EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
NOTES
(Midterms)
LESSON 1
FIREFIGHTING OPERATIONS
- Firefighting is an activity intended
to save lives and property. It is one
of the most important emergency
services in a community.
- Firefighters battle fires that break out
in homes, factories, office buildings,
shops, and other places.
HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING
- Firefighting began in 500 B.C
wherein the first firefighters were
Roman slaves who, under the
command of the city's magistrates,
were stationed on the walls and the
gates of Rome.
- In A.D. 6, after an enormous fire
devastated Rome, the Emperor
Augustus created the vigiles, a
fire fighting force of 7,000 men that
was divided into seven regiments.
- The Great Fire of London in 1666
led to the development of fire
insurance industries in England.
- In the 1600's, a number of serious
fires spread terror throughout Paris.
The king of France bought 12
pumps, and a private fire service
was established.
- In 1750, the company of firemen
was mostly taken over by the army,
but fires continued to ravage the city
and fire fighting efforts were not
always effective.
- In 1810, the Emperor Napoleon
attended a ball at the Austrian
Embassy. A candle set the curtains
ablaze, and the fire spread quickly,
causing a dreadful panic. After this
fire, Napoleon ordered the creation
of the Battalion de Sapeurs
Pompiers and the French Fire
Brigade was born.
- Better equipment for getting water
to fires and for fighting fires was
developed in the 1500's. Tools
included syringes, which squirted
water, but most people relied on
bucket brigades, relays of men
passing buckets of water.
- Petrol-powered fire engines were
introduced in the early 1900's, but
many countries were slow to change
from horse-drawn pumps.
BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION
- The Republic Act No. 6975, the
DILG Act of 1990 (Chapter 4,
Section 53-59) created the Bureau
of Fire Protection (BFP) to be
responsible for the prevention and
suppression of all destructive fires
and to enforce the laws on fire.
● PD No. 1185, Fire Code of the
Philippine (26 August 1977)
● PD No. 1096, Building Code of
the Philippine (19 February 1977)
- Fire Protection is the descriptive
term referring to the various
methods used by the bureau to
stop, extinguish and control
destructive fire for eventual
prevention of loss of life and
property.
It has the following objectives:
(PECP)
1. To prevent destructive fire from starting
2. To extinguish (stop or put out) on going
destructive fire
3. To confine a destructive fire at the place
where it began
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4. To prevent loss of life and property 5. Dangerous accumulations of rubbish

when fire starts. waste and other highly combustible
materials.
Fire Prevention and Suppression refers to 6. Accumulation of dust in the
the various safety measures utilized to stop ventilation system or of grease in the
harmful or destructive fires from starting. kitchen.
7. Buildings under repair.
The Bureau of Fire Protection is composed 8. Very old buildings or buildings are
of well-trained firefighters. In fighting fires, primarily made of combustible
they bring with them ladders and pumps. materials
Additional specialist vehicles can provide
turntable ladders, hydraulic platforms, extra
water, foam, and specialist appliances for
hazardous incidents.

Fire fighters in the Philippines handle many

types of fires. Each type requires a different
plan of action to put it out.

