DISASTER READINESS AND RISK REDUCTION

FIRE TRIANGLE

For a FIRE to burn, it needs THREE elements. These elements are 1. OXYGEN,
2. HEAT and 3. FUEL. Take out any of this and the fire will be extinguished. If the triangle is
Incomplete, there will be no fire or fire will NOT be produced.

TERMS:
1. Incendiary – designed to cause fires. For incendiary fire, the teacher may opt to
include the concept of arson or the criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property.
Emphasize that arson is a criminal offense.
2. Pyrotechnics – the art of making or displaying fireworks.
3. Spontaneous combustion – ignition of organic matter without apparent cause, typically through heat generated internally
by rapid oxidation
The BFP Operational Procedures Manual has list down the causes of fire as follows:
A. Faulty electrical wiring or connection J. Electrical machineries
B. LPG-related K. Chemicals
C. Neglected cooking or stove L. Incendiary device or ignited flammable liquid
D. Cigarette butt M. Spontaneous combustion
E. Unattended open flame: torch or sulo N. Pyrotechnics
F. Unattended open flame: candle or gasera O. Bomb explosion
G. Matchstick or lighter P. Lightning
H. Direct flame contact or static electricity Q. Others (forest fire, vehicular fire, etc.)
I. Neglected electrical appliances or devices

Each fire class is based on the fuel that they burn. This classification is very useful in order to determine what substances
or chemicals are effective in extinguishing the fire. The substances or chemical that can be used to extinguish the different fire
classes will be discussed in a separate meeting.
There are 5 fire classes:
I. Class A – fuels are ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, plastic, or anything that leaves ash.
II. Class B – fuels are flammable or combustible liquids like petroleum oil, gasoline, paint, and flammable gasses such as propane
and butane. Cooking oils and grease are NOT part of class B fires.
III. Class C – fuels are energized electrical fires like motors, transformers, and appliances. Once the power or source of electricity
is removed, the fire becomes one of the other classes of fire.
IV. Class D – fuels are combustible metals like potassium, sodium, aluminum, titanium, and magnesium.
V. Class K – fuels are cooking oils, grease such as animal fat and vegetable fats.

