Explosives (10/18/24)
FIRE
A self-sustaining oxidation process accompanied by the evolution of heat and light of varying intensity.
An active chemical reaction that takes place between fuel, heat, and oxygen in the form of light & noticeable heat.
FIRE TETRAHEDRON
4 elements: fuel, heat, oxygen, chemical reaction
Technology - Branch of knowledge that deals with the industrial arts and sciences of fire prevention, fire protection, and fire
suppression techniques.
FIRE TETRAHEDRON
HEAT - Heat source is necessary for ignition to occur.
OXYGEN - Needed to sustain the combustion reaction since it reacts with the burning fuel to release carbon dioxide and
heat.
FUEL - Fire cannot start if there isn't any material available to burn.
CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION - Keeps the fire burning by providing adequate heat to sustain the fire.
STAGES OF FIRE
1. IGNITION - Describes the period when the four elements of the fire tetrahedron come together, and combustion begins.
2. GROWTH - A fire plume begins to form above the burning fuel.
3. FLASHOVER - TRANSITION BETWEEN THE GROWTH AND FULLY DEVELOPED.
4. FULLY DEVELOPED - All the materials in the compartment are involved in the fire.
5. DECAY - The fire consumes all the fuel in the room.
THREE PHASES OF FIRE
1. INCIDENT PHASE- initial stage of fire
2. FREE BURNING PHASE- materials and structures are burning with a sufficient amount of oxygen
3. SMOLDERING PHASE- flame ceases but dense smoke and heat fill the room (dangerous one)
HEAT TRANSFER
1. CONDUCTION- heat transfer between solids or between contacting solids.
2. CONVECTION- heat transfer by the movement of liquids or gases.
3. RADIATION- heat transfer through electromagnetic waves.
CLASSIFICATION OF FIRE
1. BASED ON CAUSE
A. NATURAL FIRE- fire without direct human intervention
B. ACCIDENTAL FIRE- fire caused by accident
C. INCENDIARY FIRE- one deliberately set water circumstances in which the person knows that the fire should
not be set.
D. UNDETERMINED FIRE- the cause cannot be proven
2. BASED ON BURNING FUEL.
A. CLASS A- wood, paper, fabrics (ordinary materials)
B. CLASS B- flammable liquids such as gasoline. Kerosine, paint thinner
C. CLASS C- electrical appliances
D. CLASS D- metal such as magnesium, sodium, titanium
E. CLASS E- flammable gases such as LPG
F. CLASS K- fire caused by oils and animal fats
CLASS A WATER (ALL AGENTS)
CLASS B FOAM OR CARBON DIOXIDE
CLASS C CARBON DIOXIDE OR POWDER
CLASS D SPECIAL POWDER/DRY POWDER
CLASS E ALL AGENTS
CLASS K FOAM OR POWDER
METHODS OF EXTINGUISHERS
COOLING- heat absorption
SEPARATION- removal of fuel
SMOTHERING- expelling of oxygen
OTHER TACTICS USED:
RESCUE- rescue occupants from the building to a safe place
OVERHAUL- complete and detailed check of the structure
SALVAGE- action taken in preventing excessive damage
10/21/24
THE PASS METHOD (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep)
Pull the safety pin. Aim the fire and stand 6-10 feet away. Squeeze the lever to discharge the agents. Sweep the spray from
left to right.
FIRE PATTERN- is also called Burn Pattern. It is the visible or measurable physical changes in identifiable shaped formed
by a fire effect or group of fire effects.
FIRE EFFECT- artifacts left behind by many different processes including dehydration, melting, color, charges, oxidation,
charring, loss of materials, alloying, spalling, and other.
PLUME-GENERATED PATTERNS
V- PATTERN – characteristics of a young fire
INVERTED CONE OR TRIANGLE PATTER- the pattern on an adjacent vertical surface will assume the shape
of the flame
COLUMNAR PATTERN- form a conical shape or triangle shape as the fire continuous to grow, the pattern
becomes columnar and the sides of the pattern are roughly perpendicular to the floor.
U-SHAPED PATTERN- could indicate that there is a port of origin rather than a point of origin,
HOURGLASS PATTERN
CIRCULAR PATTERN
CONFINEMENT PATTERN- caused by the hot gas layer being trapped beneath a ceiling and interacting with the walls.
Confinement patterns can provide a fire investigation with sequential data because if there is a smoke horizon or heat horizon
on the wall, then in all likelihood, the pattern was generated before the failure of the ceiling. Confinement patterns are very
useful in determining the origin of a multi-level structure and in some cases, confinement patterns are the only patterns
remaining.