DISASTER READINESS

AND RISK REDUCTION

MODULE 12
ELEMENTS
OF THE FIRE
TRIANGLE
Fire in its most common form can
result in conflagration, which has the
potential to cause physical damage
through burning. Fire is an important
process that affects ecological
systems around the globe.
Which word is similar to Conflagration?
a. Extinguishing fire
b. Grassland
c. Storm
d. Blaze/ large fire
Which word is similar to Conflagration?
a. Extinguishing fire
b. Grassland
c. Storm
d. Blaze/ large fire
Fire can be devastating. They lead to
property loss, injuries, environmental
damage, and sometimes fatalities.
It is therefore essential that everyone
has safety knowledge in the
preservation of fires and preparedness
in dealing with them.
Which word is similar to Devastating?
a. surprising
b. harmless
c. destructive
d. amazing
Which word is similar to Devastating?
a. surprising
b. harmless
c. destructive
d. amazing
Which word is similar to Fatalities?
a. life
b. immortality
c. death
d. injuries
Which word is similar to Fatalities?
a. life
b. immortality
c. death
d. injuries
The most common workplace emergency is
fire. The best way to prevent injuries and
deaths from fires is to prevent fires in the
first place. According to the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
more than 75,000 workplace fires and
related explosions occur each year.
Dangers of fire include heat, smoke, and
toxic gases which all present some very
nasty consequences for the personal welfare
and life safety of individuals exposed to fire.
Which word is similar to toxic?
a. harmless
b. deadly
c. safe
d. pleasant
Which word is similar to toxic?
a. harmless
b. deadly
c. safe
d. pleasant
Which word is similar to nasty?
a. harmless
b. Safe
c. Horrible
d. pleasant
Which word is similar to nasty?
a. harmless
b. Safe
c. Horrible
d. pleasant
After going through this learning material, you are expected
to:
1. recognize elements of the fire triangle in different
situations (DRR11/12-IIe-f-37);
2. analyze the different causes of fire (DRR11/12-IIe-f-38);
and
3. observe precautionary measures and proper
procedures in addressing a fire incident (DRR11/12-IIa-
b-29)
DISCOVER!

FIRE is the process of rapid oxidation of

any materials resulting in burning

OXIDATION means that oxygen molecules

interact with different substances in the
environment making it unstable and thus
creating a reaction
DISCOVER!

A FIRE TRIANGLE is a model that

shows the three essential
components that when present
together can start a fire and
sustain it- FUEL, HEAT, and
OXYGEN
THREE
ELEMENTS OF
THE FIRE
TRIANGLE
FUEL

Anything that can burn is fuel

for a fire.

Fire needs fuel source or

combustible material in order to
burn.

Fuel comes in different forms:

 SOLID FUELS

WOOD PAPER PLASTIC

 LIQUID FUELS

GASOLINE KEROSENE ACETONE

 GAS FUELS

METHANE PROPANE ACETYLENE

HEAT
Heat allows fire to spread by drying out and
preheating nearby fuel and warming
surrounding air.

This is needed to start and continue the

combustion process.

COMBUSTION is when fuel reacts with oxygen

to release heat energy
 SPARK SUN FRICTION ELECTRICAL ENERGY

HEAT SOURCES
OXYGEN

- This constitutes about 21% of the air

around us.

- Oxygen reacts with flammable vapors given

off by fuels and the reaction releases heat.

- The magnitude of the fire, whether it is

going to be explosive or flammable, depends
on the ratio between the oxygen and fuel.
Fire hazards can occur
anywhere because the
three components of fire
are present everywhere:
fuel, heat, and oxygen
Fire will not cease until
one or more of the
components are
removed.
DISCOVER!

- The FIRE TETRAHEDRON

represents the addition of a
component in the chemical
chain reaction, to the three
already present in the fire
triangle
DISCOVER!

- A chemical chain reaction is a

series of chemical reactions where the
products of the reaction contribute to
the reactants of another reaction.

- Once a fire has started, the resulting

exothermic chain reaction sustains the
fire and allows it to continue
DISCOVER!

- Combustion is the chemical reaction that feeds a

fire more heat and allows it to continue.

- Combustion is when fuel reacts with oxygen

to release heat energy.
- Water can be used to lower the temperature of the fuel
below the ignition point or to remove or disperse the fuel.

- Foam can be used to deny the fire the oxygen it needs.

