Disaster Readiness and

Risk Reduction
Quarter 2 – Module 10:
Fire Hazards: Concepts and
Causes
Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 2 – Module 10: Fire Hazards: Concepts and Causes
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education

Secretary: Leonor Magtolis Briones
Undersecretary: Diosdado M. San Antonio

Development Team of the Module

Writer: Melencia Rosario D. Coronel
Editor: Anne Marielle R. Del Mundo
Reviewers: Cristeta M. Arcos
Andrea C. Señadoza
Illustrator: Ronan DC. Vergara
Layout Artist: Ma. Elinor F. Hemedes
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Disaster Readiness and
Risk Reduction
Quarter 2 – Module 10:
Fire Hazards: Concepts and
Causes
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:

Welcome to the Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction 11/12 Alternative

Delivery Mode (ADM) Module on Fire Hazards: Concepts and Causes!
This module was collaboratively designed, developed, and reviewed by educators
both from public and private institutions to assist you, the teacher or facilitator in
helping the learners meet the standards set by the K to 12 Curriculum while
overcoming their personal, social, and economic constraints in schooling.

This learning resource hopes to engage the learners into guided and independent
learning activities at their own pace and time. Furthermore, this also aims to help
learners acquire the needed 21st century skills while taking into consideration their
needs and circumstances.

In addition to the material in the main text, you will also see this box in the body of
the module:

Notes to the Teacher

This contains helpful tips or strategies that
will help you in guiding the learners.

As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use this module.
You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while allowing them to manage
their own learning. Furthermore, you are expected to encourage and assist the
learners as they do the tasks included in the module.

1
For the learner:

Welcome to the Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction 11/12 Alternative Delivery
Mode (ADM) Module on Fire Hazards: Concepts and Causes!
The hand is one of the most symbolized parts of the human body. It is often used to
depict skill, action and purpose. Through our hands we may learn, create and
accomplish. Hence, the hand in this learning resource signifies that you as a learner
is capable and empowered to successfully achieve the relevant competencies and
skills at your own pace and time. Your academic success lies in your own hands!

This module was designed to provide you with fun and meaningful opportunities for
guided and independent learning at your own pace and time. You will be enabled to
process the contents of the learning resource while being an active learner.

This module has the following parts and corresponding icons:

What I Need to Know This will give you an idea of the skills or
competencies you are expected to learn in the
module.

What I Know This part includes an activity that aims to

check what you already know about the
lesson to take. If you get all the answers
correct (100%), you may decide to skip this
module.

What’s In This is a brief drill or review to help you link

the current lesson with the previous one.

What’s New In this portion, the new lesson will be

introduced to you in various ways such as a
story, a song, a poem, a problem opener, an
activity or a situation.

What is It This section provides a brief discussion of the

lesson. This aims to help you discover and
understand new concepts and skills.

What’s More This comprises activities for independent

practice to solidify your understanding and
skills of the topic. You may check the
answers to the exercises using the Answer
Key at the end of the module.

What I Have Learned This includes questions or blank

sentence/paragraph to be filled in to process
what you learned from the lesson.

What I Can Do This section provides an activity which will

help you transfer your new knowledge or skill
into real life situations or concerns.

2
 Assessment This is a task which aims to evaluate your
level of mastery in achieving the learning
competency.

Additional Activities In this portion, another activity will be given

to you to enrich your knowledge or skill of the
lesson learned. This also tends retention of
learned concepts.

Answer Key This contains answers to all activities in the

module.

At the end of this module you will also find:

References This is a list of all sources used in developing

this module.

The following are some reminders in using this module:

1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part of the
module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer What I Know before moving on to the other activities
included in the module.
3. Read the instruction carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are through with it.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module, do not
hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that you are
not alone.

We hope that through this material, you will experience meaningful learning and
gain deep understanding of the relevant competencies. You can do it!

3
 What I Need to Know

In this module, the learner will be able to know the different causes of fire and
to analyze how these factors can trigger fire and pose danger to the community. By
knowing the different causes of fire, the community will be able to plan and prevent
fire or lessen the severity of its effect. The learners will also learn how to distinguish
natural cause from human made cause of fire.

