CDI 6

FIRE TECHNOLOGY AND

ARSON INVESTIGATION
By: Cindy DC Cariaga RCrim. LPT
 WEEK1:

CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
 TOPICS:
• History of Fire
• Early Fire Making Techniques
• Destructive Forces of Fire

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
At the of this chapter, the students will be able to:
• Discuss the history of fire and its contemporary uses.
• Enumerate realy fire making teachniques and its evolution
• Determine different causes of destructive fire
I.HISTORY OF FIRE
FIRE - The phenomenon of combustion manifested in light, flame
and heat. Fire is the active principle of burning, characterized by the
heat and light of combustion. Fire results from a rapid chemical
reaction between fuel and oxygen. Reactions that involve oxygen
and other elements are called oxidation reactions. Chemists use the
word combustion to refer to the oxidation reaction that produces fire.
Early humans used fire to warm themselves, cook food and
frighten away predators. Sitting around a fire may have
helped unite and strengthen family groups and spread the
evolution of early society. Fire also posed great risks and
challenges to early people, including the threat of burns, the
challenges of starting and controlling fire, and the threat of
wild fires.
Scientists and fire protection engineers’ work together to
help people use fire safely and productively. Engineers
continue to develop more fire-resistant materials for use in
furniture, buildings, automobiles, subway cars and ships.
The development of new engineering approaches and new
building codes and standards has led to safer buildings
without dramatically increasing costs of constructions.
MYTHOLOGY OF FIRE

Hephaestus – God of Fire in Greek Mythology, son of Zeus and Hera. In

contrasts to the other Gods, Hephaestus was lame and awkward. Shortly after
his birth, he was cast out of Olympus, either by Zeus, because Hephaestus had
sided with Hera against him.

Vulcan – God of Fire in Roman Mythology.

WHAT IS FIRE?
 Fire is the manifestation of rapid chemical reaction occurring
between fuel and an oxidizer- typically the oxygen in the air. Such
rapid chemical reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light. 

Fire is heat and light resulting from the rapid combination of

oxygen, or in some cases gaseous chlorine, with other materials. The
light is in the form of a flame, which is composed of glowing
particles of the burning material and certain gaseous products that
are luminous at the temperature of the burning material. 
Fire - exothermic reaction involving the oxidation of some substance (fuel) resulting in
the release of energy in the form of light and heat.
Fire Quadrangle
1.Fuel
2.Oxygen
3.Heat
4.Ignition energy
Triangles of Fire
1.Fuel
2.Oxygen
3.Heat
-removal of any of these results in the suppression of the fire.
PRE-HISTORIC USE OF FIRE

◦ Making better tools;

◦ Gathering and haunting wild foods;
◦ Protection from predators;
◦ Source of light inside human’s dwelling; and
◦ Cooking and preservation of food.
II.EARLY FIRE
MAKING
TECHNIQUES
 Sometime after people began using stone for tools, they
found out that y rubbing together pieces of flint they could
produces sparks that would set fire to wood shavings. In
Southeastern Asia, they used wood piston to compress air in
inside a bamboo tube that contained wood shavings. When
the compressed air got hotter, eventually it ignites the
shaving and start a fire.
 FIRE FROM FRICTION
Many people use the friction of drilling or sawing sticks to create
fire. One wooden stick (the drill, plough or saw) is twisted or rubbed
against another (the hearth). This motion generates heat and kindles
dry materials (tinder) placed where the two objects touch. Substances
like grit are often placed at the point of contact to create extra
abrasion. This method is employed all over the world. Because the
principle behind all fire sticks is the same, the objects look very
alike.
 SPARKING A FLAME

