Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction

Quarter 2 – Module 9 The Elements of Fire Triangle

What I Need to Know

 Among types of disasters, perhaps fire is one of the most-feared way of dying.
This is so due to the common belief that people who get killed in fire incidents die of
getting burned, which is not actually the case because the usual cause of death is of
suffocation or oxygen deprivation.
 If you happen to be in a situation where fire suddenly break-out, calmness as
well as having the knowledge on what to do, is key to putting-out the fire.

The Elements of Fire Triangle

 Fire is considerably a friend but once fire is not controlled it could be one of
our greatest enemies. Irresponsibility may lead to disaster and everything may
change as fast as a split of a second. Based on the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP),
an average of 42 fire incidents were recorded from year 2013 to 2017. You probably
have heard of a fire that broke out at Kentex Manufacturing, a factory of slippers and
shoes in Valenzuela, Metro Manila on May 13, 2015. It is considered as the third
worst fire incident in our country killing 74 people trapped inside the said factory,
next to the 1996 Ozone Disco Club fire and the 2001 Manor Hotel fire that led to the
death of 162 and 75 people, respectively.
In all fire cases, loss of lives, jobs, investments and properties can literally go
up in smoke just in a matter of hours. Knowledge on the behavior, causes, effects
and safety tips can help save lives and properties.

2 main different types of disaster?

 Natural Disaster
 Human-Caused Disaster

to which type does fire belong man made or natural?

Fire is one of the most destructive manmade disasters of all time.

How will you compare a fire’s extent of damage to that of other types of
disasters?
While each type of disaster has its own unique characteristics and impacts, fires are particularly devastating due to
their rapid spread, destructive potential, and long-term ecological consequences. However, the comparison
ultimately depends on the specific circumstances of each event, including factors like location, severity, and
response efforts.
5 important safety tips that you know about fire prevention.
 Keep Flammable Items Away from Heat Sources:
Keep flammable materials like curtains, towels, and papers away from heaters, stoves, and other heat
sources. Maintaining a clear space around heat-producing appliances reduces the risk of accidental ignition.
 Never Leave Flames Unattended:
Whether it's a candle, a cooking flame, or a fireplace, never leave an open flame unattended. Always
extinguish flames before leaving the room or going to bed.
 Check Electrical Cords Regularly:
Regularly inspect electrical cords for fraying, exposed wires, or other damage. Replace damaged cords
immediately, as they can spark and start fires. Avoid running cords under rugs or in high-traffic areas where
they can be damaged.
 Practice Safe Smoking Habits:
If you smoke, do so outside and use deep, sturdy ashtrays. Ensure cigarette butts are completely
extinguished before disposal. Never smoke in bed or when drowsy, as falling asleep with a lit cigarette can
lead to a deadly fire.
 Keep Matches and Lighters Out of Reach of Children:
Store matches and lighters in a secure location out of reach of children. Educate children about the dangers
of playing with fire and the importance of fire safety.

What is It
Ancient Greeks considered fire as one of their major elements like water, earth and
air. Unlike water, earth and air, fire is known to be just an event that happened when
matter changes from one form to another.
Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermal chemical process of
combustion, releasing heat, light, and various reaction products. This diagram below
demonstrates the fire triangle.
FIRE TRIANGLE

OXYGEN HEAT

FUEL

1. Fuel is any material that can be burned such as solid, liquid, or gas. Combustion takes place when fuel is converted
into gaseous state asmoisture is removed. This happens when vapor is escaping from any
combustible material.

2. Heat is an energy that flows through object. Enough amount of heatwould free the vapor from solid and liquid
forms of fuel. The lowest temperature needed to form an ignitable mixture in air near the surface of the liquid is
called the flash point. The higher the flashpoint, the more difficult it is to ignite the material. The ignition of fire to
solid and liquid fuels varies. Most solid combustible materials ignite immediately. Other solid combustible materials
take time to ignite due to its density.
3. Oxygen is an element, estimated 21% of it can be found in the air. During combustion process chemical reaction
takes place. Oxygen is released and serves as an oxidizing agent for combustible materials. Without an oxidizing
agent like oxygen there will be no fire even if heat and fuel are present.