Basic Response Procedures to Fires

The phases of fire:
I. Ignition – First stage: heat, oxygen, and fuel source combine and have a chemical reaction (fire triangle is complete)
A. Also known as incipient
B. 2 types: Piloted ignition and auto ignition
C. Piloted ignition – fuel + oxygen + external heat source (spark)
D. Auto ignition – combustion by heat without spark or flame
E. Smoke and heat is produced.
F. Oxygen supply = 21%
G. Does not have high temperatures
H. Breathing is barely affected.
II. Growth – Expansion of fire, depletion of oxygen supply, and increase in temperature
A. Also known as free burning phase
B. Oxygen supply is less than 21%
C. Temperatures reach between 640° to 870°
D. Factors that affect the growth of fire: (1) fuel load, (2) fuel type, (3) orientation of fuel relative to fire,
(4) available oxygen, (5) ceiling height, (6) potential for thermal layering
E. Fire influences the environment and is influenced by the environment.
 F. High levels of carbon monoxide.
G. Breathing becomes difficult.
H. Highly dangerous flashovers may occur anytime.
III. Fully Developed – All fuels have been ignited and burning.
A. Hottest phase of a fire
B. Fire is now dependent on the amount of oxygen.
C. Spread of flammable gases within the area
D. Oxygen supply < 16%
E. Too much carbon monoxide is present
IV. Decay – Fire starts to diminish as fuel and/or oxygen is consumed
A. Also known as smoldering phase
B. Usually the longest stage of a fire
C. Characterized by significant decrease in oxygen and fuel
D. Backdraft could potentially occur.
TERMS:
1. Backdraft – phenomenon in which fire that has consumed all available oxygen suddenly explodes when more oxygen is made
available, usually because a door or window is opened
2. Flashover – rapid transition from the growth to fully developed stage; materials in room ignite all at once; tongues of flame roll
across ceiling; radiant heat affects materials in room, raising them to ignition temperature
3. Fuel load – total amount of potential fuel for a fire in a given area
4. Ignition temperature – minimum temperature at which a substance burns
5. Thermal layering – tendency of gases to form into layers according to temperature (hottest gases at the top layer, cooler gases
form at the lower layers)
6. Recall the ways on how heat is transferred:
• Radiation – heat transfer through empty space by electromagnetic waves
• Conduction – heat transfer through a medium without visible motion (mere contact)
• Convection – heat transfer through a circulating medium (usually fluids)
Type of burns:
1. First degree – skin is red
• “Cool a burn” = Hold burns under running cool tap water
2. Second degree – skin is red and blistery
• “Cool a burn” and see a doctor if the burn is large or blisters are damaged.
3. Third degree – skin is gray, dry, and with no feeling
• Don’t remove clothing from burn area.
• Go to emergency room immediately.
Before an actual fire incident occurs, there are some information that people need to know.
I. Emergency contact numbers specially the nearest fire station
II. Exit points
III. Location of fire hose and fire extinguishers
IV. Proper use of fire hose and fire extinguishers
V. Proper precautionary measures (e.g. proper storage of combustibles, fuels, etc.)
Basic Response Procedures:
1. If inside a burning area
A. Once you hear the fire alarm, evacuate to a safe area right away.
B. If you see fires, pull fire alarms as you exit the area. Inform other people present in the area of the fire that is occurring.
C. If the fire is still small and can be extinguished, use an appropriate fire extinguisher (recall the different classes of fire).
Usually, normal fire extinguishers do the job, but if unavailable, buckets of water or damp cloths would do.
Note: One should only fight a fire if the fire department has been notified, the fire is small, fire is confined to its point of origin, an
escape route is available, and one can fight the fire with their back to the exit.
D. If the fire is already large and is rapidly spreading (growth phase), immediately find the nearest exit and exit the area.
E. Touch doors first to check if they are warm before opening them. If they are warm, do not attempt to open and proceed
to a different route.
F. Use the stairs not elevators.
G. Close all windows and doors that you can reach as you exit.
H. If there is smoke, stay as low as possible. Also, try to cover your nose to prevent inhalation.
 I. Once outside, move away from the exits and assemble in a safe area designated by the evacuation plan of the area or
by emergency response teams.
2. If outside a burning area
A. Do not attempt to go inside the burning area.
B. Immediately contact the nearest fire station and other emergency response numbers.
C. Listen and follow orders of the emergency response teams.
D. Organize/Participate in a bucket relay. Bucket relay is when people help the fire fighters by passing buckets full of
water either to try to extinguish the fire or to prevent the fire from further spreading.
3. If you catch fire, do the “stop, drop, and roll” right away.
4. If you are unable to leave the area unscathed or you have suffered burns, immediately attend to them depending on the degree
of burn.

The Fire Drill

1. Let the learners practice the emergency and evacuation plans.
2. Do not forget to “stop, drop, and roll” when their clothes caught fire.
3. Let them check doors first if they are warm/hot before opening.

Conduct of the Fire Drill

1. Phase 1: Alarm – Fire alarms are sounded.
2. Phase 2: Response – Learners will have to be alert for fire, and smoke.
3. Phase 3: Evacuation – All building occupants evacuate, following pre-determined routes to the evacuation areas.
4. Phase 4: Assembly – At the designated evacuation area, learners are grouped together.
5. Phase 5: Head Count – Teachers should check to make sure all participants are accounted for.
6. Phase 6: Evaluation – Evaluation of the drill is conducted to identify problems during the drill and how these be corrected

ACTIVITY 1:
Research on a fire incident that happened in your area or happened recently in your country. From that incident, answer the
following questions:
1. When and where did the fire incident happen?
2. What caused the fire? How did it start?
3. Under which fire class could this be classified into?
4. Is it possible for the fire incident to be prevented?
5. If yes, what steps could the people have taken? (Give at least 2 concrete steps)
6. If no, discuss why it is not possible to prevent the fire incident.
ACTIVITY 2:
On a piece of bond paper, sketch your home. Identify areas where fire could start and mark these in your sketches. List at least
5(five) precautionary steps in order to prevent fires. Indicate possible exit routes and list down emergency contact numbers we can
call in cases of emergency.