All over the world people light fires with sparks caused by
striking flint and metal together. A kit includes flint, steel
(or another metal), and tinder, usually carried in a container
designed to keep the contents dry. With this method,
creating fire can take up to 30 minutes, most difficulties
resulting from wind or damp tinder.
 CHEMICALLY AIDED FIRE
Many chemical reactions generate heat and fire and various chemically aided
fire-making methods exist. Friction and sparks still start the reactions but
chemical compounds ease the process. They combat problems of wind and
damp tinder, and reduce physical effort. To begin with these involved producing
enhanced tinder. For example, amadou, a fungus that grows on decaying trees,
was mixed with saltpetre (potassium nitrate), and used with sparking kits and in
tinder pistols, a 17th Century invention. In the 19th Century further chemicals
and mechanisms were developed. For example, the Museum’s displays feature
an English lighter that used stearin, a compound of purified fatty acid.
III.DESTRUCTIVE
FORCES OF FIRE
Destructive fires can occur wherever fuel and oxygen are available,
including in office buildings, homes vehicles and forests.
Accordingly, fire breaks out in a building or structure every 61
seconds. Three-quarters of all structure fires occur in peoples’
homes. Extinguishing fire involves removing one of the
requirements of combustion. Firefighters may physically remove
fuels from the fire by taking a burning item inside the structure. They
can remove heat by cooling the fire with water or remove oxygen by
smothering the fire with chemicals or a fire blanket.
1. BURNS

Fire causes injuries in forms of first, second and third- degree burns.
First Degree burn damages the epidermis only;
Second Degree burn goes through the epidermis and dermis; and
Third Degree burn destroys both the epidermis and dermis and
kills all nerve receptors underneath the skin.
2. HOUSE FIRE

Most house fires result from cooking accidents in the kitchen. 80

percent of fire facilities are caused by fires in the house. People
protect themselves from the danger of fires in several ways. Fire
extinguisher in homes enable people to put out fires before they
become dangerous, while smoke detectors alert residents that fire has
broken out in the fire’s early stages.
3. WILD-LAND FIRES

Wild-land fires occur in undeveloped areas of land and

are fueled by forest or grassland vegetation. The leading
causes of wild-land fires are lighting and human-caused
ignitions, including those from equipment exhaust,
abandoned campfires, cigarettes, and arson.
 WEEK 2

CHAPTER 2
CHEMISTRY OF FIRE
 TOPICS:
• Components of Fire
• The Fire Tetrahedron
• Types of Flame
• Natur of Fire
• Combustion
• Ignition
• Heat and Temperature
 LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
• Enumerate different components of Fire
• Define The Fire Tetrahedron
• Enumerate the different types of Flame
• Discuss Nature of Fire
• Define Combustion and its products
• Discuss Ignition and how it occur
• Differentiate Heat and Temperature
WHAT IS FIRE?

Fire is heat and light from rapid combination of oxygen and other material. The
flame, which gives the light, is composed of glowing particles of burning
material and luminous gases. Fire is burning, which is combustion and
combustion is a type of oxidation reaction. Oxidation combined chemically with
oxygen is an exothermic reaction that releases heat energy. It simply means the
active principles of burning characterized by fuel, heat and oxygen.
COMPONENTS OF FIRE
A. Fuel
B. Oxygen
C. Heat Source
A. Fuels - All fuels have an ignition temperature, meaning that when raised to
that point, they start to burn. The temperature of the heat source must be higher
than the fuel’s ignition temperature. Most fuels are organic , i.e., they are carbon
compounds, as are the many products used in constructing and furnishing
building such as wood paint, and fabrics used in rugs, upholstery and bedding.
Solid fuels
Fabrics and Textiles

Plastics - Plastics are

included as ordinary fuels.

Coal - Coal is used to heat

buildings and provide
energy for industrial
machinery.

Peat - It is partially
decayed plant matter found
in swamps.
Liquid Fuels

Petroleum or Crude
oil
Gasoline
Diesel Oil
Kerosene
Chemical Fuels
- Produced in solid or
liquid form, that create
great amount of heat
and power.
Nuclear Fuel
-Nuclear fuels provide
energy through the
fission or fusion of their
atom. Uranium is the
most commonly used
nuclear fuel.
B.Oxygen - Fire requires at least 16% oxygen content to continue; concentrations
between 16 and 21% promote heavy some production.

