WHAT IS FIRE?

- A rapid oxidation process, a chemical reaction resulting in the evolution of light and heat in
varying intensities.
- Fire occurs only in the gas phase
- Process of thermal decomposition is known as PYROLISIS.
- PYROLISIS – defined as the transformation of a compound into one or more other substances by
heat alone.
- For liquid to burn, they must be heated to produce ignitable mixtures in air through a process
known as VAPORIZATION
- For a fire or combustion to occur, four components must be present: fuel, oxidizing agent, heat
and uninhibited chemical chain reaction.
- Fire is a chemical reaction in which energy in the form of heat is produced. The chemical chain
reaction is known as combustion.
- COMBUSTION occurs when fuel or other material reacts rapidly with oxygen, giving off light,
heat, and flame. Combustion is the opposite of photosynthesis. Combustion is the breaking
apart of the building blocks put together through photosynthesis. Combustion is the release of
the energy acquired during photosynthesis.
- FLAME is produced during the ignition point in the combustion reaction and is the visible,
gaseous part of a fire. Flames consist primarily of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and
nitrogen.
- FIRE also known as DIFFUSION FLAME PROCESS.

SIX ELEMENTS OF THE LIFE CYCLE OF FIRE:

1. HEAT – solid or liquid materials do not burn. For combustion to take place, these materials must
be heated sufficiently to produce vapors. It is the vapors which actually burn.
FLASHPOINT – the lowest temperature at which a solid or liquid materials produces sufficient
vapors to burn under laboratory conditions.
FLAMEPOINT – a few degrees above the flashpoint. The temperature at which the fuel will
continue to produce sufficient vapors to sustain continuous flame.
IGNITION TEMPERATURE/ AUTO IGNITION TEMPERATURE – the temperature at which the
vapors will ignite.
PILOTED IGNITION – if the source of the heat is open flame or spark.
2. FUEL - initially the fuel may be in the form of a gas, liquid or solid at the ambient temperature.
COMBUSTIBLE – means capable of burning, generally in air under normal conditions of ambient
temperature and pressure.
FLAMMABLE – defined as capable of burning with a flame.
FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS – are those which have a flashpoint below 100˚ F (37.8˚ C), such as
gasoline, acetone, and ethyl alcohol.
COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS – are those which have a flashpoint at or above 100˚ f (37.8˚ C), such as
kerosene and fuel oil.
3. OXYGEN/OXIDIZING AGENT – the primary source of oxygen normally is the atmosphere, which
contains approximately 20.8 percent oxygen. A concentration of at least 15-16 percent is needed
for the continuation of flaming combustion, while charring or smoldering (pyrolysis) can occur
with as little as 8 percent.
 The atmosphere is usually the primary source of oxygen, certain chemicals, called “oxidizers”,
can be either the primary or secondary source such as chlorine and ammonium nitrate.
4. MIXING & PROPORTIONING – are reactions that must be continuous in order for fire to continue
to propagate. The fuel vapors and oxygen must be mixed in the correct proportions.
EXPLOSIVE OR FLAMMABLE LIMITS – are expressed in the concentration (percentage) of fuel
vapors in air. The lowest concentration that will burn is known as the LOWER EXPLOSIVE
LIMIT(LEL), while the highest level is known as the UPPER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT (UEL).
5. IGNITION CONTINUITY – is the thermal feedback from the fire to the fuel.

FIRE TRIANGLE:

1. HEAT (enough to make the fuel burn)

2. FUEL (something that will burn)
3. OXYGEN (air)

FIRE TETRAHEDRON:

1. HEAT – heat provides the energy needed to create and ignite vapors produced from the fuel
source. Heat is a form of energy, which is measured in JOULES.
2. FUEL – is the material that will be reduced or consumed during the combustion process.
GASEOUS FUELS – are probably the most dangerous of the three physical states because they
need only an ignition source for combustion to occur.
3. OXYGEN/OXIDIZING AGENT – most fires require an oxidizing agent to support the combustion
process. The oxygen in air is the most readily available source of oxygen.
4. UNINHIBITED CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTIONS – provides a self-sustaining event that continues to
develop fuel vapors and sustain flames even after removal of the ignition source.
EXOTHERMIC REACTION radiates heat back to the surface of the fuel, producing more vapors
and continuing the combustion process.

CLASSIFICATION OF FIRES:
ARSON – malicious burning one’s property, intent to burn.

NATURAL CAUSES OF FIRE:

1. SPONTANEOUS HEATING – automatic chemical reaction

2. LIGHTING
3. RADIATION OF SUNLIGHT

ACCIDENTAL CAUSES OF FIRE:

1. ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS (short circuit, sparking)

2. PURELY ACCIDENTAL CAUSES (negligence)

INTENTIONAL CAUSES OF FIRE:

1. ACCELERANT – to facilitate flame propagation

2. PLANT – needed to start the fire
3. TRAILER – spread the fire

FACTORS AFEECTING FIRE:

1. FLAMMABILITY (EXPLOSIVE) LIMITS

2. FLASHPOINT
3. AUTO-IGNITION TEMPERATURE
4. FIRE POINT – usually a few degrees above the open cup flash point.
5. DENSITY – it is a measure of the compactness of a substance expressed as its mass per unit
volume.

