CHAPTER 1

Fire

 The active principle of burning, characterized by the heat and light of

combustion (RA 9514)
 a rapid, self-sustaining oxidation process accompanied by the evolution
of heat and light of varying intensity
Causes of Fire

 Natural
 Accidental
 Intentional
 Undetermined
Elements of Fire

 Fire Triangle
 Heat
 Fuel
 Oxygen
Elements of Fire

 1. Heat
 A form of Energy generated by transmission of some other form of energy as in
combustion or burning
 responsible for the initial ignition of fire, and is also needed to maintain the fire
and enable it to spread. How much heat is required for the chemical reaction
depends on the fuel’s specific flash point—the lowest temperature at which the
fuel will ignite. As a combustible material succumbs to a fire, more heat is
naturally produced, allowing fire to spread by drying out and heating nearby
fuel sources and warming surrounding air
Heat

 Types of Energy (Common Sources of heat)

 Chemical Energy
 Electrical Energy
 Nuclear Energy
 Mechanical Energy
Chemical Energy

 the most common source of heat in combustion reactions

 When any combustible is in contact with oxygen, oxidation occurs. The
reaction of this process results in the production of heat
Electrical Energy

 can generate temperature high enough to ignite any combustible

material near the heated area can generate temperature high enough
to ignite any combustible material near the heated area
Nuclear Energy

 generated when atoms either split apart (fission) or combine (fusion)

Nuclear Energy

 Fission occurs when a neutron slams into a larger atom, forcing it to excite
and split into two smaller atoms—also known as fission products.
Additional neutrons are also released that can initiate a chain reaction.
 When each atom splits, a tremendous amount of energy is released.
 The energy released by fission in these reactors heats water into steam.
The steam is used to spin a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity.
Nuclear Energy

 Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like
when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom.
 This is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of
energy—several times greater than fission. It also doesn’t produce highly
radioactive fission products.
 Fusion reactions are being studied by scientists, but are difficult to sustain
for long periods of time because of the tremendous amount of pressure
and temperature needed to join the nuclei together.
Mechanical Energy

 Mechanical energy refers to the energy that a body possesses by virtue of

its motion or position. It is a type of energy that is related to the physical
movement and position of an object.
 an energy created by friction and compression
Mechanical Energy

 Mechanical energy refers to the energy that a body possesses by virtue of

its motion or position. It is a type of energy that is related to the physical
movement and position of an object.
 an energy created by friction and compression
Elements of Fire

 2. Fuel
 any substance which reacts chemically with oxygen and produces flames.
 A fire cannot ignite without an object or material present to enable the fire to
burn. Fuels can be flammable solids, liquids, or gases.
Elements of Fire

 3. Oxygen (oxidizing agent)

 a colorless, odorless gas and one of the compositions of air which is
approximately 21 % percent by volume
 At least 16 percent oxygen must be in the air for a fire to start. The air we
breathe has 21 percent oxygen, making it more than enough to allow a fire to
burn. Oxygen supports the chemical processes that occur during fire. When fuel
burns, it reacts with oxygen from the surrounding air. This reaction releases heat
and creates the combustion products gas, smoke and embers in a process
known as oxidation. The more oxygen present, the more significant the
acceleration of the chemical reaction taking place
FIRE TETRAHEDRON

 Heat
 Fuel
 Oxygen
 Self-sustained chemical reaction
 Recently, due to further research, the chemical chain reaction was
added as the fourth element to The Fire Triangle, creating The Fire
Tetrahedron. Adding a fourth dimension gives a fuller picture of what
causes fires to ignite and burn over time. The chemical chain reaction
keeps the fire burning by providing adequate heat to sustain the fire. As
long as the chemical chain reaction is sustained, the fire will grow and
continue to burn. When a fire is effectively suppressed, it is because at
least one element of the fire tetrahedron—the ongoing reaction—has
been removed from the equation.
 A chain reaction is a series of reactions that occur in sequence with the
result of each individual reaction being added to the rest.
Combustion