The Module is intended to equip you with knowledge concerning fire and its causes.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Identify and define the different causes of fire.
2. Understand and determine the difference between natural and human-made
causes of fire.
3. Be observant at all times to avoid natural or human made cause of fire.
4. Apply and suggest ways to prevent man-made causes of fire.

What I Know

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet
of paper.

1. Among the given man-made causes of fire, which of these is NOT a product of
human error?
a. gas leaks
b. faulty electrical wirings
c. less maintained motor vehicles
d. unattended ignition sources

2. Which of the following may NOT be a cause of fire?

a. animal activities
b. natural phenomenon
c. amount of heat decreased
d. change of weather condition

4
3. It is the main reason why kitchen fires are the most common type of fire at
home.
a. Stoves are dangerous.
b. Cooking is left unattended.
c. children tend to knock things over
d. Smoke alarms are not installed in kitchen.

4. The following can cause fire incidents due to spontaneous combustion

EXCEPT________.
a. greased clothes left in the garage
b. burning of dried leaves in the garden
c. dried hay stacked together in the barn
d. stacked grasses undergo bacterial fermentation

5. Which of the following is not a cause of wildfire or grassfire?

a. improper disposal of lit cigarettes
b. use of electronic chainsaw in cutting trees
c. letting the animals graze in the dried grasses
d. pyroclastic materials from the volcanoes getting in contact with a nipa hut

6. Cigarettes can cause fire when _____________.

a. it radiates heat
b. it is being rubbed together
c. it is carelessly thrown away
d. it undergoes spontaneous combustion

7. The following are improper handling of electric cords EXCEPT______.

a. should be immersed in water while plugged in
b. should be hang up by the cord when not in use
c. should be covered with towels or blankets all the time
d. should be thrown away when the cord is cracked, frayed or discolored

8. Spontaneous combustion can occur when___________.

a. grease is use for cooking
b. portable heaters tip over on a carpet
c. candles are used without a glass cover
d. oil soaked rags are left clumped together

9. The following can be the most common causes of household fires

EXCEPT_____.
a. candles
b. stacks of hay
c. faulty wirings
d. curious children

5
10. Where is the safest place to store matches at home?
a. in the playroom
b. on the coffee table
c. in a locked cabinet
d. in the drawer near the stove

11. The following events are human error induced fire EXCEPT_______.
a. leaking LPG tank
b. electrical overload
c. grassfire due to drought
d. burning candle near curtains

12. Determine which event is due to machine error.

I. electrical overload III. smoking in the bedroom
II. leaking LPG tank IV. unattended burning griller

a. I and II c. III and IV

b. I and III d. II AND IV

13. High rise buildings are built in with lightning rod, a metal wherein its tip is
found on top of the building while its bottom part is embedded into the ground.
What is the main purpose of the rod?
a. to avoid lightning
b. to prevent electrical overload
c. to lessen the lightning that would strike the building.
d. to prevent fire due to lightning when it hits the building

14. Determine which event is due to human error.

I. electrical overload III. smoking in the bedroom
II. leaking LPG tank IV. unattended burning griller

a. I and II c. III and IV

b. I and III d. II and IV

15. What part of the house is the most vulnerable to fire hazard?
a. kitchen
b. bedroom
c. dining area
d. comfort room

6
 Lesson Analyze the Different
1 Causes of Fire.

In this lesson you will be able to understand that fire incidents can be caused by
natural phenomena or man-made incidents. Natural phenomena such as lightning
that strikes any combustible material and even volcanic activities could cause fire.
While man-made causes of fire are those products of human errors or machine
failures.

What’s In

Direction: Take look at the given illustrations/images about fire hazards

below. Identify 3 fuel sources and 3 ignition or heat sources. Write the
answers on the table given for each illustration. Place your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

IMAGE 1

SPOT THE HAZARDS, Occupational Health and Safety, Ghana, June 2014,
https://jojoesafety.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/1_spotthehazards.gif

7
 Source of Fuel Source of ignition/heat

IMAGE 2

“BRITS 'PLATING WITH FIRE' By Overloading Sockets And Abandoning Burning Candles,
SWNS Digital, November 4, 2016, https://www.swnsdigital.com/2016/11/brits-playing-
with-fire-by-overloading-sockets-and-abandoning-burning-candles/

Source of Fuel Source of ignition/heat

8
 IMAGE 3

“FIRE SAFETY FOR SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES”, Realsense, Date Accessed: June 9,
2020, https://www.realsense-learning.co.uk/courses-health-safety-environment-hr-
scorm/courses/fire-safety-schools

Source of Fuel Source of ignition/heat

IMAGE 4

Bernd, Lee, “DRIED GRASS UNDER BLUE SKY”, Unsplash, November 14,
2018, https://unsplash.com/photos/GATT5vvEbGw

Source of Fuel Source of ignition/heat

9
 Notes to the Teacher
There are several possible answers. Consider answers that are
relevant to the questions and could have been a possible answer
but not included in the answer key.