Factor Affecting Fire Protection and

Control
- Fire protection and control is
affected by the accumulation of fire
hazards in a building or area.
- Fire Hazard is any condition or act
that increases or may cause
increase in the probability that fire
will occur or which may obstruct,
delay, hinder or interfere with
firefighting operations and the
safeguarding of life and property.
-
The Conditions of Fire Hazards includes:
1. the existence of dangerous or
unlawful amounts of combustible or
explosives in the building not
designed to store such materials.
2. The defective or improperly installed
facilities/ equipment.
3. Lack of adequate exit facilities,
4. Obstruction at fire escapes or other
designated opening for firefighters.
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
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LESSON 2
FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS REPORT
- Effective Fire Fighting follows a
systematic process or set of
procedures in order to put out the
fire and prevent further damages.
- Firefighting operations refers to
fire suppression activities. In
general, the following procedures
should be observed:
1. PRE-FIRE PLANNING - this activity
involves developing and defining a
systematic course of actions that
may be performed in order to realize
the objectives of fire protection:
involves the process of establishing
the SOP in case fire breaks out.
2. EVALUATION – SIZE – UP
(on-the-spot planning or sizing-up
the situation) - this is the process of
knowing the emergency situation. It
involves mental evaluation by the
operation officer-in-charge to
determine the appropriate course of
action that provides the highest
probability of success.
Evaluation of the situation:
A. Learn the facts of the situation – by
answering the 5 Ws – 1H
B. Understand the probabilities of fatal
behavior of fire
C. Know your own situation or
capabilities – weaknesses and
strengths: available manpower and
equipment
D. Determine the specific course of
action – entry or rescue
3. EVACUATION – This is the activity of
transferring people, livestock, and property
away from the burning area to minimize
damage or destruction that the fire might
incur in case it propagates to other adjacent
buildings.
○ Building occupants are
required by law to evacuate a
building when the fire alarm
sounds.
○ - Inform people in the
immediate area to evacuate.
If you witness a fire, activate
the nearest building fire
alarm and exit the building.
○ When safe, immediately call
911.
○ If the fire is small
(wastebasket sized or
smaller) and you have been
trained to use a fire
extinguisher, you may
attempt to extinguish the fire.
○ Make sure that you have a
safe exit from the fire area
and use the buddy system. If
you cannot put out the fire in
5 seconds, evacuate.
○ On your way out, warn
others.
○ Move away from fire and
smoke.
○ Close doors and windows
behind you, if time permits.
○ Before opening a door, place
the back of your hand on the
door to check for heat. If
cool, slowly check the door
handle for heat and proceed
to exit. If the door is hot, do
not open it. Find or create an
alternative exit (windows).
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
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○ If no other exit is available
and you only see smoke,
open the door slowly, move
to a crawling position, staying
low, and quickly crawl to an
exit. If the door is hot and fire
is present, keep the door
shut. Place any type material
at the base of the door to
keep smoke from entering
the room.
○ Exit using stairs. Do not use
elevators during a fire.
○ Evacuate the building as
soon as the alarm sounds
and proceed to the
designated evacuation zone.
○ Do not re-enter the building
or work area until you have
been instructed to do so by
the emergency responders.
4. ENTRY – This is the process of
accessing the burning structure. Entry
maybe done in a forcible manner.
Purposes of conducting forcible entry:
a. To provide access for fire fighters with
equipment for fire extinguishments
b. To provide rescue
c. To aid in ventilation
5. RESCUE – This is the operation of
removing (extricating), thus saving,
people and other livestock from the burning
building and other involved properties,
conveying them to a secure place
- Rescue anyone (including yourself)
who is in immediate danger from the fire.
- Remove these people to the
closest safe area, simultaneously notifying
other building occupants to evacuate the
area.
6. EXPOSURE – this is the activity of
securing other buildings near the
burning structure in order to prevent the
fire from extending to another building.
7. CONFINEMENT – This is the activity of
restricting the fire at the place (room)
where it started : the process of preventing
fire from extending from another section or
form one section to another section of the
involved building.
- Confine the fire by closing all doors
and windows in and around the fire
area. This will help prevent the
spread of smoke and fire. Shut off
appliances and other equipment.
Leave lights on.
8. VENTILATION – This the operation
purposely conducted to displace toxic
gasses. It includes the process of
displacing the heated atmosphere within
the involved building with normal air from
outside atmosphere.
9. SALVAGE – The activity of protecting
the properties from preventable damage
other than the fire.
The steps are:
a) remove the material outside the burning
area, and
b) protecting or cover the materials by using
tarpaulins (cotton canvass treated with
water proofing).
10. EXTINGUISHMENT – This is the
process of putting out the main body of
fire by using the
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
NOTES
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points, the building involved, and

4 general methods of fire location of evidence. Firefighters,
extinguishments: other witnesses, owners, and
- To use a fire extinguisher, neighbors should be interviewed.
remember the acronym ● The investigation report must include
information relative to insurance
PASS: carried.
P - PULL safety pin from handle.
A - AIM nozzle at base of fire.
S - SQUEEZE the trigger handle
S - SWEEP from side to side

11. OVERHAUL – This is the complete and

detailed check of the structure and all
materials therein to eliminate conditions
that may cause re-flash; involves complete
extinguishments of sparks or smouldering
(glowing) substances (embers) to prevent
possibilities of re-ignition or rekindling.

12. FIRE SCENE INVESTIGATION - This is

the final stage of fire suppression
activities. It is an inquiry conducted to know
or determine the origin and cause of fire.