The theory of fire extinguishment is based on removing any of the elements in the fire triangle to suppress the fire.
1. REMOVING THE HEAT. The goal here is to lower the temperature which is
usually accomplished by adding water as an extinguishing agent. Other
extinguishing agents include chemical and mechanical foams.
2. REMOVING THE FUEL. In most cases, removing the fuel from the fire is not
a practical way of extinguishing fire except when dealing with flammable liquid
fires, valves can be shut off and storage vessels pumped to safe areas to help
eliminate the supply of fuel to the fire.
3. REMOVE THE OXYGEN. Air is mainly 21% oxygen and this is sufficient to
support combustion in most fire situations. Removal of the air or oxygen can
be accomplished by separating it from the fuel source or by displacing it with
other gases like carbon dioxide, nitrogen and steam. Examples of separation
would be foam on a flammable liquid fire, a wet blanket on a trash fire, or a
tight fitting lid on a skillet fire. Foam does not only lower temperature but also
remove oxygen.
 Disaster Readiness and Risk ReductiondQuarter 2 – Module 10: Fire Hazards: Concepts and Causes

Fire may start due to natural cause or human-made incidents.

I. Natural causes of fire such as:
A. Lightning that strikes any combustible material which can set trees on fire that might eventually result to forest
fire or wildfire. This is the most common natural cause of fire.
B. Volcanic activities could also cause fire. During volcanic activity, it spews hot gases, ash and lava and when these
hot materials get in contact with flammable materials it might start a wildfire.
C. Spontaneous combustion is another natural cause of fire. This happens when a hydrocarbon substance
unexpectedly create fire without apparent cause. Pyrophoric substances ignite spontaneously in air at or below 54˚C
or within 5 minutes after getting into contact with air. Examples of pyrophoric substances are iron sulfide, plutonium
and uranium.

Sometimes, it is also due to combustion of dry fuel such as sawdust, dried leaves and grasses. Spontaneous
combustion can arise in the presence of substances with low ignition temperature (requires a not too high
temperature to be ignited) like hay, straw and other types of grasses. When these dried grasses stacked together, it
releases heat and in the presence of oxygen and moisture or even bacterial fermentation will spontaneously produce
fire.

II. Human-made causes of fire are those products of human errors or machine failures. Wildfires or forest fires
caused by human activities such as machinery sparks when cutting logs in the forest, cast-away cigarette butts in
dried grasses and sometimes due to kaingin or even arson (human inflicted fire by directly setting the area to burn).

Housefire is a fire incident that is generally caused by human and machine

error. The following are common causes of housefire:

1. Cooking equipment. Pots and pans can be overheated when a person gets distracted while cooking or leaves
cooking unattended. This is the most common cause of housefire.

2. Heaters. Portable heaters can cause fire when it is placed near objects that can easily burn like curtains and
laundry clothes.

3. Smoking in bedrooms. A cigarette that is not put out properly can cause fire as the cigarette butts can
continuously burn in a few hours. It can also immediately cause fire when get in contact with flammable materials.

4. Candles. It is not actually a hazard but when left unattended it can easily burst into flames and cause fire.

5. Curious children. Kids can sometimes cause fire out of curiosity, so they wanted to see what would happen if they
set fire to an object.

6. Faulty wiring. Homes with insufficient wiring can cause fires from electrical hazard. Signs that you can observe if
you have faulty wirings are: lights dim if you use another appliance; for an appliance to work, you have to disconnect
another; and fuse blow or trip the circuit breaker frequently.

7. Barbeques. This is a great outdoor activity or one of the famous street foods in the Philippines. Avoid doing this
activity near tablecloths, trees or even plants.

8. Flammable liquids. Petrol, kerosene or other methylated substances are the most common flammable liquids
found at home that can cause fire if not properly stored. Always store in cool, dry place.

