Often referred as a good servant but a bad master, fire has
the potential to change direction of life socially, economically and
environmentally. Business empires have been turned to ashes, wild animals and
plants life complexity altered, lives lost or permanent deformities caused. Examples are many in the country; Sacchangwan,
Sinai, Nakumatt, fire tragedies, numerous schools where lives of children have
ended tragically or families where a mother closed children indoors with a
lantern burning or even the entire family perishing in the dead of the night. This paints a grin picture of a people with
little knowledge or ill prepared to deal with fire disaster.
Fire is not just the naked flame as most of us know it, naked flame is one of the many Sources of ignition others include sparks from grinding,
welding, electric, internal combustion or static ignition. Basic knowledge to minimize fire ignition or
spread favorable conditions and a fair level of preparedness to deal with fire incident
from getting out control is important for us all.
Fire is a composition
of three ingredients; fuel, heat, and oxygen. These components must be
available for fire to occur and are presented in a triangle popularly known as
the fire triangle as shown below:-
Heat component as indicated, is provided by any source of ignition,
if ignition occurs where there is fuel
and oxygen then it is a matter of
fire spreading. Fuel sources include
solids such as wood, paper, textiles, plastics etc; liquids such as of
petroleum products and other chemicals; gases such as liquefied petroleum gas,
acetylene, and hydrogen. Oxygen is part of the air, what is referred
as the active part of air; this is enhanced by wind or ventilation. Oxygen can
be found stored in cylinders in places like factories or hospital. Other
chemicals upon ignition can burn without supply of air by burning to give out
continuous supply of oxygen to aid burning.
TYPES OF FIRES
Fires are classified according to the source of ignition or
fuel that is burning:
Class A – fire
burning from wood, garments etc
Class B – fire
burning from flammable liquids e.g. petrol
Class C – fire
due to electrical fault or on electrical powered equipment
Class D – fire
from flammable metals e.g. magnesium
TYPES OF FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT/HOW TO PUT OUT THE ABOVE FIRES
Each class of fire has a given fire fighting equipment to
use. Use of incorrect extinguisher to put out oil or electrical fire will cause
more fire or damage the equipment. Oil
floats on water, thus use of water to extinguishing oil fire will spread the
fire. Fire will short circuit an appliance connected or that uses electrical
power and may even cause electrical shock to you.
Fire class A can
be put out by water type or Dry Powder (universal type). However the best is
water, dry powder will only put out flames leaving it burning below the
surface.
For Class B fire
use Foam type or Dry Powder. They create
a blanket on the surface of oil thus preventing further burning.
Class c type use
CO2 or dry powder
Class D has
special extinguishers depending on the chemical.
It must be noted that in some
situations there may be more that one fire type where for electric fire may
start from a cable and clothes or other materials start burning, it is
important to note at these point that in case of fire where there is potential
of electricity being involved, isolate at the meter box. Be wary of machines
with capacitors as well.
DON'T AND DOS TO REDUCE FIRE INCIDENCE AND FIRE RISKS
1.
Avoid using power extension cords
2.
Don’t pass cords under the carpet or hang them,
instead increase power point sources.
3.
Do not overload a power source with many appliance
4.
Always disconnect fire appliances from power
source when not in use or when not at home
5.
Label container containing various liquids keep
away fuel from near fire points
6.
Do not leave any cooking, burning fire such as
candles unattended
7.
Be
careful when burning open fires and more especially when it is dry and
windy
8.
Keep all lighters, portable gas cylinders away
from the reach of children
9.
Discard waste papers and rags safely, do not
leave them accumulate in or next to the house
10.
Teach family members what to do in case of fire
11.
Scan documents such as certificates and send
them to your another email account
12.
Have your family members and visitors know the fire exits
PUTTING OUT A FIRE:
1.
Raise alarm by shouting fire! Fire! Fire!
2.
Help people evacuate the building, more so the
vulnerable like elderly, lame and children to a save place.
3.
Identify the source and know the fire equipment
to use. It is advisable to have a universal extinguisher at your home (dry
powder) type.
4.
It is advisable to have a back-up to check
whether the exit is clear and to help in case of anything.
5.
Take your fire fighting equipment if the fire is
small. Know the apply PASS word of the equipment
-
P – Pull the pin of the extinguisher
-
A - Aim
at he base of the fire
-
S - Squeeze the handle
-
S - Sweep from side to side
But if the fire is out of your control, your life comes
first, stop and call the fire brigade. Do not try to put out fire you may not
know how far it has spread in the building and may close your exit. Remember:
- If fire finds you
in a building crawl to the exit as the smoke rises up firsts
- Do not go back to
the house once outside till it has been full ascertained to be safe. There has
been instances where people ran to collect their hand bags or phones but never
to make it out again. Things may be replaced but not life
- If on apartment and smoke has closed the exit close the
door and cover openings with wet cloths like blankets and call for help, most
fire deaths are not caused by heat but from suffocation and dangerous gases.
- Before renting an office or residential, check whether the
building has emergency exits
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