Proper Procedures in addressing a fire incident

1. OBSERVE
PRECAUTIONARY AND
PROPER PROCEDURES
IN ADDRESSING A FIRE
INCIDENT

2. Have you witnessed a fire? What do you
think was the cause of that fire? Some
people would say it is because of faulty
wiring, some would say arson and others
would give other reasons that would cause a
fire however, do we really know how fire is
made up or do we really even know what a
fire is?

3. According to Republic Act 9514 or
also known as the Fire code of the
Philippines of 2008, fire is defined
as the active principle of burning,
characterized by the heat and light
of combustion.

4. For a fire to occur,
three elements/comp-
onents identified and
there are:
• Fuel- something
that will burn
• Heat- enough to
make the fuel burn
•Oxygen- air

5. However, in the recent years, a fourth
element was added and this is the
CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION. It is the
feedback of heat to the fuel to produce the
gaseous fuel used in the flame or in other
words, it is the heat necessary to maintain
the fire. Take note that, if you remove any of
the essential elements, the fire will be
extinguished.

6. WHAT ARE THE COMMON CAUSES OF FIRE?
• Electrical short circuits and connections
• LPG explosions due to poorly maintained
tanks
• Unattended cooking
• Lighted cigarette
• Unattended torch and lighted candles
• Lighted matched and lighters

7. STAGES OF FIRE
• Ignition. Fuel, oxygen, and heat join together in a
sustained chemical reaction. At this stage, a fire
extinguisher can control the fire.
• Growth. With the initial flame as a heat source,
additional fuel ignites. Convection and radiation
ignite more surfaces. The size of the fire increases
and the plume reaches the ceiling. Hot gases
collecting at the ceiling transfer heat, allowing all
fuels in a room to come closer to their ignition
temperature at the same time.

8. • Fully developed. Fire has spread
over much if not all the available fuel,
temperatures reach their peak, and
resulting in heat damage. Oxygen is
consumed rapidly.
• Decay (Burnout). The fire consumes
available fuel, temperatures decrease,
fire gets less intense.

9. HOW FIRE SPREADS
Fire spreads by transferring the heat energy
from the flames in three different
ways.
• Conduction. The passage of heat energy
through or within a material because of direct
contact, such as a burning wastebasket heating
a nearby couch, which ignites and heats the
drapes hanging behind, until they too burst
into flames.

10. . • Convection. The flow of fluid or gas from
hot areas to cooler areas. The heated air is less
dense, and rises, while cooler air descends. A
large fire in an open area produces plume or
column of hot gas and smoke high into the air.
But inside a room, those rising gases
encounter the ceiling. They travel horizontally
along the ceiling forming a thick layer of
heated air, which then moves downward.

11. • Radiation. Heat traveling via
electromagnetic waves, without objects
or gases carry it along. Radiated heat goes
out in all directions, unnoticed until it
strikes an object. Burning buildings can
radiate heat to surrounding structures,
sometimes even passing through glass
windows, and igniting objects inside.

12. FOUR WAYS TO PUT OUT A
FIRE
1. Cool the burning material
2. Exclude oxygen
3. Remove the fuel
4. Break the chemical reaction

16. Fire Hazards: What you should watch out for?
A. Kitchen Area
• Never leave your kitchen while cooking.
• Matches and lighters should be in proper storage and away from
children’s reach.
• Keep your stove clean and grease-free and check your LPG for leaks
with soapy water.
• When frying and your pan bursts into flame, DO NOT douse it with
WATER. Put the lid on or get a wet damp cloth to cover the pan.
• Idle electrical appliances must be unplugged.
• Avoid overloading of outlets and use of worn cords.
• Do not store items above the stove top.
• Keep flammable liquids and other combustible items away from the
stove when cooking.
• Ensure that your smoke alarms are working well and replace batteries
at least every six months.

17. B. Living Rooms and Bathrooms
• Do not use extension cords as permanent outlets. Make sure that
extension cords are not looped on sharp objects that could cause it to
fray.
• Make sure that curtains are away from electric fan blades.
• Do not leave an electric fan switched on when it is not rotating. Clean
and oil them regularly.
• Defective appliances must be fixed immediately. Take extra care when
using a clothes iron or rice cooker. Unplug them promptly after use.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Put out candle lights before going to bed.
• Place a lit candle in a holder. If you have none, place it in the middle
of a basin partly filled with water.
• Keep your place clean at all times. Remove dried leaves, cobwebs,
loose paper, and other easy-burning debris.

18. C. Storage and Garage Areas
• Keep areas clean and tidy with items properly placed for storage. • Do
not store large quantities of flammable liquids in the house and
basement.
➢ Gas/kerosene
➢ Paints and solvents
➢ Motor lubricants
➢ Floor wax/ liquid polishes
➢ Adhesives (Rugby)
➢ Alcohol products
• Oily rags, newspaper, and other trash must be disposed of in a sage
of waste bag or container. • Clean up spilled oil and grease from vehicles
promptly. • Plug your power tools straight to the wall socket. Use only
heavy-duty extensions when needed. • Keep your garage well-
ventilated to avoid build-up of fumes and heat form tools.