 The process of burning something

 Combustion is actually a scientific term for burning. We are all aware of
burning, but did you know that burning is actually a chemical reaction?
Combustion is a chemical process where any fuel has a reaction with air
(oxidant) to produce heat energy.
 Note: All Fire is Combustion but not all Combustion is Fire
Flame

 a hot usually luminous body of burning gas often containing small

incandescent particles, typically emanating in flickering streams from
burning material or produced by a jet of ignited gas
 Incandescence
 is the emission of light by a substance due to high temperature, when the
material becomes hot and glows (for example, a hot metal or glowing carbon
particles).
 Luminescence
 is the emission of light by a substance without being heated to a high
temperature, caused by excited atoms or molecules returning to lower energy
states.
 Flash Point
 The minimum temperature at which any material gives off vapor in sufficient
concentration to form an ignitable mixture with air.
 Smoke
 a visible suspension of carbon or other particles in air, typically one emitted
from a burning substance. The direct result of incomplete combustion
 Combustible liquid
 Any liquid having a flash point at or above 37.8°C (100 °F).
 Flammable Liquid
 Any liquid having a flash point at or below 37.8°C (100 °F).
 Blasting Agent
 Any material or mixture consisting of a fuel and oxidizer used to set off
explosives
 Corrosive Liquid
 Any liquid which causes fire when in contact with organic matter or with certain
chemicals.
 Ember
 A hot piece or lump that remains after a material has partially burned, and is
still oxidizing without the manifestation of flames.
 Fire Trap
 A building unsafe in case of fire because it will burn easily or because it lacks
adequate exits or fire escapes.
 Fire Alarm
 Any visual or audible signal produced by a device or system to warn the
occupants of the building or fire fighting elements of the presence or danger of
fire to enable them to undertake immediate action to save life and property
and to suppress the fire.
 Fire Hazard
 Any condition or act which increases or may cause an increase in the
probability of the occurrence of fire, or which may obstruct, delay, hinder or
interfere with fire fighting operations and the safeguarding of life and property.
 Overloading
 The use of one or more electrical appliances or devices which draw or consume
electrical current beyond the designed capacity of the existing electrical system.
 Oxidizing Material
 A material that readily yields oxygen in quantities sufficient to stimulate or support
combustion.
 Pyrophoric
 Descriptive of any substance that ignites spontaneously when exposed to air.
 Fire Resistant
 so resistant to fire that for a specified time and under conditions of a standard heat
intensity it will not fail structurally or allow transit of heat and will not permit the side
away from the fire to become hotter than a specified temperature.
 Boiling Point
 the constant temperature at which the vapor pressure of the liquid is equal to
the atmospheric pressure
 Ignition temperature
 Unlike with flash points, the ignition temperature does not need an ignition
source. In other words, the ignition temperature is the lowest temperature at
which a volatile material will be vaporized into a gas which ignites without the
help of any external flame or ignition source. As a result, the ignition
temperature is of course higher than the flash point.
 Fire point
 the temperature at which the material will give off ample vapors to keep
burning
 Roll Over
 is a stage of a structure fire when fire gases in a room or other enclosed area
ignite
 Backdraft
 a deflagration resulting from the sudden introduction of oxygen into a
ventilation-limited space containing unburned fuel and gases.
 BITEBACK
 is a fatal condition that takes place when the fire resists the extinguishment
operation and becomes stronger and bigger instead.
 Stages of the Development of Fire

 Ignition
 Growth
 Flashover
 Fully-developed
 Decay
 Stages of the Development of Fire