C.Heat Sources - It is the temperature and size of the heat sources the matters, fires
usually being small at the beginning. If circumstances are favorable- a flammable gas
or vapor, or a finely divided, solid material such as woods is present- a mere spark can
be the ignition source. Heat is the energy possessed by a material or substance due to
molecular activity.
 The Fire Tetrahedron
Fires start when a flammable and/or a combustible material, in
combination with a sufficient quantity of an oxidizer such as oxygen gas
or another oxygen rich compound.

This is commonly called the fire tetrahedron. Fire cannot exist without
all of these elements in place and in the right proportions. For example, a
flammable liquid will start burning only if the fuel and oxygen are in the
right proportions.
WHAT IS FLAME?

A flame is an exothermic, self-sustaining, oxidizing chemical reaction

producing energy and glowing hot matter of which a very small portion is
plasma. It consists of reacting gases and solids emitting visible and infrared
light, the frequency spectrum of which depends on the chemical composition of
the burning elements and intermediate reaction products.
 FLAME VS. FIRE
A flame is a visible portion of gases A fire is the whole process of
of combustion. somethong that is burning.
 TYPES OF FLAME
A.According to Color and Completeness of
Combustion:
1.Luminous flame – a reddish – orange in
color; it deposits soot because it is a product of
incomplete combustion; it has lower
temperature.
2.Non – luminous flame – bluish in color; it
does not deposit soot because it is a product of
complete combustion; it has higher temperature
than luminous flame.
TYPES OF FLAME
B.According to Burning Fuel and
Air Mixture:
1.Premixed flame – example of a
Bunsen burner
2.Diffusion flame – example of
flame of the oxyacetylene torch
(diffuced-dispersed; widely spread)
TYPES OF FLAME
C.Based on Smoothness:
1.Laminar flame – (smooth flame)
flame is laminar when a particle
follows a smooth path through a
gaseous flame.
2.Turbulent flame – (rough flame)
those having unsteady, irregular
swirls and eddies.
COMBUSTION
WHAT IS COMBUSTION?
Fire and Combustion are terms that are often used interchangeably. Combustion is a chemical
reaction that occurs when oxygen combines with other substances to produce heat and usually
light. It is a self sustaining chemical reaction producing energy or products that cause more
reactions of the same kind.
Combustion -or burning - is the sequence of exothermic chemical reaction between fuel and an
oxidant accompanied by the production of heat and conversion of chemical species. The result of
the heat can result in the form of either glowing or flame.
Glowing
Combustion
- occurs when solid fuels
are not capable of producing
sufficient quantities of gas 
during pyrolysis to sustain a
flame. If access to the
oxidant (air) is limited,
glowing combustion may
result.
Flaming
Combustion
-commonly recognized
type of fire and occurs
with gaseous fuel
sources only. The color
of the flame can give
some indication of the
composition of the fuel.
Spontaneous
Combustion
- the ignition of organic
matter with out
apparent cause,
typically through heat
generated internally by
rapid oxidation.A
process whereby a
material self heats.
Explosive
Combustion

- canoccur when
vapors, dust of
gases, premixed
with appropriate
amount of air are
ignited
HOW COMBUSTION OCCURS?
Several important factors need to be present for combustion to occur. The first
requirements are fuel and oxygen. Fuel for a fire may range from trees in a forest to furniture in
a home to gasoline in a automobile. The oxygen in the reaction usually comes from the
surrounding air.

The next requirement for combustion is an initiating energy source, or source of ignition.
Ignition source may be in the form of a spark, a flame, or even a very hot object. The ignition
source must provide enough energy to start a chemical reaction. Finally, a chemical chain
reaction- reaction that continuously fuels itself, must occur between the fuel and oxygen for
combustion to take place.
PRODUCTS OF
COMBUSTION
1.Light and Heat

- Once a material
ignites a flame
forms.
2.Gases
-Fire can produce a number of different gases, including some that are harmless and some that
are toxic.