● The fire investigation report should

provide specified information,
including a synopsis, cause and
origin, crime scene sketches,
interview and interrogation findings,
and data for insurance purposes.
● The purpose of the fire investigation
report is to communicate important
information to the client, supervisor,
prosecuting attorney, and other
interested persons.
● All reports should provide a synopsis
or brief overview of the entire report.
The point of origin should be
specified, and the cause, if
determined, stated.
● Sketches of the crime scene should
indicate property lines, reference
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
NOTES
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LESSON 2
OBJECTIVES OF FIREFIGHTING
OPERATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
FIGHTING A BUILDING FIRE
- Fire incidents are known to cause
direct or indirect impacts to old
buildings or even the new ones.
Building collapses, implied damages
and potential injury can be identified
as outcomes of these incidents.
STEPS:(rsfsoi)
RESPONSE TO ALARM
1. Firefighters respond quickly to the
fire after hearing an alarm.
2. Commanding officer assesses the
situation and sends the firefighters
into action.
SAVING OF TRAPPED INDIVIDUALS
1. Saving individuals that might be
trapped inside a building is the first
and most crucial priority.
2. Ladder operators use ladders to
rescue individuals stuck on higher
floors of the building through the
windows.
3. To reach victims stranded on stories
above the reach of ladders,
firefighters utilize elevators or
staircases.
FIRE CONTROL AND EXTINGUISHMENT
1. A line is attached from the pump to a
fire hydrant in the vicinity or to water
or foam that is kept aboard the fire
tender.
2. Water is sprayed on the fire until it is
out.
3. Neighboring buildings that could
catch fire are also sprayed with
water.
4. The building on fire is ventilated to
release heat, smoke, and gases.
SALVAGE
1. Attempt to save any furniture or
other property that has not been
harmed by the fire.
2. Wrapping a property with canvas or
plastic to protect it from water
damage.
OVERHAUL
1. Inspection of the building for
concealed sparks that could start
another fire.
INITIAL INVESTIGATION
1. Determining where and how the fire
started.
2. Officer in charge compiles a report
that includes all of the key details
regarding the fire i.e., injuries, origin
of fire, and the projected cost of
restoring the damage.
FIGHTING A FOREST FIRE
- Many grassland and forest fires
occur in areas that are hard to reach
and far from a source of water. Local
fire brigades have trucks that carry
water and can travel over rough
land.
Some of these tactics are the following:
1. Direct Attack.
- In front of the racing flames, the fire
fighters clear a strip of land. Hand
tools like shovels, rakes, and
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
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Pulaskis are used to dig a line
around the
perimeter of the fire, forming a barrier that
the fire cannot cross, known as a
firebreak or fire line. Firefighters may also
use hoses to spray water directly onto
the fire.
2. Indirect Attack.
- This is attacking the fire from a
distance; for example, controlled
burning, which includes intentionally
starting a tiny fire to burn fuel along
the path of the main fire.
3. Fire Suppression.
- Firefighters may use foam to fight
fires. These chemicals form a
barrier between the fuel and the fire,
lowering the quantity of oxygen
available to the flames and aiding in
its extinguishment.
4. Cooling.
- Water or other cooling agents can be
used by firefighters to lower the
fire's temperature, which will
facilitate its extinguishment.
5. Smothering.
- To help put out a fire, firefighters
sometimes cover it with a layer of
sand, mud, or another material.
This will rob the flames of oxygen.
- In some cases, fire fighters allow a
grassland or forest fire to burn. They
may do so if the fire has been
caused by lightning or some other
natural event. Such fires are a
regular part of the life cycle of
grasslands and forests. However,
fire fighters do try to limit or put
out all forest and grassland fires that
threaten people or property.
FIRE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
EMERGENCY RESCUE OPERATION
- For non-fire crises, firefighting
organizations have rescue
companies on call. For instance,
following an accident, rescue
personnel might be called to
rescue individuals who are stuck
in a car or beneath the debris of a
collapsed building. They also have
specialist teams to save lives
when individuals are stuck in
fast-moving water, under the sea, on
cliffs, or in other elevated locations.
EMERGENCY MEDICAL OPERATION
- In non-fire situations, firemen tend
first to the patient's medical needs
before bringing them to the hospital.
The Emergency Medical Services
(EMS) system is significantly
bolstered by these units. They go by
the term "paramedics."
- Some fire departments only offer
basic "first response" services. After
giving the patient more advanced
care, ambulance drivers and other
emergency personnel take them to
the hospital. In addition to driving
ambulances, paramedic teams
communicate with a local hospital
using communication devices. They
may also give medication and make
use of cutting-edge medical
equipment under a doctor's
supervision.
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
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EMERGENCY RESCUE OPERATION VS. personnel ✓ Nurses

EMERGENCY MEDICAL OPERATION ✓ Volunteers ✓
Paramedics
✓ Healthcare
ERO EMO volunteers