 Ignition
 Describes the period when the four elements of the fire tetrahedron come together and
combustion begins
 Growth
 Shortly after ignition, a fire plume begins to form above the burning fuel. As the plume
develops, it begins to draw or entrain air from the surrounding space into the column
 Flashover
 is a thermally-driven event during which every combustible surface exposed to thermal
radiation in a compartment or enclosed space rapidly and simultaneously ignites
 Fully-developed
 Occurs when all combustible materials in the compartment are involved in the fire
 Decay
 As the fire consumes the available fuel in the compartment, the rate of heat released
begins to decline.
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Heat is by-product of combustion that is of significant importance to the

firefighter. It is heat that causes fire to sustain its combustion and, more
important, to extend. When heat given off as a product of combustion is
exposed to an unheated substance, certain changes occur that can
make the new substance a contributing factor in extending a fire.
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Conduction
 Convection
 Radiation
 Flame Contact
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Conduction
 It is the transfer of heat from one body to another by direct contact of the two
bodies or by an intervening heat-conducting medium
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Convection
 It is the transfer of heat energy by the movement of fluids from the source of heat to
a cooler part of the environment
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Radiation
 allows heat transfer through electromagnetic waves, without requiring a
medium. Fire emits infrared radiation, which can directly heat objects in its
path. Unlike conduction and convection, radiation doesn’t rely on particle
movement but instead travels through a vacuum or air. This method enables
energy from fire to reach and heat distant surfaces.
 Modes of Heat Transfer

 Flame Contact
 heat may be conducted from one body to another by direct flame contact
Chemical Properties of fire

 Endothermic reaction
 Exothermic reaction
 Oxidation
Chemical Properties

 Endothermic reaction
 are changes whereby energy is absorbed or is added before the reaction
takes place
 Exothermic reaction
 reactions or changes that releases or give off energy
 Oxidation
 a chemical change in which combustible material and an oxidizing material
react
CHAPTER 2
 CLASSES OF FIRE (NFPA)

 CLASS A
 CLASS B
 CLASS C
 CLASS D
 CLASS K
 CLASSES OF FIRE

 CLASS A
 Ordinary combustibles are the sorts of materials that you will often find around
the house. They are typical fuels for house fires.
 Wood: logs for fireplaces, furniture, and wood-building structures.
 Paper: such as the paper you might find in the trash and books on your bookshelf.
 Plastic: such as Tupperware containers, toys, and bags.
 Cloth: such as clothing and curtains.
 Rubber: such as the rubber found in shoes.
Factors affecting ignition and burning
of wood

 Physical form
 Wood used for kindling is chopped to smaller pieces in order to sped up burning.
Wood logs or timber shows considerable resistance to ignition. The reason for this
observation is that the sizes of particles are smaller; the ratio of surface area to the
volume (mass) increases. There is a greater exposure of fuel to air and less mass to
conduct heat away from the surface of particle
 Moisture content
 It has been shown that the behavior of combustible solid of the same size, shape
and chemical composition will vary with moisture content

 Heat and conductivity

 it is a measure of the rate at which absorbed heat will flow to the mass material
Factors affecting ignition and burning
of wood

 Rate and period of heating

 It influences the susceptibility of wood and wood products to ignition >
combustible solids are less hazardous than flammable liquids or gases because
they do not vaporized rapidly nor give off flammable vapors at ordinary
temperature and atmospheric pressure
 Rate of combustion
 It markedly influence by physical form of combustible, the air supply present,
the moisture content and other factors but for complete combustion to
proceed there should be progressive vaporization of solid
 CLASSES OF FIRE

 CLASS B
 Flammable Liquids and Gases
 Gasoline: The gas (petrol) you put in your car fits this category. Diesel is part of this category.
 Most oils: including the oil you put in your car and your chainsaw, car-bike chains.
 Most paints: Oil-based paints are considered flammable liquids.
 Alcohol: The spirits on your cocktail shelf are considered flammable liquids.
 Hydrogen: Commonly used in party balloons (to help them float above air) and as a fuel for some
bus transport systems.
 Butane: There’s a good chance you’ll find this in your cigarette lighter. It may be in your refrigerator
as part of the cooling process.
 Methane: If you use natural gas to heat your home, it’s full of methane. It works in cooking and hot
water systems.
 Ethylene: The agriculture industry often uses it.
 CLASSES OF FIRE