Harmless Gases: Toxic Gases:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Water vapor (H2O) Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)
Hydrogen Chloride (HC1)
3.Soot
As fire produce light, heat and
gases, they also produces soot,
consisting of mostly carbon
particles. The amount of soot
produced by a fire depends on the
type of fuel, the fuel’s burning
rate, and the environmental
conditions. Most plastic fuels
produce more soot than the wood
and other cellulose fuels. Plastics
also burn more quickly than the
wood.
4.Smoke

A visible product of
incomplete combustion,
usually a mixture of
oxygen, nitrogen,
carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and products
that released from the
burning material’
WHAT IS IGNITION?

The start of combustion is termed ignition. Ignition depends not

only on a fuel’s ignition temperature but also on the way the fuel
absorbs heat. A fuel’s capacity to absorb heat depends on the type of
fuel involve and its arrangements. Thick logs for example, can
absorb a large amount of heat before they reach their ignition
temperature. Small twigs, however, need just a small amount of heat
to reach the same ignition temperature.
WHAT IS HEAT?

Heat - the quality of being hot; high temperature. A form of energy

arising from the random motion of the molecules of bodies, which
may be transferred by conduction, convection, or radiation.

Heating - is transfer of energy, from a hotter body to a colder one,

other than by work or transfer of matter.
 Types of Heat/Heating
Electrical Heat/Heating Mechanical Heat
 I.Electrical Heat Energy
1.DielectricHeating - The heating that results from the action of either pulsating
direct current, or alternating current at high frequency on a non-conductive
material. Example : Heating in Microwave Oven
2.Heat from Arcing - Heat released either as a high-temperature arc or as molten
material from the conductor.
3.Heat Generated by Lightning - The heat generated by the discharged of
thousands of volts from either earth to cloud, cloud to cloud or from cloud to
ground.
4.Induction Heating - The heating of materials resulting from an alternating
current flow causing a magnetic field influence.

5.Leakage Current Heating - The heat resulting from imperfect or improperly

insulated electrical materials.  This is particularly evident where the insulation is
required to handle high voltage or loads near maximum capacity.

6.Resistance Heating - The heat generated by passing an electrical force

through a conductor such as a wire or an appliance.
7.Static Electricity Heating - Heat released as an arc between oppositely
charged surfaces.  Static electricity can be generated by the contact and
separation of charged surfaces or by fluids flowing through pipes.

Endothermic Heat Reaction - A chemical reaction where a substance absorbs

heat energy.
Exothermic Heat Reaction - A chemical reaction where a substance gives off
heat energy.
II.Mechanical Heat Energy
1. Frictional Heat - The heat generated by the movement between two objects
in contact with each other.
2. Friction Sparks - The heat generated in the form of sparks from solid objects
striking each other.  Most often at least one of the objects is metal.
3. Heat of Compression - The heat generated by the forced reduction of a
gaseous volume.  Diesel engines ignite fuel vapor without a spark plug by the
use of this principle.
TEMPERATURE
Temperature is the measure of the degree of thermal agitation of molecules; the hotness or
coldness of something; measure of the thermal agitation of molecules of matter.
Fahrenheit - On the Fahrenheit scale, 32 degrees is the melting point of ice; 212 degrees is the
boiling point of water.
Fire point - The temperature at which a liquid fuel will produce vapors sufficient to support
combustion once ignited.  The fire point is usually a few degrees above the flash point.
Flash Point - The minimum temperature at which a liquid fuel gives off sufficient vapors to
form an ignitable mixture with the air near the surface.  At this temperature, the ignited vapors
will flash, but will not continue to burn.
 WEEK 3

CHAPTER 3 - CAUSES AND BEHAVIOR

OF FIRE
 TOPICS:

• Dangerous Behavior of Fire

• Causes of Fire
• Variables that influence behavior of fire
• Three (3) stages of Fire
• Transmission of heat
• Types of fire spread
• Classes of Fire
 CAUSES AND BEHAVIOR OF FIRE