9. Lighting. Lamp shades and light fittings can build heat if they are very close to light bulbs. Too much heat can
eventually ignite the materials and result to fire incident.
 Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Quarter 2 – Module 11: Fire Hazards and Related Concepts

There is a saying that “It is better to be robbed than to lose all your belongings or assets because of fire incident.” In
order to prevent this from happening, you should know the main cause of fire and fire hazards and to learn how to
deal with it. From this knowledge you are now equipped to make acontingency plan for your family and community.

1.Cooking Safety
Cooking is the #1 cause of home fires, and unattended cooking is the top contributing factor (Bitonio 2013). Since
kitchen is the most used part of the house and is most vulnerable to fire, it is very important to know the most
appropriate actions to be done when kitchen fire starts.

Many cooking fire injuries occur when people respond to kitchen fires with inappropriate actions.
These are the following things to do and not to do in dealing with cooking fire:
Things to do to prevent cooking fire:
 Do not leave your cooking unattended.
 Keep handles of pots and pans turned in.
 Don’t put anything that catches fire near your stove or burner.
Things to do to control cooking fire:
 Cover the fire by placing a lid over the pan.
 Turn off the burner or stove.
 In case of oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed.
 In case of microwave fire, unplug the power source and keep the door closed.

2. Cigarettes
Cigarettes are the leading causes of fire deaths in city, state, and national level (Bitonio 2013). The fire victims
include not only the smokers but their families, friends and neighbors. Mostly, cigarette fires are due to improper
disposal of cigarette butts that are still lit. Normally, it will start outdoor then spread out until it reaches some
structures nearby. In some cases, house fire due to cigarettes is caused by human negligence like falling
asleep while smoking or smoking near flammable materials.
Fires from smoking material can be prevented by following these tips:
 Do not smoke in bed or anywhere that you might fall asleep.
 If you smoke, do it outside.
 Do not discard cigarettes in potted plants, landscaping vegetation or bark dust – they can easily catch fire.
 Use a deep, sturdy ashtray or a non-combustible container that cannot be tipped over.
 Before throwing away butts or ashes, douse in water or sand.
 Never smoke in a home where oxygen is used.

3. Electrical Safety
Electrical problem is one of the causes of structure fires and fire deaths. Fire incidents due to electrical wiring are
caused by faulty wiring and faulty equipment or appliances.
Fires caused by electric can be prevented by the following appropriate actions.
 Avoid overloading outlets. One outlet is to one high-wattage appliance at a time.
 Don’t use an extension cord with a major appliance like television, air conditioner and refrigerator. Plug it in a
major power outlet.
 In case a fuse blows or a circuit breaker trips often, light became dim, or outlets or switches became heated, call a
qualified electrician to inspect and fix the problem.
 Before using a lamp bulb check the box or label first; the wattage of the bulb should match the recommendation
set by the lamp manufacturer.
 Power strips with circuit breakers can be useful tools to temporarily plug several items into an electrical outlet, but
if used incorrectly they can cause a fire. The use of power strips and multi-plug outlets increases the draw of
electricity through your home's wiring. Before creating additional electrical demand, ensure that your wiring is in
good repair and capable of carrying the additional load (Bitonio 2013).
 Make sure your home has ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in the kitchen, bathroom(s), laundry, basement,
and outdoor areas, to reduce the risk of electric shock (Bitonio 2013).
 Arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) should be installed in your home to protect electrical outlets, and prevent fires
due to arcing (Bitonio 2013).
 Do not place extension cords under carpets or mattresses because it will heat up and cause fire.
 Do regular checking of electrical cords and replace immediately if damaged.

4. Candle Safety
During brown out or power outage, candles are the most popular source of light because it is always available even
in sari-sari stores.
The following are the safety tips on how to prevent candle fire from happening.
 Use candle holders that are stable to prevent the candle from falling into the floor or near something that is
flammable or easily burn.
 Keep candles at least 12 inches away from anything that can burn.
 Blow out candles when you leave the room or go to bed; avoid the use of candles in rooms where people may fall
asleep.
 Never burn a candle if medical oxygen or any flammable substance is nearby.