 CLASS C
 Electrical Equipment (energized)
 Fire Involving Live electrical equipments
 CLASS D
 metal fire such as magnesium, Lithium, potassium, sodium, rubidium, cesium,
francium etc.
 CLASS K
 Commonly found in commercial kitchens and involve cooking oils and fats
 Methods of Extinguishment

 Cooling
 Smothering
 Starvation
 Interrupting the Chemical Chain Reaction of Fire
 Methods of Extinguishment
 Cooling
 Cooling takes off heat from the fire triangle. This heat takes the position of an
ignition source, sometimes the ignition source may be naked flame, sparks, etc.
However, anytime the ignition source of a fire is removed, the fire will die out
naturally.
 Methods of Extinguishment

 Smothering
 oxygen supply is cut off from the fire. This is mostly done by covering the fire to
prevent or reduce influx of oxygen into it.
 Methods of Extinguishment

 Starvation
 Starvation robs the fire of burning fuel. The fuel can be solid, liquid or gaseous.
When there is no more fuel for the fire to burn, the fire dies out automatically.
 Methods of Extinguishment

 Interrupting the Chemical Chain Reaction of Fire

 The chemical reaction can be interrupted by combating and modifying the
chemical composition of the free radicals besides reducing their emission
TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER
Fire Extinguisher

 Is a handheld active fire Protection device usually filled with a dry or wet
chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies
[Link]( HCFC)
-Clean agent

➢ Is a clean extinguishing agent that removes

heat and displace oxygen from the combustion
zone by cooling and smothering
➢ Recommended for A, B and C Types of fire
Dry Chemical (Mono ammonium
Phosphate) Fire Extinguisher

➢ Today’s most widely used type of fire extinguisher

➢ ideal for use in mixed risk environments and offer
excellent all round fire protection.
➢ effective on Class A, B and C fires.
 Aquaeuos Film Forming Foam
(AFFF)

➢ Ideal for use on fire involving solid combustible

materials and are highly effective on flammable
liquid fires.
➢ Water-based with 3% - 6% concentration
➢ For class A and B fires
 Dry Powder

➢ Similar to dry chemical except that they

extinguish the fire by separating the fuel from
the oxygen element.
➢ Often referred as a special powder
➢ However, dry powder extinguishers are for Class
D or combustible metal fires only. They are
ineffective on all other classes of fires.
➢ Contains sodium chloride and copper based powder
 Wet Chemical or Class K
Extinguisher

➢ Is a new agent that extinguishes the fire by

removing the heat of the fire triangle and prevents
re-ignition by creating a barrier between the
oxygen and fuel elements.
➢ Suitable for Class A and Class K Fires

➢ Were developed for modern, high efficiency deep

fat fryers in commercial cooking operations. Some
may be used on Class A fire in commercial kitchens.
 CO2 Extinguisher

➢ CO2 fire extinguishers are snowlike liquified gas

type chemical primarily used for electrical fires
and often paired with foam extinguishers
➢ Fires involving equipment such as computers,
or generators (‘electrical’ fires)
➢ Fires involving some flammable liquids, such as
petrol, diesel, and paint (‘class B’ fires)
How to use Fire Extinguisher

 Remember the Word TPASS

 T – Twist the pin
 P – Pull the pin
 A – Aim at the base of fire
 S – Squeeze
 S – Sweep side by side
CHAPTER 3
Introduction to Fire Trucks

 Fire trucks, often referred to as fire apparatus, are specialized vehicles

equipped with firefighting and rescue equipment. Depending on the type
of job they are meant for, they can range from simple pumpers to highly
specialized vehicles. Each kind of fire truck is designed with a specific
purpose in mind, ensuring that firefighters can respond effectively to any
emergency.
Types of Fire Trucks

