Fire Facts

Godsend JP joined a Fire Prevention Seminar to which he shared his knowledge to me. I find it interesting that as ordinary people we still have so much to learn about fire indeed.

What are the types of fire?

Combustible fire (wood, paper)

Kitchen fire (LPG)

Flammable fire (fuels)
Chemical fire (chemicals)

Nuclear fire (nuclear power plants)

Electrical fire (electric gadgets, wires)

What composes fire?

Fuel - the stuff that feeds fire.

Heat - is produced by fire and causes it to arise.

Oxygen - without it, fire will die out.

How to eliminate fire?

Temperature Cooling

• Spraying water over fire reduces the heat.

Starving

• Since fire is produced by fuel, as much as possible it must be deprived of it.

Blanketing

• We often hear about people wetting blankets with water during fire, it's true. It helps us deal with the heat better than nothing at all. Also, blanketing a burning item eliminates oxygen which in turn diminishes fire.

Foaming

• I guess most people like me think that the water used by firemen is plain but depending on the type of fire, sometimes it's mixed with chemicals that would help subdue the fire better.

Fire extinguisher and LPG

A fire extinguisher can be a challenge to women since it's heavy. However, during emergency situations where adrenaline rush always comes in handy, if an emergency calls for it whether you're a man or woman you should step up and do what needs to be done.

How to use a fire extinguisher

Twist the seal. Most fire extinguishers these days have a seal that would prevent it from functioning even when the pin has been removed.
 
Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher. The pin releases a locking mechanism and will allow you to discharge the extinguisher. 

Aim at the base of the fire, not the flames. This is important - in order to put out the fire, you must extinguish the fuel. 

Squeeze the lever slowly. This will release the extinguishing agent in the extinguisher. If the handle is released, the discharge will stop. 

Sweep from side to side. Using a sweeping motion, move the fire extinguisher back and forth until the fire is completely out. Operate the extinguisher from a safe distance, several feet away, and then move towards the fire once it starts to diminish. Be sure to read the instructions on your fire extinguisher - different fire extinguishers recommend operating them from different distances. Remember: Aim at the base of the fire, not at the flames.

Reference: http://www.fire-extinguisher101.com/using.html

LPG or liquefied petroleum gas that's often used in kitchens are said to burst if mishandled. What we need to know for a fact is that it does not. What actually creates fire is when someone leaves it open causing the air to be contaminated. And to make matters worse, the room is closed therefore not allowing the gas to pass through that when a light is lit for example, the room bursts into flames.

The things I mentioned here may be basic but I did learn  more than I thought I would. I have to admit that I didn't know some of them until now. As much as we pray to be  kept away from danger and calamities such as fire, it pays to be educated and prepared.