FIRE AND FIRE FIGHTING

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• FIRE AND FIRE FIGHTING

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INTRODUCTION

• (A). REVIEW OF THE LAST LESSON

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(B). OVERVIEW

• The major aim of this lesson is to equip the
  class with knowledge of fire prevention and the
  use of hand fire extinguishers.

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(C) MOTIVATION

• Many of us have had a chance of sighting fire
  outbreaks. It should be noted that all airside
  operators should always identify fire out breaks
  because its important for safety.

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(D) OBJECTIVE

• By the end of this training session, students
  should be able to
• 1.Define fire
• 2.Tell different classes of fire and their
  extinguishing media.
• 3.Stop any outbreak/spread of fire
• 4.Extinguish fire.

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FIRE

• What is fire?

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definition

• Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid
  oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs three
  elements to occur
• Fuel
• Oxygen
• Heat

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FUEL
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Fuel

• This can be any combustible material solid,
  liquid, or gas. Most solids and liquids will
  become a vapour or gas before they will burn.

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OXYGEN
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Oxygen

• The air we breath is about 21 oxygen, but fire
  will need an atmosphere with at least 16 oxygen.

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HEAT
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Heat

• Heat is the energy necessary to increase the
  temperature of the fuel to a point where
  sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to
  occur.

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CHEMICAL REACTION
A

• A chain reaction can occur when the three
  elements of fire are present in the proper
  conditions and proportions. This is referred to
  as the triangle of fire.
• Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation or burning
  takes place.

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Contd

• When any of these factors are taken away, fire
  will be extinguished or it cannot occur
  completely.

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Classification of fires

• Fires are classified differently according to the
  different materials that will support the
  triangle of fire.

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CLASS A

• Class A fires are caused by ordinary combustibles
  or fibrous materials such as wood, paper, cloth,
  rubber, and some plastics.

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CLASS B

• . Class B fires are those due to flammable or
  combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene,
  paint, paint thinners and propane.

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CLASS C

• Class C fires are caused by electric current.
  These fires are called electric fires. They are
  normally very bright and will normally exceed
  temperatures of class A and Class B fires.

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CLASS D

• Class D fires are caused by combustible
  chemicals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium
  and sodium.

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What to consider before extinguishing a fire.

• Different classes of fire are extinguished
  differently with different fire extinguishing
  materials.

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Class A

• Class A fires are due to ordinary combustibles
  such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some
  plastics.
• Ordinary materials such as water and sand can
  effectively put out class A fires. Other
  materials such as form, carbon dioxide solution,
  dry chemical powder, can also put out these fires.

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• All ratings are shown on the extinguisher
  faceplate. Some extinguishers are marked with
  multiple ratings such as AB, BC and ABC. These
  extinguishers are capable of putting out more
  than one class of fire.

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Class B fires

• These are due to flammable liquids e.g. gasoline,
  kerosene, paint thinners and propane.
• Fire extinguishers such as foam, carbon dioxide,
  BC rated dry chemical powder, multipurpose dry
  chemical powder extinguishers may be used.

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• Class A and B extinguishers carry a numerical
  rating that indicates how large a fire an
  experienced person can safely put out with that
  extinguisher.

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Class C fires.

• These are due to electric currents.
• Carbon dioxide, ordinary dry chemical powder and
  multipurpose dry chemical powder fire
  extinguishers may be used. DO NOT USE water on
  energized electric equipment.

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• Class C extinguishers have only a letter rating
  to indicate that the extinguishing agent will not
  conduct electrical current. Class C extinguishers
  must also carry Class A and B ratings. This is
  because they can also put out these fires.

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Class D fires

• These are chemical fires due to magnesium,
  titanium, potassium, and sodium.
• These are extinguished using dry chemical powder
  agents specially designated for class D fires.
• class D extinguishers carry only a letter rating
  indicating their effectiveness on certain amounts
  of specific metals.

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COMMON FIRE HAZARDS
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Open flames

• These include burners, dryers, incinerators, and
  many other emitters of heat that are not properly
  located or protected.

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Spontaneous ignition

• This is a slow build up of heat in piles of
  rubbish, oily cans of waste, etc.

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Hot surfaces

• Combustibles placed so close to furnaces, fuels,
  pipes, etc

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Mechanical sparks

• Caused by foreign metal objects in machinery,
  dropping and collision of metals to produce heat,
  or sparks.

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Electrical Equipment

• Motors, switches lights, wiring that over heats,
  short circuits, are a common cause of fire out
  breaks in premises.

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Friction

• Objects rubbing together are a common source of
  fire. Poorly lubricated surfaces should be always
  monitored.

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Portable heaters

• Gas furnaces, stoves, etc left very close to
  combustible materials are also a common fire
  hazard.

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Static electricity

• Produces static sparks especially in low humidity
  areas.

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Chemicals

• These can ignite or explode. Examples include
  petrol, Jet A 1. ethane, alcohol and other
  chemicals.

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Smoking

• Smoking done in prohibited areas, careless
  disposal of ashes, cigarette ends, and matches
  can be a terrible fire hazard.

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Welding and cutting

• Without proper safety precautions, welding can be
  fire hazard. Its advisable to do it in a safe
  room if possible.

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Arson

• This is starting fire deliberately. It should be
  reported to immediately. Also report suspicious
  persons to the authorities.

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FIRE PREVENTION

• Almost all fires can be prevented before they
  start.
• one can effectively control fires by being
  safety conscious at all times one is at work. To
  prevent fires, one should do the following.

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• FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS
• Perform your job as it should be done.
  Acquaint your self with all required safety
  procedures.

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INSPECT YOUR EQUIPMENT

• Any defective equipment should be reported
  immediately. Fire fighting equipment should be
  checked regularly to make sure its in a good
  working order.

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DEVELOP SAFE-WORKING PROCEDURES

• Learn to be tidy at work . Be conscious of all
  materials that could be source of fire, and could
  ignite easily.

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EXERCISE CAREFULL USE OF FLAMABLES

• Handle flammables with care. Store in containers
  that could be well earthed. When transporting
  them, avoid spillages that could be a source of
  fire. Dispersal procedures should be exercised.

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CORRECT HARZARDS

• Every hazard you find at your place of work
  should be corrected.

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Other fire fighting methods

• Drenching
• Smothering
• Beating

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DRENCHING

• Here fire is put out using water from a hose
  reel, or fire bucket.

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SMOTHERING

• here fire is put out by cutting off oxygen. This
  is done with a blanket, or sand.

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BEATING

• This is done with a shovel.
• NOTE all the above methods however are for fires
  involving ordinary combustibles (class A) only.

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• Portable fire extinguishers are in many shapes
  and sizes.
• Operator must be familiar with the different
  types and their operating procedures.
• In case of an emergency, every second counts.

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How to use portable fire extinguishers

• The general operating instructions follow the
  letters P-P-P-S
• P- pull the pin at the extinguisher that keeps
  the handle locked from being pressed down.
• P- point the nozzle or out let towards the fire.
  Some hose assemblies are clipped to the
  extinguisher body. Unplug it and point at the
  fire.

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Contd

• P- Press the handle above the carrying handle to
  discharge the agent inside. The handle can be
  released to stop the discharge any time.
• S- Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base
  of flames to disperse the extinguishing agent.

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• After the fire is out, probe for the remaining
  smoldering hot spots or possible re-flash of
  flammable liquids. Make sure the fire is out.

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The end