What’s New

Direction: Answer the following questions. Write your answer on a separate sheet.

1. How can you say your house is safe or not from fire hazard?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. List down at least 10 possible causes of house fires.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

3. Based from your answers in number 2, which do you think is caused by:
3.1. human error
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

3.2. machine error

____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3.3. nature
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________

10
 What is It

Fire may start due to natural cause or human-made incidents.

I. Natural causes of fire such as:

A. Lightning that strikes any combustible material which can set trees on fire
that might eventually result to forest fire or wildfire. This is the most common
natural cause of fire.

B. Volcanic activities could also cause fire. During volcanic activity, it spews hot
gases, ash and lava and when these hot materials get in contact with
flammable materials it might start a wildfire.

C. Spontaneous combustion is another natural cause of fire. This happens

when a hydrocarbon substance unexpectedly create fire without apparent
cause. Pyrophoric substances ignite spontaneously in air at or below 54˚C or
within 5 minutes after getting into contact with air. Examples of pyrophoric
substances are iron sulfide, plutonium and uranium.

Sometimes, it is also due to combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust, dried

leaves and grasses. Spontaneous combustion can arise in the presence of
substances with low ignition temperature (requires a not too high temperature
to be ignited) like hay, straw and other types of grasses. When these dried
grasses stacked together, it releases heat and in the presence of oxygen and
moisture or even bacterial fermentation will spontaneously produce fire.

II. Human-made causes of fire are those products of human errors or machine
failures. Wildfires or forest fires caused by human activities such as machinery
sparks when cutting logs in the forest, cast-away cigarette butts in dried
grasses and sometimes due to kaingin or even arson (human inflicted fire by
directly setting the area to burn).

Housefire is a fire incident that is generally caused by human and machine

error. The following are common causes of housefire:

1. Cooking equipment. Pots and pans can be overheated when a person gets
distracted while cooking or leaves cooking unattended. This is the most
common cause of housefire.

2. Heaters. Portable heaters can cause fire when it is placed near objects that
can easily burn like curtains and laundry clothes.

11
3. Smoking in bedrooms. A cigarette that is not put out properly can cause fire
as the cigarette butts can continuously burn in a few hours. It can also
immediately cause fire when get in contact with flammable materials.

4. Candles. It is not actually a hazard but when left unattended it can easily burst
into flames and cause fire.

5. Curious children. Kids can sometimes cause fire out of curiosity, so they
wanted to see what would happen if they set fire to an object.

6. Faulty wiring. Homes with insufficient wiring can cause fires from electrical
hazard. Signs that you can observe if you have faulty wirings are: lights dim if
you use another appliance; for an appliance to work, you have to disconnect
another; and fuse blow or trip the circuit breaker frequently.

7. Barbeques. This is a great outdoor activity or one of the famous street foods in
the Philippines. Avoid doing this activity near tablecloths, trees or even plants.

8. Flammable liquids. Petrol, kerosene or other methylated substances are the

most common flammable liquids found at home that can cause fire if not
properly stored. Always store in cool, dry place.

9. Lighting. Lamp shades and light fittings can build heat if they are very close
to light bulbs. Too much heat can eventually ignite the materials and result to
fire incident.

What’s More

Direction: Identify the following scenario whether the cause of fire is Natural
or Human caused. Write N for natural and H for human caused.

1. Burning tree because it is struck by lightning.

2. Dried grass burned due to cigarette butt.
3. Leakage of LPG that might lead to explosion.
4. Charging of phones on top of the bed.
5. Forest fire due to absence of rain during El Niño Phenomenon.
6. Unattended grilling of chicken
7. Overheated car engine.
8. Farmland burned due to pyroclastic flow of volcanic rocks.
9. Burning candles left on top of the bookshelves.
10. Children playing with a lighter that they found on top of the coffee table.