 Pumper Truck
 Mini Pumper Truck
 Tanker Truck
 Aerial Ladder Truck
 Rescue Truck
 Fire Boat
Pumper Truck

 Pumper trucks are the most common type

of fire truck. They come equipped with a
water pump, hoses, and water tanks. Their
primary function is to transport firefighters
and equipment to the scene of a fire and
provide a water supply for extinguishing
flames
 It typically holds 1000 Gals of water
Mini Pumper truck

 Mini pumpers are used as initial response

units not only on the scenes of house
fires but also at car accidents, brush
fires, and as mobile pumping units for
tanker shuttles. The primary benefit of a
mini pumper is its size, which makes it
easy to maneuver down narrow back
roads and long driveways in the woods.
These units are also far lighter than full-
sized pumpers, which helps reduce initial
response time
 It typically holds 300-500 Gals of water
Tanker Truck

 Tanker trucks, or water tenders, are

designed to transport large amounts
of water to locations where hydrants
may not be available. They support
pumper trucks in fire situations,
particularly in rural areas.
 It usually contains 3500 - 5000 Gals of
water
Aerial Firetrucks

 Aerial trucks are equipped with large,

extendable ladders or aerial
platforms. They are especially useful
for reaching fires in high-rise buildings
or structures that are difficult to
access.
Rescue Trucks

 Rescue trucks are specialized

vehicles equipped to handle
various emergency situations
beyond just fires, such as vehicle
accidents or hazardous materials
incidents
Fire Boat

 A fireboat or fire-float is a specialized

watercraft with pumps and nozzles
designed for fighting shoreline and
shipboard fires.
Fire Fighter’s PPE (Personal Protective
Equipment)

 Coat and trouser

 Helmet
 Flash Hood
 Gloves
 Boots
 SCBA (Self Contained Breathing apparatus)
 SCBA Mask
 2 way Radio
Fire Fighter’s Bunker Coat

 The firefighter's bunker coat helps

protect them from flames but does not
allow them to walk through or stand in
fire. They have reflective stripes so
firefighters can see each other in the
heavy smoke, and so cars can see them
at night.
Fire Fighter’s Bunker Trouser

 The pants have wide legs and

suspenders to help them stay up
Fire Fighter’s Helmet

➢ Firefighters wear helmets made of hard

plastic to protect their heads from fire
and falling objects. The helmet has a
chin strap to keep it in place. A visor in
front protects the firefighter's eyes, and
earflaps protect the ears.
Fire Fighter’s flash hood

➢ This hood is fire-resistant and worn over

the firefighter's head underneath the
helmet. The hood helps protect a
firefighter's head, neck and ears from
getting burned.
Fire Fighter’s Gloves

➢ Firefighters wear very thick, leather

gloves to protect their hands from burns,
cuts and scratches.
Fire Fighter’s boots

➢ Made of rubber or leather, these boots

have steel toes and insoles to protect
firefighters' feet from heavy falling
objects and shards of metal and glass.
Leather boots are lighter, but rubber
boots are more water-resistant.
➢
SCBA(Self Contained Breathing
Apparatus)

➢ The air-supply system is made up of a

tank of fresh air, a harness, and
pressure gauges and regulators.
Firefighters carry air tanks in a harness
on their backs. The regulator controls
the flow of air.
➢
SCBA Mask

➢ The face mask protects the firefighter's

face from the fire, steam, and flying
embers. It is connected by a hose to an
air-supply tank. This supplies fresh air to
the firefighter to allow breathing in a
toxic atmosphere.
➢
2 way portable Radio

➢ Firefighters use their 2-way portable

radios to communicate with each other
during a fire. Fire Chiefs used them to
pass down orders on how to fight the
fire. Firefighters tell each other about
collapsing roofs or floors, where the fire
is, and if any people are trapped, where
they are located.
➢