The term behavior of fire is used to describe the magnitude, direction, and intensity of fire
spread. The magnitude is measured as the velocity of the leading edge of the flaming portion of
the fire. The direction is measured as the bearing of the leading edge of the fire and will vary
from 0 to 360 degrees. Finally, the intensity is measured as the energy released from the fire per
unit area. A fire which spreads rapidly and releases a large amount of energy is sometimes
referred to as conflagration or firestorm.
 DANGEROUS
BEHAVIOR OF FIRE
1.Backdraft
– it is the sudden and rapid (violent)
burning of heated gases in a
confined area that occurs in a form
of explosion. This may occur
because of improper ventilation. If a
room is not properly ventilated,
highly flammable vapors maybe
accumulated such that when a door
or window is suddenly opened, the
room violently sucks the oxygen
from the outside and
simultaneously, a sudden
combustion occur, which may
happen as an explosion (combustion
explosion).
2.Flashover
–it is the sudden ignition
of accumulated radical
gases produced when
there is incomplete
combustion of fuels. It is
the sudden burning of
free radicals, which is
initiated by a spark or
flash produced when
temperature rises until
flash point is reached.
3.Biteback

– a fatal condition that

takes place when the
fire resists
extinguishment
operations and become
stronger and bigger
instead.
4.Flash fire
– better known as dust
explosion. This may happen
when the metal post that is
completely covered with
dust is going to hit by
lightning. The dust particles
covering the metal burn
simultaneously thus creating
a violent chemical reaction
that produces a very bright
flash followed by an
explosion.
CAUSES OF FIRE
CAUSES OF FIRE
A.Natural Causes
- Spontaneous Heating
- Lightning
- Radiation of Sunlight
B.Accidental Causes of Fire
C.Intentional Causes
A. Natural Causes

1.Spontaneous Heating –
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.
A.Natural Causes
2.Lightning – Lightning usually strikes objects that are better electrical
conductors than air. Lightning can cause fire directly or indirectly. Lightning can
cause a Flash fire or dust explosion. When lightning strikes a steel or metal rod
covered with dust, the dust would 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.
A.Natural Causes

3.Radiation of Sunlight
– when a light hits a concave
mirror, concentrating the light
on combustible material
thereby ignites.
 B.Accidental Causes of Fire
Electrical Accidents
1.Short-circuit – unusual or accidental connection between two points at different potentials (charge)
in an electrical circuit or relatively low resistance.
2.Arcing – production of sustained luminous electrical discharge between separate electrodes.
3.Sparking – production of incandescent particles when two different potential (charged conductors)
come in contact.
4.Induced current – sudden increase of electrical current resulting to the burning of insulating
material, exploding of the fuse box, or burning of active electrical appliances.
5.Overheating of electrical appliances – increase or rising of amperage while electric current is
flowing in a transmission line resulting to damage or destruction of insulating materials.
C.Intentional Causes
If in the burned property, there are preparations or traces of accelerant and plants
and trailer then the cause of fire is intentional.
1.Accelerant – highly flammable chemicals that are used to facilitate flame
propagation.
2.Plant – the preparation and / or gathering of combustible materials needed to
start a fire.
3.Trailer – the preparation of flammable substances in order to spread the fire.
 VARIABLES THAT
INFLUENCE BEHAVIOR
OF FIRE
1. Fuels - It is the name given to the suite of variables used to
describe the vegetation the fire is spreading through.

2. Slope – The rate of spread of a fire increases as slope increases. As

the fuel bed is tilted, the distance between the flame and an un-ignited
fuel particle ahead of the flame decreases.
3.Aspect
In general, south-facing slopes receive more direct sunlight throughout the
day in comparison to north-facing slopes. This has two effects on the fire spread.
First, micro-environmental conditions favor the production of more biomass on
north-facing slopes, increasing the amount of available fuel, and second, the
ambient fuel temperature on southwest-facing slopes will be significantly higher
in the late afternoon because of the increased radiant solar energy received by
fuels at these aspects.
4.Weather
The three components of weather which influence fire spread are the wind
speed, wind direction, and moisture present in the fuels. This effect is attributed
to three factors. First, the wind induces a forward lean of the flame and the un-
ignited fuel. Second, increased wind speed also increases the rate of convective
heat transfer between the heated air and un-ignited fuel particles. Third, wind
passing through the interior of the fuel bed speeds the loss of moisture in the
fuel particles, reducing the energy required for ignition.
 THE THREE (3)
STAGES OF FIRE
THE THREE (3) STAGES OF FIRE