Halon can be used to remove free radicals and create a barrier of

inert gas in a direct attack on the chemical reaction responsible
for the fire.
- Pouring water on burning metals like lithium, magnesium, titanium,
etc, would result in the fire getting hotter or even exploding

- Carbon dioxide extinguishers are ineffective against certain metals

such as titanium.

- Inert agents (e.g., dry sand) must be used to break the chain
reaction of metallic combustion.

In the same way, as soon as one of the four elements of the

tetrahedron is removed, combustion stops.
DISCOVER!

- The oxidizer is the other reactant of the chemical reaction. In

most cases, it is the ambient air, and in particular one of its
components, oxygen (O2). By depriving a fire of air, it can be
extinguished.
- Fluorine gas, perchlorate salts such as ammonium
perchlorate, or chlorine trifluoride, act as oxidizers,
sometimes more powerful ones than oxygen itself. A fire
based on a reaction with these oxidizers can be very difficult
to put out until the oxidizer is exhausted; that leg of the fire
triangle cannot be broken by normal means.
DISCOVER!

- Reaction that is initiated by an activating energy, in

most cases, it is heat.

- In most cases, heat production enables self-

sustainability of the reaction, and enables a chain
reaction to grow. The temperature at which a liquid
produces sufficient vapor to get a flammable mix with
self-sustainable combustion is called its flash-point.
EXTINCTION OF FIRE
DISCOVER!

- To stop a combustion reaction, one

of the three elements of the fire
triangle must be removed.
- Without sufficient heat, a fire
cannot begin, and it cannot
continue.
DISCOVER!

- Heat can be removed by the - Introducing sufficient

application of a substance which quantities and types of
reduces the amount of heat available powder or gas in the flame
to the fire reaction. This is often reduces the amount of heat
water, which absorbs heat for phase available for the fire reaction
change from water to steam. in the same manner.
DISCOVER!

- Scraping embers from a burning - Turning off the electricity in an

structure also removes the heat electrical fire removes the ignition
source. source.
- Without fuel, a fire will stop. Fuel can be removed naturally, as where the
fire has consumed all the burnable fuel, or manually, by mechanically or
chemically removing the fuel from the fire.

- Fuel separation is an important factor in wildland fire suppression, and

is the basis for most major tactics, such as controlled burns.

- The fire stops because a lower concentration of fuel vapor in the

flame leads to a decrease in energy release and a lower
temperature. Removing the fuel thereby decreases the heat.
- Without sufficient oxygen, a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue.
With a decreased oxygen concentration, the combustion process slows.
Oxygen can be denied to a fire using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, a
fire blanket or water.
DISCOVER!

- Scraping embers from a burning - Turning off the electricity in an

structure also removes the heat electrical fire removes the ignition
source. source.
ROLE OF WATER IN
FIRE-FIGHTING
Roles of Water

In the case of a solid combustible, the

solid fuel produces pyrolyzing products
under the influence of heat, commonly
radiation.
Roles of Water

In the gas phase, i.e., in the flames or

in the smoke, the combustible cannot
be separated from the oxidizer, and
the only possible action consists of
cooling down.
Water cannot be used on certain types of fires:

• Fire where live electricity is present

• Hydrocarbon fires
• Metal Fire
Since these reactions are well understood, it has been
possible to create specific water-additives which will allow:

- A better heat absorption with a higher density than water.

- Carrying free radical catchers on the fire.

- Carrying foaming agents to enable water to stay on the surface of

a liquid fire and prevent gas release.

- Carrying specific reactive which will react and change the nature
of the burning material.
Water-additives are generally
designed to be effective on
several categories of fires
(class A + class B or even class
A + class B + class F), meaning
a better global performance
and usability of a single
extinguisher on many different
types of fires (or fires that
involve several different
classes of materials).
CAUSES OF
FIRE
NATURAL CAUSES

- Those that result from natural hazards

such as lightning and volcanic
activities.
LIGHTNING

Lightning triggers fire because it

carries with it a large amount of energy
that can induce ignition temperature
changes in the material (fuel) that it
comes in contact with.
VOLCANIC ACTIVITES

Fire can be generated by the objects that

get burned along the path of lava or by
ejected pyroclastic materials from a
volcano.