12
 What I Have Learned

Direction: Read the news clip about Ozone Disco and answer the questions given
below. Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

Remember the 1996 Ozone Disco fire?

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – What was supposed to be a fun night for most
students and some professionals who went to Ozone Disco in Quezon City 21 years
ago, turned out to be the greatest tragedy of their lives.

It was on a Monday night of March 18, 1996, when most students were celebrating
the end of their classes, that Ozone Disco Club offered a 50% discount promo for
guests.

But for Jhunie Mallari, a dancer and a regular customer of the disco back then, it
was supposed to be a normal party with his cousin and dance group.

It was indeed an unusual night as the disco club was jam-packed. There were more
than 300 people there, when the room could only accommodate about a hundred.

DISCO INFERNO. In this file photo, firefighters and investigators inspect the debris-
strewn dance floor following a deadly fire which turned the packed Ozone Disco into
an inferno, killing over 150 teenagers in 1996. File photo by Agence France-Presse

13
SURVIVOR. Jhunie Mallari is among the 93 survivors of the Ozone Disco Fire. Photo
by Gwen de la Cruz/Rappler

He was on a ledge just in front of the DJ’s booth dancing along with his friends,
unaware of the tragedy that was about to happen.

Shortly before midnight, there was a spark at the booth. Then a fire broke and
spread through the ceiling.

While some people thought it was part of the disco’s “special effects”, Mallari
already knew something was wrong.

Someone shouted there was a fire. Then there was commotion.

He jumped and rushed towards the door, which was already full of people trying
to get out of the room.

The fire engulfed the whole room really fast, he said. And as people tried pushing
their way through the door, the harder it was to get out because the door could
only be opened inwards.

“Nakikipagsiksikan ako. Hanggang sa hindi ko na kaya, huminto na kami kasi

hindi na… trapped na kami,” he said. (I pushed myself through the thick crowd
until I couldn’t anymore. We stopped because we were already trapped.)

Dela Cruz, Gwen. “Remember the 1996 Ozone Disco fire?” Rappler, March 21, 2015.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/knowledge-base/87521-1996-
ozone-disco-club-fire.

14
Questions:
1. The incident is evidently a fire caused by human. Is that human error or an
error in the machine /facility? Explain your answer.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. Recognize the fire triangle in this incident and illustrate it.

3. Is this kind of incident can be prevented? How?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. If you belong to the group of victims that were able to survive, what do you
think are the reasons why they were able to escape from the fire incident?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5. What are the lessons did you learn after reading the news clip that can be
helpful for you if in case you meet an accident similar to the Ozone Disco
Tragedy?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

15
 What I Can Do

Bahay Mo Ba To?

Direction: Study the structure of your house and answer the following
questions.

1. Do you think your house is fire resistant or not? Yes or No? Explain your
answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the things you would add to improve fire safety in your house?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

3. What are the things that you need to reduce/remove to make it free from
fire hazard?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

4. If there is a part of your house that needs restructuring, what would it be?
Explain your answer.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

16
 Assessment

Choose the letter of the best answer. Write the chosen letter on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. The following events are human error induced fire EXCEPT_______.

a. leaking LPG tank
b. electrical overload
c. grassfire due to drought
d. burning candle near curtains

2. Determine which event is due to machine error.

I. Electrical overload III. Smoking in the bedroom
II. Leaking LPG tank IV. Unattended burning griller

a. I and II c. III and IV

b. I and III d. II and IV

3. High rise buildings are built in with lightning rod, a metal wherein its tip is
found on top of the building while its bottom part is embedded into the ground.
What is the main purpose of the rod?
a. to avoid lightning
b. to prevent electrical overload
c. to lessen the lightning that would strike the building
d. to prevent fire due to lightning when it hits the building

4. Determine which event is due to human error.

I. Electrical overload III. Smoking in the bedroom
II. Leaking LPG tank IV. Unattended burning griller

a. I and II c. III and IV

b. I and III d. II and IV

5. What part is the most vulnerable to fire hazard?

a. kitchen
b. bedroom
c. dining area
d. comfort room

17
6. Among the given man-made causes of fire, which of these is NOT a product of
human error?
a. gas leaks
b. faulty electrical wirings
c. low condition motor vehicles
d. Unattended ignition sources