As a fire progresses, it normally passes through three phases, they vary in many ways from
incident to incident.
1. Incipient Phase
2. Free Burning Phase
3. Smoldering Phase
1.Incipient Phase
This earliest stage of fire may or may not occur unnoticed. The degree to which it is observable
depends almost entirely upon the magnitude and the source of ignition and the type of fuel.

Characteristics:
1.Normal room temperature
2.The temperature at the base of the fire is 400-800 degree fharienhigth.
3.Ceiling temperature is about 200 degree fharienhigth.
4.Pyrolysis Products: mostly water vapors and carbon dioxide; small quantities of carbon
monoxide and sulfides maybe present.
2. Free Burning Phase
During this phase of the fire, the rate and intensity of open burning increases geometrically.

Characteristics:
1.Accelerated pyrolytic process takes place.
2.Development of convection current; formation of thermal column as heat rises.
3.Temperature 800-1000degree fharienhigth, 1200-1600 fharienhight.
4.Pyrolytic decomposition moves upward on the the walls leaving burnt pattern.
5.Occurrence of flashover.
3.Smoldering Phase
The gradual cessation of oxygen supply causes flaming combustion to end, replacing it to a
large extent by flowing combustion.

Characteristics:
1.Oxygen content drops to 13% or below causing the flame to vanish and the heat to develop in
layers.
2.Products of incomplete combustion increase in volume, particularly carbon monoxide with an
ignition temperature of about 1125degree fharienhigth.
3.Ceiling temperature 1000-1300 degree fharienhigth
4.Heat and pressure in the room builds up.
TRANSMISSION OF
HEAT
Heat energy, whether produced by fire or by any other means is transmitted in one more of three ways as
follows:
1.Conduction - The term describes the transfer of heat within a solid material from hotter to cooler parts.
Different material conduct heat at different rate; metals conduct heat well, bricks and concrete at a much
lower rate.

2.Convection - The term describes a mass movement in a fluid, i.e. a liquid or gas where fluid at one
temperature and density moves under the influence of gravity through surrounding fluid at a different
temperature and density, mixing with it, and gradually exchanging heat with it until it is all the same
temperature.

3.Radiation - The term describes the transfer of heat through a gas or vacuum in a similar way o light. The
heat from the sun comes to the earth surface in this way after passing through space and the earth’s
atmosphere.
TYPES OF FIRE
SPREAD
TYPES OF FIRE SPREAD
1.Structural Fire Spread – Fire spread involves the extension of fire from one point to another.
Naturally, the transfer of heat plays a large role in this extension. Overheated pipes, walls and
floors may initial fires in other areas of a structure by conduction. In addition, air movements
i.e., wind, drafts and venting can encourage convection to new fuel areas and can deliver
additional oxygen to sustain old fires and promote new one. Internal structural collapse may also
contribute to spread, as when burning material falls through to lower floors, starting fires there.
2.Chimney Effect – Since there is natural tendency for flame and heated gases to rise, any
structural element that enhances this upward movement serves a natural chimney. Such
enhancement is called the chimney effect. Because they intensify the fire’s upward movement,
these areas are often deeply charred and exhibit flame and burn damage many times in excess of
that of the point of origin.
CLASSES OF FIRES
1.Class A Fire
– fires that involve
flammable solids such as
woods, papers, cloth or
textiles, rubber and other
carbonaceous materials.
In short, this is the type of
fire caused by ordinary
combustible materials.
2.Class B Fire

