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All About Fire
What is Fire? Fire is legally defined as the rapid, self-sustaining oxidation of a fuel source resulting in the release of energy in the form of heat and light. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that is the same as "rusting" of metal just much more violent and much faster. It requires oxygen to be present.
A fire needs these four things to happen: a fuel source, oxygen, heat and a chemical reaction or event that brings the other three together.
- Fuel - A fuel source is something that will oxidize or burn. Fuel Sources in the home include: paper, cardboard, garbage, clothes, carpets, curtains, towels, furniture, and wood.
- Oxygen is of course readily available in the air around us.
- Heat - Something has to heat up the fuel source so that it will burn. Heat comes from a number of sources: the furnace or boiler, the stove, irons, hair-dryers candles, matches, lighters and electricity.
- Chemical Reaction - A chemical reaction or event must bring the other three elements together.
Fire Prevention is, therefore, keeping those four things from getting together. The chemical reaction or event is the only thing we as humans can control. We must be careful not to allow heat, fuel and oxygen to get together.
- Keep things that can burn (fuel sources) away from heat.
- All fuel-fired appliances (Heaters, Water heaters, Boilers, and Stoves) should have three feet of clear space around them.
- Use candles only with adults present and in the room, extinguish candles when you leave the room.
- Don't run cords under the carpet or rugs and keep them from behind furniture and limit the use of extension cords.
- Keep small children from the stove and heaters.
- Keep matches and lighters out of the hands of children.
- Use smoking materials with great care and make sure ashtrays are "cold and wet" before retiring for the night.
- Keep curtains and other decorating materials away from the heaters and open flames.
- Store flammable liquids safely in approved containers and away from heat sources. Limit the total amount of flammable liquids to what you actually need.
- Keep hallways and doors clear of furniture, clothes, toys and other obstructions.
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