Understanding Fire Basics

What we will learn today

We will learn what fire is, how fire acts and why fire causes so many injuries and deaths

We have already learned that:

Fire is not like we see on television It is very hot, moves very fast and makes everything very dark

We have also learned that:

It takes three things to cause a fire:
Heat - or something that is hot Oxygen - or the air all around us

Fuel - or something that will burn

 We call this a Fire Triangle

Do you remember why we call it a fire triangle? Can you give some examples of heat and fuel sources? What happens if we remove one side of the triangle?

 When a fire fighter puts water on a fire, he cools it - removing the heat source

Oxygen - or the air all around us

Fuel - or something that will burn

 When you stop putting wood on a campfire, you remove the fuel.

Heat - or something that is hot

Oxygen - or the air all around us

 When you stop, drop and roll, you take away the oxygen and smother the fire

Heat - or something that is hot

Fuel - or something that will burn

 What is the best way to prevent a fire?

Keep open flames or hot things away from anything that will burn
Dont play with matches or lighters Stay away from space heaters, fireplaces, grills Keep your distance from campfires Stay out of the kitchen when mom or dad is cooking

 Did you know?

That most people who die in fires dont die from the flames
They die from lack of oxygen (suffocation)
fire eats all of the oxygen the bigger the fire - the more oxygen it takes from us

They die from the heat

fire gets very hot, very quickly the more fuel a fire has, the hotter it gets

They die from breathing the smoke

things that burn cause toxic (poison) smoke furniture carpeting wallpaper curtains

 That is why:
Crawl low under the smoke
air is cleaner and cooler

Get out immediately before the fire gets too hot and smoky

REMEMBER - Fire moves very fast and gets very hot very quickly - so get out immediately and stay out!