7. Effective Fire Extinction
If the three parts of the
‘fire triangle’ are kept in
mind, extinguishing a
small blaze should be a
matter of common
sense. The principles of
fire extinction state that
a fire will be put out if
one of the three
elements are removed,
and this can be done
using three different
approaches, as detailed
below…
8.
9. Cooling
Removing the heat is one of the
most effective methods of fire
extinction available, which is
why water is a popular
extinguishing material. The fire
will go out so long as the heat
generated by the fire is less
than that which is absorbed by
the water.
Remember: water is not an
appropriate extinguishing
material to use on electrical
fires, as well as those caused by
cooking oils/fats or other
flammable liquids.
11. Starving
A raging fire will
burn itself out if it
runs out of
flammable
materials, such as a
bonfire out in the
open that isn’t in
contact with any
other wood or dry
grass. Similarly, a
gas fire will
immediately
extinguish if the gas
supply is cut off.
12. Smothering
As the other key component
present in the chemical
reaction that causes
combustion, removing oxygen
from the equation is the final
way of extinguishing a fire. For
example, smothering a frying
pan blaze with a fire blanket
reduces the oxygen to below
the 16% required to react,
while covering a candle with a
glass will snuff it out in a
vacuum.
13. Smothering is a
technique that is
mostly applicable to
solid fuel fires,
although some
materials may contain
enough oxygen within
their own chemical
makeup to keep the
blaze burning.
14.
15.
16. Can we always use water
to extinguish fire?
Can we always use the
same fire extinguisher to
extinguish fire?
19. Class A
Fires:
“Ordinary”
Fires
Class A fires are the most common of the 5
different classes of fires. They occur when
common combustible materials like wood, paper,
fabric, trash, and light plastics catch fire. These
accidental fires are common across a variety of
industries, so it’s recommended to have adequate
protection against “ordinary” fires in addition to
other condition-specific fires.
20. Class A Fires:
“Ordinary” Fires
Despite being “ordinary”, most
don’t classify this class of fire
as low-risk. If there’s an
abundance of fuel present,
these fires can intensify
quickly. It’s best to put out a
Class A fire quickly before it
spreads using water or
monoammonium phosphate.
21. Class B Fires:
Liquids &
Gases
Class B fires involve flammable liquids
and gases, especially fuels like
petroleum or petroleum-based
products such as gasoline, paint, and
kerosene. Other gases that are highly
flammable are propane and butane,
which are common causes of Class B
fires.
22. Class B Fires:
Liquids & Gases
The best way to deal with
these types of fires is by
smothering them or
removing oxygen using
foam or CO2 fire
suppression equipment.
Be aware that Class B fires
do not include grease fires
or cooking fires, which
belong to their own class,
Class K.
23. Class C:
Electrical
Fires
Electrical fires fall under Class C
and are common in facilities that
make heavy use of electrical
equipment, but they can occur in a
wide range of industries.
24. Class C:
Electrical Fires
For example, data centers
might be an obvious risk area
for Class C fires. They must
have safeguards in place to deal
with electrical fires.
Construction sites are another
common Class C fire risk:
electrical power tools or
appliances used for cooking can
cause sparks to ignite
combustible materials and
intensify rapidly. Old buildings
with bad wiring or space
heaters present more concerns.
25. Class C: Electrical
Fires
Electrical fires require
non-conductive materials
to extinguish the flame,
so water alone is not a
good solution. Facilities
with sensitive equipment
may prefer clean agent
suppression because it
won’t leave residue or
damage electrical
equipment.
26. Class D:
Metallic Fires
Class D fires are not as common as the other
classes, but they do require special attention
because they can be especially difficult to
extinguish. Metallic fires involve flammable
materials like titanium, aluminum, magnesium,
and potassium — all commonly occurring in
laboratories.
27. Class D: Metallic Fires
Class D fires cannot be
addressed with water,
as this can exacerbate
the fire and would be
potentially dangerous.
Dry powder agents are
the best solution for
smothering the flames
and limiting damage to
property or people.
28. Class K Fires:
Grease Fires
or Cooking
Fires
Class K fires involve flammable liquids, like
Class B fires, but are specifically related to
food service and the restaurant industry.
These common fires start from the
combustion of liquid cooking materials
including grease, oils, and vegetable and
animal fats.