7. Which of the following may NOT be a cause of fire?

a. amount of heat
b. animal activities
c. change of whether condition
d. natural phenomena

8. It is the main reason why kitchen fire is the most common type of fire at
home.
a. stoves are dangerous
b. cooking is left unattended
c. children tend to knock things over
d. smoke alarms are not installed in kitchen

9. The following can cause fire incidents due to spontaneous combustion

EXCEPT________.
a. greased clothes left in the garage
b. burning of dried leaves in the garden
c. dried hay stacked together in the barn
d. stacked grasses undergo bacterial fermentation

10. Which of the following is not a cause of wildfire or grassfire?

a. improper disposal of lit cigarettes
b. use of electronic chainsaw in cutting trees
c. letting the animals graze in the dried grasses
d. pyroclastic materials from the volcanoes getting in contact with a nipa hut

11. Cigarettes can cause fire when _____________.

a. it radiates heat
b. it is being rubbed together
c. it is carelessly thrown away
d. it undergoes spontaneous combustion

12. The following are improper handling of electric cords EXCEPT______.

a. should be immersed in water while plugged in
b. should be hang up by the cord when not in use
c. should be covered with towels or blankets all the time
d. should be thrown away when the cord is cracked, frayed or discolored

18
13. Spontaneous combustion can occur when___________.
a. grease is use for cooking
b. portable heaters tip over on a carpet
c. candles are used without a glass cover
d. oil soaked rags are left clumped together

14. The following can be the most common causes of household fires
EXCEPT_____.
a. candles
b. faulty wiring
c. stacks of hay
d. curious children

15. Where is the safest place to store matches at home?

a. in the playroom
b. on the coffee table
c. in a locked cabinet
d. in the drawer near the stove.

19
 Additional Activities

They always say that “your best friend could be sometimes your best enemy,”
the same is true with fire. Fire is considerably a best friend of human race but
once fire is not controlled, it could be one of our worst enemies. Disaster is a
product of carelessness, so you take great responsibility when dealing with
fire as you take care of your best friend and all your loved ones. How can you
deal with fire as you take care of your best friend or love ones? Complete the
table.

I can deal with fire just like how I take care of my friend or
love ones by
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
Because
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

20
 21
What I Know What's More Assessment
1. D 1. N 1. C
2. C 2. H 2. A
3. B 3. H 3. D
4. D 4. H 4. C
5. C 5. N 5. A
6. C 6. H 6. D
7. D 7. H 7. B
8. D 8. N 8. B
9. B 9. H 9. B
10. C 10. H 10. C
11. C 11. C
12. A 12. D
13. D 13. D
14. C 14. D
15. D 15. C
Answer Key
References

Dela Cruz, Gwen. “Remember the 1996 Ozone Disco fire?” Rappler, March 21, 2015.
https://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disasters/knowledge-base/
87521-1996-ozone-disco-club-fire.

Campanero, Nida S, and Veronica N Egargo. “Correlates of Vulnerability: A

Quantified Study of People’s Vulnerability on the Impact of Super Typhoon
Yolanda in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, Philippines.” Imperial Journal of
Interdisciplinary Research 3, no. 9 (2017): 416–32.

Commission on Audit (COA), nd. Disaster Management practices in the Philippines:

An assessment. Philippines: Commission on Audit.

“Executive Order No. 335, s. 1941: GOVPH.” Official Gazette of the Republic of the
Philippines, April 1, 1941. http://www.officialgazette. gov.ph
/1941/04/01/executive-order-no-335-s-1941/.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM). 2011. The National
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Plan (NDRRMP). Philippines:
NDRRMP, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Republic Act No. 10121. Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Act of
2010. Manila, Philippines: Congress of the Philippines. http://www.
mdrrmc.gov.ph/attachments/article/45/Republic_Act_10121.pdf
(accessed May 20, 2020)

22
For inquiries or feedback, please write or call:

Department of Education - Bureau of Learning Resources (DepEd-BLR)

Ground Floor, Bonifacio Bldg., DepEd Complex

Meralco Avenue, Pasig City, Philippines 1600

Telefax: (632) 8634-1072; 8634-1054; 8631-4985

Email Address: blr.lrqad@deped.gov.ph * blr.lrpd@deped.gov.ph