
• Carbon Dioxide
• Foam
• Dry Powder
• Wet Chemical

12. Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)
Dry Chemical
• Dry Chemical is the most widely used type
of fire extinguisher and is also recognized as a
multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher.
• They contain an extinguishing agent and use a
compressed, non-flammable gas as a propellant.
• The agent works by interrupting the chemical
chain reaction. Also, on a class A fire it creates a
barrier between the fuel and the oxygen.

13. Carbon Dioxide
• Works by separating oxygen and heat.
• Most effective on Class B and C (liquids and
electrical) fires.
• Since the gas disperses quickly, these
extinguishers are only effective from 3 to 8 feet.
• Since the fire could re-ignite, continue to apply
the agent even after the fire appears to be out.
Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)

14. Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)
Foam
• Foam fire extinguishers work by covering a
burning flammable liquid with a blanket of foam,
cutting off the fire’s air supply and preventing the
release of flammable vapors.
• Suitable for Class A & B fires.

15. Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)
Dry Powder
• Works by separating fuel from oxygen and/or
removing heat
• Effectiveness is based on the type of class D fire it
is designed to extinguish.
• Ineffective on class A,B,C fires (metal fires) only.

16. Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)
Wet Chemical
• Designed for restaurant type kitchens.
• Works by forming a soapy foam blanket over the
burning material and cooling it below it’s ignition
temperature.

17. Types of Fire Extinguishers (cont.)

18. Use of A Fire Extinguisher
Use the acronym PASS to remember how to use a fire
extinguisher.
• P – Pull
• A – Aim
• S – Squeeze
• S – Sweep

19. Use of A Fire Extinguisher (cont.)
S – Sweep
S – Squeeze
A – Aim
P – Pull

20. Summary
Remember the following
• Actions to take when a fire is discovered….The Three A’s
(Activate, Assist, Attempt)
• When & what extinguisher to use?
• How to use a fire extinguisher…. P.A.S.S. (Pull, Aim,
Squeeze, Sweep)