– caused by flammable
and/or combustible
liquids such as
petrol/gasoline, oil,
paint, some waxes,
alcohol and other
hydrocarbon
derivations.
3. Class C Fire
– fires that starts
involve flammable
gases, such as
natural gas.
4.Class D Fire
– fires that involves
combustible metals
such as sodium,
magnesium, potassium,
zinc, lithium and
titanium.
5.Class E Fire

– fires that involve any

of the materials found
in Class A and Class B
fires, but with the
introduction of an
electrical appliance,
wiring, or other
electrically energized
objects.
6.Class F Fire
– Kitchen Fires; these
are fires involving
cooking fats and oils.
INTENSITY OF FIRE

It determines how hot the fire is burning. Some types of fuels naturally burn
hotter than other. For example, a gasoline fire is hotter than a wood fire and
acetylene fire is hotter than a gasoline fire. Because of the factor that determines
the intensity of fire. Those factors are:

1.Type of fuel being burned

2.Percentage of oxygen present.
CHAPTER 4
FIRE FIGHTING
 FIRE FIGHTING is an activity intended to save lives and
property. It is one of the most important emergency services
in a community. Firefighters battle fire that break out in
homes, factories, office buildings, shops, and other places.
HISTORY OF FIREFIGHTING
The history of organized firefighting dates back at least to Ancient Egypt, where hand-operated pumps
may have been employed to extinguish fires.

The first Roman fire brigade was a group of slaves who were hired by an aedile Marcus Egnatius Rufus.
Augustus took this idea from Rufus and then built on it to form the (Vigiles) in AD 6 to combat fires using
bucket brigades and pumps, as well as poles, hooks and even ballistae to tear down buildings in advance of
the flames. The Vigiles patrolled the streets of Rome to watch for fires and served as the police force.

In Europe, firefighting was quite rudimentary until the 17th century. In 1254, a royal decree of King Saint
Louis of France created the so-called guet bourgeois (“burgess watch”), allowing the residents of Paris to
establish their own night watches, separate from the king’s night watches, to prevent and stop crimes and
fires.
FIRE FIGHTING OPERATIONS
Fire fighting operation refers to fire suppression operations. In general the following procedures
should be observed:

1.PRE-FIRE PLANNING – this activity involves developing and defining systematic course of
action that maybe 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
knowing the emergency situation. It involves mental evaluation by the operation officer-in-charged
to determine the appropriate course of action that provides the highest probability of success.
3.EVACUATION – this is the activity of moving or 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.
4.ENTY – this is the process
of accessing the burning
structure. Entry maybe done
in a forcible manner.
5.RESCUE
– this is the operation of
removing (extracting),
thus saving people and
other livestock from the
burning building and
other involved
properties.
6.EXPOSURE
– also called cover
exposure, this is the
activity of securing
other buildings near the
burning structure in
order to prevent the fire
from the extending to
another building.
7.CONFINEMENT

– this is the activity of

restricting the fire at
the place where it
started.
8.VENTILATION
– this is the operation
purposely conducted to
displace toxic gases. It
includes the process of
displacing the heated
atmosphere within the
burning building with
normal air from outside
atmosphere.
9.SALVAGE – this is the activity protecting the properties from preventable
damages other than fire. The steps are a.) remove the material outside the burning
area b.)protecting or cover the material tarpaulins.
10.EXTINGUISHMENT – this is the process of putting out the main body of fire
by using the 4 methods of fire extinguishment.
11.OVERHAUL – this is the complete and detailed check of the structure and all
materials therein to eliminate conditions that may cause re-flash.
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.
SUPPRESSION OF
FIRE
 Fire suppression is the process of slowing the rate of burning.
Suppression of fire is intended to reduce causes of fire, and is
partially focused on programs to educate people from the common
causes of fire.
A.METHODS OF FIRE EXTINGUISMENT
1.Cooling (Quenching) – this method uses an agent whose primary characteristic is
heat absorption. Water is the best example of the agent which can help in cooling down
the heat temperature. Water is basically being used in Class A fire.
2.Smothering (Blanketing) – this excludes the oxygen from the fuel so that the gases
or vapors of the fuel cannot ignite and continue the combustion.
3.Separation (Starving or Cutting Off) - the removal of the fuel, it can be compared
to turning off of the gas valve which prevents the fuel and oxygen from coming
together.
4.Inhibition of The Chemical Chain Reaction - interrupting the continuous action of
the chemical.
B.EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