When the object comes in contact with

combustible materials, such as plants,
fire can happen.
MAN-MADE CAUSES

are those fires caused by human

or machine errors.
Electric Wiring

Faulty wiring, short circuits,

overloaded circuits, and loose
wiring connections may
induce fire in any structure or
building.
TIPS TO AVOID FIRE FROM ELECTRICAL WIRING:

1. AVOID OVERLOADING THE CIRCUITS AND OVERHEATING APPLIANCES

2. CHECK ELECTRICAL CORDS AND REPLACE OLD, WORN WIRINGS

2. GET AN ELECTRICAL ENGINEER OR LICENSED ELECTRICIAN TO CHECK

YOUR ELECTRICAL WIRINGS AND CONNECTION.
UNATTENDED IGNITION

A lighted candle, an improvised gas lamp, a

cooking stove, and other sources of ignition
which are left unattended may topple
and/or burn nearby flammable objects.

Never leave an open flame unattended, and

keep combustibles away from it to prevent
fire.
CIGARETTES

Cigarette butts that are not properly put out

and are thrown carelessly can spark fire.
The glowing ember from a discarded
cigarette can come in contact with a
flammable material and cause fire.

To prevent creating fire, make sure that

cigarette is fully extinguished before
throwing it.
CHEMICALS AT HOME

Chemicals at home Pesticide,

(lighter fluids, gasoline, spray
paints, kerosene, dry cleaning
agents, etc.) contain chemicals
that when mixed with air will give
off vapor that can ignite and burn
when an ignition source is
present.
WAYS TO AVOID FIRE FROM CHEMICALS

Flammable liquids should be kept closed and stored in proper

containers

Do not store flammable liquids in the same cabinets with other

dangerous substance because they can react violently

Make sure they are kept away from any ignition source and
away from children.
GASOLINE LEAKS FROM VEHICLE

A leak from the tank, engine, fuel pump, or

motor compartment can be dangerous
because these places get very hot. With
enough heat and gas, along with the oxygen
in the air, the spark can ignite the gas and
start a fire.

If you detect a strong gas odor, immediately

take your car to an auto repair shop and have
it checked and repaired by a professional
mechanics.
DIRECTIONS:
Read the following questions
and write your answer in a
one-fourth sheet of paper.
I. IDENTIFICATION/ENUMERATION (1-10)

1-4. What are the four components of the

Fire Tetrahedron?
5. What do you call the reaction where fuel
reacts with oxygen to release heat energy?
6. This reactant supplies oxygen to the fire.
7. Give one type of fire where water should
not be used.
 II. TRUE OR FALSE (11-15)

8. Oxygen constitute about 31% of the air around us.

9. A lighted candle which left unattended may topple
and/or burn nearby flammable objects.
10. A leak from the tank, engine, fuel pump, or motor
compartment can be dangerous and can start a fire.
11. Short circuiting is a situation when there are a lot of
connections connected to the socket but the main switch
is off.
12. Cigarette butts that are not properly put out and are
thrown carelessly can spark fire.
1-4. FUEL, HEAT, OXYGEN, CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION
5. COMBUSTION
6. OXIDIZER
7. METALLIC FIRE, ELECTRICITY-RELATED FIRE, HOT
OIL FIRE, FLAMMABLE-LIQUIDS FIRE
8. FALSE
9. TRUE
10. TRUE
11. FALSE
12. TRUE
GROUP ACTIVITY: REPORTING
GROUP 1- Ozone Disco Fire (1996)
GROUP 2- Wig Factory Fire in Marikina (1975)
GROUP 3- Bahay Kalinga Fire (1998)
GROUP 4- Manor Hotel Fire (2001)
GROUP 5- Kentex Slipper Manufacturing Fire (2015)
GROUP 6-NCCC Mall Fire (2017)
Title: MV Doña Paz Fire (1987)
Cause: Two vessels collided into each other along the
Tablas Strait, near Marinduque
Effects: 4,000 people died; aside from the ship, the sea
also appeared to burn; petroleum leaked into the ocean
Possible Emergency Response/Prevention:
1. The vessel should have followed their declared no. of
passengers.
2. There should have enough life jackets on-board.
3. The authorities and management should have followed the
proper protocol for passenger vessels.
 GROUP ACTIVITY: SHORT PLAY
• Each group will be given a fire scenario to act out.
• Try to be as realistic as possible.
• All group members must contribute to the play.
• Be creative in producing your props.
• Highlight the emergency present in the scenario
and what proper first aid/ response should be
made.
GROUP ACTIVITY: RUBRICS