This document discusses fire awareness and prevention. It defines fire awareness as dealing with fire prevention, hazards, and protection. Fire prevention includes education and safety regulations to stop fires from starting. Fire hazards refer to things that could cause or spread a fire. Fire protection methods work to quickly detect, control, and mitigate fires through equipment like sprinklers and training. The seminar aims to provide understanding of fires and the appropriate actions and safety measures to take in the event of a fire risk. It discusses the elements needed for a fire, how fires start and spread, and classification of different fire types.

1. FIRE AWARENESS SEMINAR
Ayodeji Olubisi Ogunwuyi

2. WHAT IS FIRE AWARENESS ALL ABOUT?
It is an aspect of HEALTH AND SAFETY(HSE) that
deals with;
 Fire Prevention
 Fire hazards
 Fire protection

3. FIRE PREVENTION
 This covers precautionary activities aiming at
stopping the outbreak of fire, early detection and
reducing losses of life and property should a fire
occur.
 The activities included are;
Education
Inspection
Enforcement of safety regulations and
The reduction of fire hazards wherever possible.

4. FIRE HAZARDS (FIRE
DANGER)
 The relative likelihood of the start and spread of a
fire or an explosion, which might endanger lives
or property.

5. FIRE PROTECTION
 It implies methods of prevention, early detection
and control of any fire incident to mitigate
damage or loss. There are two types of fire
protection:
 Active fire protection which involves installation
of sprinklers and automatic detection and
extinguishing systems as well as training occupants
in fire skills etc
 Passive fire protection which refers to structural
measures, fire retardant treatment, adequate and

6. AIM
To provide with an understanding of fire and actions
to be carried out in the events of a fire risk.

7. OBJECTIVES
At the end of this seminar, the participants will be
able to;
 Identify fire hazards
 Be aware of the various causes of fire
 Be aware of safety precautions and good
housekeeping required to minimize fire
 Understand what fire is and how it spreads
 Identify and select an appropriate fire extinguishers
 Employ the correct techniques for its application.

8. WHAT IS FIRE?
 Fire is a rapid combination of two or more
substances resulting in the production of heat and
light
 It is produced by the process of combustion; a
chemical reaction process involving rapid oxidation
or burning of a fuel.

9. HOW FIRE STARTS
It needs three elements to occur:
 FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material – solid
(e.g. paper, wood fabrics), liquid (e.g. petrol,
diesel, adhesives) or gas (e.g. acetylene, butane,
propane). Most solids and liquids become a vapor or
gas before they will burn.
 OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent
oxygen. fire only needs an atmosphere with at least
16 percent oxygen.
 HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the
temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient

10. CHEMICAL REACTION
 A chain reaction can occur when the three
elements of fire are present in the proper
conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this
rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.
 Take any one of these factors away, and the fire
cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was
already burning.

11. HOW FIRE SPREADS
Fire spreads by four main processes
Conduction
Convection
Radiation
Direct burning

12. CONDUCTION
Movement of heat from regions of higher
temperature to regions of lower temperature
through the molecules of substances in contact
with the heat.
 Metals are the best agents of conduction.
 In fire situation, a steal beam passing through a
fireproof wall can be the cause of spread from
one compartment to another.

13. CONVECTION
RADIATION
 Heat is transferred from
places of higher
temperature to places o f
lower temperature with
visible movement of the
medium, usually liquids
and gases.
 In fire situations,
convectional currents can
convey hot gases, smoke
and fire brands produced
by fire upwards through
stair wells, open lift shafts
and other opening, thus
spreading fire to the upper
parts of the building.
 Movement of heat from
the source to the other
objects without the
intervening medium
necessary being heated.
 In fire situation, radiant
heat may be concentrated
by an object such as
magnifying glass on
combustible materials
resulting in further fire
spread.

14. CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
Fire are classified according to the materials involved:
 CLASS A: Involves free combustible materials e.g. wood, paper,
textiles etc
 Best extinguishing medium is water.
 CLASS B: Involves flammable liquids e.g. petrol, diesel,
adhesives etc or liquefiable solids e.g. wax, fats, coal tar etc
 Best extinguishing medium is foam.
 CLASS C: Involves gases e.g. methane, propane, butane etc
 The best extinguishing media is vapourising liquids e.g. CO2
 CLASS D: Involves metals e.g. Aluminium, Potassium,
Magnesium etc
 The best extinguishing medium is Dry Chemical Powder
 CLASS F: Involve cooking fats.

15. USES OF FIRE
Controlled fire can be used for the following;
Industrial uses
Domestic uses- cooking, house heating

16. CAUSES OF FIRE
Fire accidents occurs when fire is not properly handled
or is allowed to get out of control.
It could be as a result of;
 CARELESSNESS: Most common cause of fire and
could manifest as a result of;
 overload electrical sockets
 storing of flammable liquids in homes and offices without
adequate protection
 careless handling of cooking gas
 children playing with matches or naked fire
 lighting of candles without adequate protection at the
base
 careless smoking habits

17. CAUSES OF FIRE contd.
WILFUL ACTS: Better
known as arson and
could manifest as a
result of;
violent political
activities
attempt to cover
crimes of a serious
nature
public demonstration/
workmen strike action
jealousy
ACCIDENT: An
unforeseen
circumstances beyond
human control
resulting in;
fire outbreak
earthquake
thunder
storm/lightening
volcanic eruption