Different extinguishing agents can be used to put out a certain class of fire by
one or more methods; such as:
1.Removing of Heat
2.Removing of oxygen
3.Removing of fueal
4.Interrupting the chemical chain reaction.
THE FOLLOWING ARE THE
MOST COMMONLY USED
EXTINGUISHING AGENTS:
1.WATER – it is commonly used in extinguishing Class A fires. Water is the most
effective in cooling the burning material below its ignition temperature. It is highly
stable and maybe used to extinguish most types of fire if properly applied.
2.CARBON DIOXIDE – it is non combustible and non reactive with most
substances. Due to its non-conductivity, CO2 is very effective in Class C fires. It
is also used on Class B fires.

3.DRY CHEMICAL – there are two basic types of Dry chemicals

extinguishing agent:
a.Ordinary and Regular Dry Chemicals – generally refer to those powders
that are listed for use on Class B or Class C fires.
b.Multi- Purpose Dry Chemicals – refers to the powders listed for use on
Class A, B, C fires.
4.DRY POWDER – is generally accepted term for agents used to extinguish
combustible metal fires. It should not be used on other types of fire due to its
limited value on Class D fire.

5.Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) – the quick “knock down” and “heat
reduction” properties of AFFF have proven it to be effective agent. It has the
ability to seal the surface of burning hydrocarbon fires to prevent flashback.
6.HALONS – halogenated agents work chemically to extinguish
fire. It stops the combustion process by breaking the fire chain
reaction and prevents further fire propagation. Halons can be applied
by locally using non combustible gas similar to Carbon Dioxide.
Halons are effective on Class B and Class C fires.
C.FIRE EXTINGUISHER
It is a chemical device usually made of metal, containing chemicals, fluids or gases for stopping
fires. It is used for the purpose of putting out the fire before it propagates. It is a portable device
used to put out fires of limited size. Extinguishers are designed to cope with fires in their
infancy and are not intended to act as substitute for automatic sprinklers, standpipe and hoses in
the fire department. There are classes of extinguishers, each type has different value, but all is
not equally effective upon all cases of fire.

Fire extinguisher classification consists of a letter which indicates the class of fire on which an
extinguisher has been found to be effective, preceded by a rating numeral. Fire extinguishers
must always be fully charged and in condition which will permit efficient operation at any
moment without delay.
 TYPES OF
EXTINGUISHER
D.TYPES OF EXTINGUISHER

1.Class A Fire Extinguisher – usually water based. These extinguisher are effective on small
fires in ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, textiles, rubbish, etc. (Class A Fire)
where quenching or cooling effect of water or a solution containing a large percentage of water
is of first importance.

2.Class B Fire Extinguisher – Class B fire are put out by excluding air, by slowing down the
release of flammable vapors, or by interrupting the chain reaction of the combustion. The three
types of extinguishing agents are: carbon dioxide gas, dry chemicals, and foam. They are used
for fires involving flammable liquids, greases, and oils.
3.Class C/E Fire Extinguisher – the extinguishing agent in a Class C fire must be electrically
non-conductive. Both carbon dioxide and dry chemicals can be used in electrical fires.

4.Class D Fire Extinguisher – a heat-absorbing extinguishing medium is needed for fires in

combustible metal (Class D Fire). The extinguishing agents, known as dry powders, cover the
burning metals and provide a smothering blanket.

5.Fire Blanket – are made of fire resistant materials. They are particularly useful for smothering
flammable liquid fires or for wrapping around a person whose clothing is n fire. Fire blankets
conforming to British Standard. If the blanket does not completely cover the fire, it will not be
able to extinguish the fire.