Causes of Fire

Natural causes
• Spontaneous heating – the automatic
chemical reaction that results to spontaneous
combustion due to auto-ignition of organic
materials, the gradual rising of heat in a
confined space until ignition temperature is
reached.
 Natural causes
• Lightning – a form of static electricity; a natural current
with a great magnitude, producing tremendous
amperage and voltage. Lightning usually strikes objects
that are better electrical conductors than air. It can
cause fire directly or indirectly. Indirectly when it strikes
telephone and other transmission lines, causing an
induced line surge. It can also cause flash fire or dust
explosion. When lightning strikes steel or metal rod
covered with dust, the dust will suddenly burn thus
resulting to an explosion.
• A lightning may be in the form of: 
• Hot Bolt – longer in duration; capable only of
igniting combustible materials
• Cold Bolt – shorter in duration, capable of
splintering a property or literally blowing apart
an entire structure, produces electrical current
with tremendous amperage and very high
temperature.
 Natural causes

• Radiation of Sunlight – when sunlight hits a

concave mirror, concentrating the light on a
combustible material thereby igniting it.
 Accidental Causes
• Electrical accidents in the form of:

• Short Circuit – unusual or accidental connections

between two points at different potentials (charge)
in an electrical circuit of relatively low resistance.
• Arcing – the production of sustained luminous
electrical discharge between separated electrodes;
an electric hazard that results when electrical current
crosses the gap between 2 electrical conductors.
 Accidental Causes
• Electrical accidents in the form of:

• Sparking – production of incandescent particles when two

different potentials (charged conductors) come in contact;
occurs during short circuits or welding operations.
• Induced Current – induced line surge – increased
electrical energy flow or power voltage; induced current;
sudden increase of electrical current resulting to the
burning of insulating materials, explosion of the fuse box,
or burning of electrical appliances.
 Accidental Causes
• Electrical accidents in the form of:

• Over heating of electrical appliances – the

increase or rising of amperage while electric
current is flowing in a transmission line
resulting to the damage or destruction of
insulating materials, maybe gradual or rapid,
internal or external
 Accidental Causes

• Purely accidental causes

• Negligence and other forms of human error
 Intentional causes (Incendiary)
• If in the burned property, there are preparations
or traces of accelerant, plants and trailers, then
the cause of fire is intentional.
– Accelerant – highly flammable chemicals that are
used to facilitate flame propagation.
– Plant – the preparation and or gathering of
combustible materials needed to start a fire.
– Trailer – the preparation of flammable substances in
order to spread the fire.