29. Class K Fires:
Grease Fires or
Cooking Fires
Because they can spread
quickly and be difficult to
manage, Class K fires are
some of the most
dangerous. Water can
make the situation worse,
but smothering the flames
or using a wet agent fire
extinguisher is effective.
30. Now that we
understand how
each fire starts, we
can prepare for
how to fight them
— or better yet,
prevent them from
happening in the
first place.
31.
32. What is a fire
extinguisher?
How do we use a
fire extinguisher?
33. Portable fire extinguishers are classified by the
type of fires they are designed to extinguish.
There are five basic classifications of fuel and
extinguishers, and extinguishers are labeled with
either letter-shaped or pictorial symbols that
indicate what types of fires they are intended for.
43. What to do if a Fire Starts:
• Know how to safely operate a fire extinguisher
• Remember to GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency phone
number.
• Yell "Fire!" several times and go outside right away. If you live in a building with
elevators, use the stairs. Leave all your things where they are and save yourself.
• If closed doors or handles are warm or smoke blocks your primary escape route, use
your second way out. Never open doors that are warm to the touch.
• If you must escape through smoke, get low and go under the smoke to your exit. Close
doors behind you.
• If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay in the room with doors closed.
Place a wet towel under the door and call the fire department or 9-1-1. Open a window
and wave a brightly colored cloth or flashlight to signal for help.
• Once you are outside, go to your meeting place and then send one person to call the
fire department. If you cannot get to your meeting place, follow your family emergency
communication plan.
44. If your clothes catch on fire:
• Stop what you’re doing.
• Drop to the ground and cover your face if you can.
• Roll over and over or back and forth until the
flames go out. Running will only make the fire
burn faster.
• Once the flames are out, cool the burned skin
with water for three to five minutes. Call for
medical attention.
45. Fire Safety Signs
• Fire safety signs are color coded for easier identification and
determination which is mandatory, and which should be avoided.
It is very important to be knowledgeable or to be familiar with the
color and the corresponding meaning of the picture presented.
46. • Red fire safety signs are
used to indicate
prohibition, or you must
not go on that location
because it might pose
danger or harm. It also
signifies the location of
fire equipment and
supplementary
information. When it
means prohibition, it is
circular with a red border,
white background and
black image.
47. •Fire equipment
signs are square
with red
background and
white images
and are used to
tell you where
to find the
location of fire-
fighting
equipment.
48. •Fire exit signs are colored green and white
as this color combination means a safe
condition. Normally fire exit signs show
rapidly walking man and an arrow.
However, some fire exit signs just show
‘fire exit’ text in lower case letters.
51. • Blue fire safety signs
are used to indicate a
mandatory action or
a must do action.
These blue signs
mean that you need
to do the appropriate
action for your safety.
Blue fire safety signs
are circular in shape
and feature a white
graphic or white text.
52. If a Fire Starts:
•Know how
to safely
operate a
fire
extinguisher
53. If a Fire Starts:
• Remember to GET
OUT, STAY OUT
and CALL the BFP-
Gigmoto
emergency hotline
number or your
local emergency
phone number.
54. If a Fire Starts:
•Yell "Fire!" several times and go
outside right away. If you live in a
building with elevators, use the stairs.
Leave all your things where they are
and save yourself.
55. If a Fire Starts:
• If closed doors or
handles are warm or
smoke blocks your
primary escape
route, use your
second way out.
Never open doors
that are warm to the
touch.
56. If a Fire Starts:
•If you must
escape through
smoke, get low
and go under the
smoke to your
exit. Close doors
behind you.
57. • If smoke, heat or flames block your exit routes, stay
in the room with doors closed. Place a wet towel
under the door and call the fire department. Open a
window and wave a brightly colored cloth or
flashlight to signal for help.
58. If a Fire Starts:
• Once you are outside,
go to your meeting
place and then send
one person to call the
fire department. If
you cannot get to
your meeting place,
follow your family
emergency
communication plan.
59. If your clothes catch on fire:
Stop what you’re doing.
Drop to the ground and
cover your face if you can.
Roll over and over or back
and forth until the flames
go out. Running will only
make the fire burn faster.
• Once the flames are out,
cool the burned skin with
water for three to five
minutes. Call for medical
attention.