Pur These operations focus These

pos on search and rescue operations PUBLIC BUILDING INSPECTION
e efforts to locate and focus on - Presidential Decree No. 1185, also
extract individuals who providing
are trapped, injured, or medical care known as the Fire Code of the
in immediate danger to affected Philippines, provides for the certain
due to natural individuals measures to be taken in order to
disasters, accidents, or during and ensure fire safety and prevent
other emergencies. after
disasters. unwanted occurrence of fire
incidents. It requires:
Act Extrication ✓ Triage A. the Fire Bureau to conduct
ion Rescuers extract Assessing
inspection on buildings.
s people from and
collapsed buildings, prioritizing B. public buildings to have
debris, or patients portable fire extinguishers, a
hazardous based on the certain number of exits, and
environments. severity
✓ Search and of their
other safety features.
Retrieval injuries or C. large buildings to provide
Teams search for illnesses. built-in sprinkler and fire
missing ✓ Treatment alarm systems.
persons and retrieve Providing first
them. aid, FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
✓ Evacuation stabilizing - A fire sprinkler system is an
Moving people to safer patients, and automatic extinguishing system
locations. managing that helps in preventing fire growth
✓ Structural medical
Assessment conditions. and spread by releasing water
Assessing the safety of ✓ Transport through a series of sprinkler heads
damaged structures. Evacuating connected to a distribution piping
patients to
system. The pipes carry water to
medical
facilities. nozzles which automatically open
✓ Public and spray out water once they
Health detect heat from a fire.
Measures
Preventing
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM
disease - In order to ensure that the public
outbreaks sector has general knowledge on the
and ensuring basics of fire prevention and safety.
sanitation.
SMOKE DETECTOR
Key ✓ Firefighters Emergency - A smoke detector is a device that
Act ✓ Urban search and medical sounds an alarm if a small amount of
ors rescue teams teams smoke enters their sensors.
✓ Civil defense ✓ Doctors
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
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LESSON 4
FIRE EXTINGUISHMENT THEORY
- The Fire Extinguishment Theory
maintains that “to extinguish a
fire, interrupt or eliminate the
supply of any or all of the
elements of fire.”
- Fire can be extinguished by
reducing/lowering the temperature,
eliminating the fuel supply, or by
stopping the chemical chain
reaction.
4 GENERAL METHODS OF FIRE
EXTINGUISHMENT
There are several different ways to put out a
fire, but each of these is classified into the
following methods:
1. Extinguishment by Temperature
Reduction
- Fire can be extinguished by cooling
the temperature of the fire
environment, which is usually done
by using water. This eliminates the
element of heat, which causes the
fire triangle to fall apart. The aim is
to lower the temperature of the fuel
to a point where it doesn’t produce
sufficient vapors to burn.
2. Extinguishment by Fuel Removal
- Fire could also be put out by
removing the source or supply of
fuel. This can be done by stopping
the flow of liquid fuel, preventing the
production of flammable gas,
removing the solid fuel at the fire
path, or allowing the fire to burn until
the fuel is consumed.
- liquids and gases can be put
3. Extinguishment by Oxygen
Dilution
- Another way to snuff out a fire is by
reducing the concentration of
oxygen at the burning area, which
can be done by introducing inert
gases or by separating oxygen
from the fuel.
4. Extinguishment by Chemical
Inhibition
- Some extinguishing agents, like dry
chemicals and halon, can
interrupt the production of flames
and will result in the rapid
extinguishment of a fire. This
method is effective only on burning
gas and liquid fuels as they cannot
burn in the smoldering mode of
combustion.
METHODS OF EXTINGUISHING THE 5
CLASSES OF FIRE
1. CLASS A FIRES
- Ordinary fires can be extinguished
by quenching and cooling, which
removes the heat element of fire.
Water is the best agent in cooling
the burning solid materials because
it has a quenching effect that can
reduce the temperature of a burning
material below its ignition
temperature. Some fire
extinguishers that have water, sand,
acid, foam, and special solutions
containing alkali methyl dust, as
found in the loaded stream
extinguisher, should be used for this
type of fire.
2. CLASS B FIRES
- Fires from flammable
out by smothering or
blanketing, also known as
oxygen exclusion, which
 EXPLOSIVE AND FIRE TECHNOLOGY
NOTES
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removes the fire’s access to

oxygen. Class B fires can be ​
controlled by foam, loaded
stream, carbon dioxide, dry
chemicals, and vaporizing
liquid.
3. CLASS C FIRES
- Electrical fires can be
controlled by non-conducting
extinguishing agents, which
safely deenergize the
electrical circuit
- Extinguishers that should be
used to put out Class C fires
are carbon dioxide
extinguishers, dry chemicals,
or vaporizing liquids.

4. CLASS D FIRES
- Fires of combustible metals can only
be put out by using special
extinguishing agents marked
specifically for metals. GE type,
Met-L-X, Lith-X, Met-L-KYL, dry
sand, and dry talc are explicitly
designed for controlling Class D
fires.

5. CLASS K FIRES
- Fires started by cooking media can
be extinguished only by a
combination of the aforementioned
methods. The extinguishing agents
to be used must be able to separate
or absorb all three elements of fire:
heat, oxygen, and fuel. Usually, fire
extinguishers with foam-like
cooling agents are used to
suffocate the fire while
simultaneously cooling the fuel.