4 WAYS TO PUT OUT A FIRE:

1. COOLING – reduction of temperature

2. SMOTHERING – exclusion of oxygen
3. STARVATION – removal of fuel
4. BREAK CHEMICAL REACTION

STAGES OF FIRE:

1. TRADITIONAL OR LEGACY FIRES

A. GROWTH STAGE (INCIPIENT) – during this stage a fire increases in size from small flames
to full fire that involves the entire room.

ROLLOVER - the heated gases are pushed under pressure from the fire area into uninvolved
areas. When this mixture ignites, flashes of flame can be seen in this layer of smoke. Rollover
should serve as a warning that the fire area may flashover.

FLASHOVER – defined as the sudden involvement of a room or area in flames from floor to
ceiling caused by thermal radiation feedback.

CHARACTERISTICS:

1. NORMAL ROOM TEMPERATURE

 2. OXYGEN PLENTIFUL
3. THERMAL UPDRAFT RISE ACCUMULATES AT HIGHER POINT.
4. FLAME TEMPERATURE OF 1000 DEGREES F
5. PRODUCING PYROLISIS

B. FULLY DEVELOPED STAGE (FREE-BURNING) – the entire room and contents are involved
in fire.

CHARACTERISTICS:
1. FIRE HAS INVOLVED MORE FUEL
2. OXYGEN SUPPLY IS DEPLETED
3. HEAT ACCUMULATES AT UPPER AREA
4. TEMPERATURE EXCEEDS 1,300˚ F (706˚ C)

C. DECAY STAGE (SMOLDERING) – as available oxygen is consumed, the fire moves into
decay stage. Although some oxygen remains in the area, visible flames have started to
diminish, and the fire continues to smolder.
BACKDRAFT – is a smoke explosion which can occur when additional oxygen is
introduced into a smoldering fire and the heated gases enter their flammable range and
ignite with explosive force. It produces violent shock waves can shatter windows, blow
down firefighters and collapse walls.
CHARACTERISTICS:
1. FLAMES MAY DIE AND LEAVE ONLY GLOWING EMBERS OR SUPER HEATED FUEL
UNDER PRESSURE WITH LITTLE OXYGEN
2. INTENSE HEAT WILL VAPORIZE LIGHTER FUEL COMPONENTS (HYDROGEN),
INCREASING THE HAZARD.
3. TEMPERATURE THROUGHOUT THE BUILDING IS VERY HIGH AND NORMAL
BREATHING IS NOT POSSIBLE.
2. MODERN CONTENT FIRES – fires that quickly become ventilation limited due to their higher fuel
load.

TRANSMISSION OF HEAT – transfer of heat occurs as a result of a temperature difference. This is the
driving force which causes the heat to flow. It is also observed that heat flows in the direction from the
higher to the lower temperature. The transfer of heat from the initial source to other fuels in and beyond
the area of fire origin.

1. CONDUCTION – transfer of heat through an object/ conductor. Occurs if there is a temperature

difference between two locations in a solid or two locations in essentially non-moving liquids or
gases.
2. CONVECTION – moving current in a liquid or gas. Occurs between a surface and an adjacent
liquid. A phenomenon involving conduction in the fluid and fluid motion.
FORCED CONVECTION – there is a device causing significant fluid motion. This could be a fan or
a blower for gases or a pump for liquids. Or it could be the wind blowing on a building on a
windy day.
 NATURAL CONVECTION – there is no device. The fluid motion is gentler and is caused by
buoyancy effects in the fluid caused by thermal expansion.
3. RADIATION – the transmission through the discharge and spread of heat from a heated or
burning source/ heat wave.
BLACK SURFACE – is an ideal surface which emits the highest possible amount of thermal
radiation.
REAL SURFACE – emits less radiation.
The radiation is transmitted as an ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE.

SOURCES OF IGNITION:

WHAT IS IGNITION?

- Ignition of a liquid or a solid involves raising the surface temperature until vapors are being
evolved at a rate sufficient to support a flame after vapors have been ignited.

IGNITION SOURCES – must be capable not only of raising the surface temperature to the firepoint, or
above, but it must also cause the vapors to ignite.

EXAMPLE
ELECTRICALLY POWERED EQUIPMENT ELECTRIC HEATERS, HAIR DRYERS, ELECTRIC
BLANKETS, ETC.
OPEN FLAME SOURCE MATCH, CIGARETTE LIGHTER, BLOW TORCH, ETC.
GAS-FUELLED EQUIPMENT GAS FIRE, SPACE HEATER, COOKER, ETC.
OTHER FUELLED EQUIPMENT WOOD STOVE, ETC.
LIGHTED TOBACCO PRODUCT CIGAR, PIPE, ETC.
HOT OBJECT HOT PIPES, MECHANICAL SPARKS, ETC.
EXPOSURE TO HEATING ADJACENT FIRE, ETC.
SPONTANEOUS HEATING LINSEED OIL-SOAKED RAGS, COAL PILES, ETC.
CHEMICAL REACTION RARE E.G. POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE WITH
GLYCEROL

SPONTANEOUS (AUTO) IGNITION – the radiant heating can ignite the fuel on its own without an external
source such as a flame or spark.

PILOTED (FORCED) IGNITION – the use of either a flame, spark or hot surface to ignite the given fuel.