5. Spontaneous Combustion
Spontaneous combustion happens when a material can produce or accumulate its own heat and can cause increase
in temperature without drawing heat from its surroundings. If the material reaches its ignition temperature, it will
start to burn without any source of fire and that is called spontaneous combustion. Examples of materials that are
prone to spontaneous combustion include: oily rags, hay, and other agricultural products (Bitonio 2013).

In house fires, oily rags are the most common item ignited by spontaneous combustion and the garage is the most
common area of fire origin (Bitonio 2103). Oily rags left clumped together can heat up and catch fire. To prevent
these fires at home, store oily rags in non-combustible (e.g. metal) container with lid closed. Prior to disposal, soak
rags in water then spread them out in a safe outdoor area to dry.

There are different types of fire and should be controlled differently when trying to extinguish. Some chemicals that
can extinguish one type of fire can cause violent reaction when used with other types. One good example is, when
fire is caused by faulty electrical wirings, water and foam could create some explosions or can increase the intensity
of fire. The table below shows the classification of fire and their respective sources and symbols.
 Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction
Quarter 2 – Module 12: Response Procedure During a Fire Incident

Common Fire Related Hazards

The main causes of fire in the workplace are:
1. Electricity – neglect or misuse of wiring can lead to short circuits
2. Rubbish and waste material – fire is likely to spread through accumulated waste
3. Smoking – carelessly discarded cigarette butts or lit matches are one of the major causes of fire
4. Cooking – kitchens provide opportunities for fire to start and materials on which it can feed
5. Heating appliances – portable heaters are a threat when placed beside combustible furniture or fittings
6. Combustible materials including - flammable liquids, glues and are all liable to combust unless stored and used
properly
7. Arson or willful fire-raising.

Fire Safety Precautions

Good fire safety practice that you should follow includes:
1. Keeping your workplace tidy and having a good standard of housekeeping;
2. Regularly removing combustible waste, including accumulations of dust;
3. Keeping ignition sources away from combustible material or flammable liquids and gases; and
4. Keeping use of flammable liquids to a minimum and closing containers when not in use.

Teachers, students, and other school personnel who are at or near the fire’s
point of origin, shall follow the procedures outlined by the R.A.C.E. Fire
Response Procedure.
 Rescue all stakeholders from direct danger.
Note: you will only try to RESCUE anyone in immediate danger from the fire, if. It does not endanger your life.
 Alarm by pulling the closest fire station and reporting the location of the fire.
Sound the fire alarm in order to warn people of the approaching disaster and safely evacuate all stakeholders.
 Confine the area by closing all doors.
A "contained” fire is one with a complete containment line around its perimeter.
A fire that's “under control” has a full containment line around it, and there has been a degree of consolidation so
fire escaping outside the lines is unlikely.
 Extinguish the fire if the fire is small. Evacuate all personnel from the
area if instructed to do so by fire officials or school authorities
To extinguish a fire is to completely stop a fire.

What you should do during a fire incident?

1. Check the door.
Check if there is smoke coming from under the door or if the door is hot to touch. If the door is cool to touch, open it
slowly and pass. If not, keep it closed and stay in the room. Place wet towels on the gaps to prevent fire and smoke
from coming in. Have someone pop out of a window and wave something bright, like a flashlight or a brightlycolored
cloth, to signal for help. Once out of the room, use your building’s emergency exit and evacuate immediately without
panic.
2. P.A.S.S.
To use a fire extinguisher, first Pull the pin in the handle. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire. Squeeze the lever
slowly and Sweep from side to side. Use a fire extinguisher if and only if it is within reach, and only to put out small
fires. If the fire is big, leave!
3. Stay low
Crawl and cover your nose and mouth. Smoke is toxic and inhaling large amounts can render you unconscious. Once
you are outside, call the fire department. Do not attempt to go back to the burning building.
4. Stop, Drop, and Roll
If your clothes caught fire, do not panic or touch the flame as it could only spread the fire. Stop moving, Drop on the
ground, and Roll around until the fire is put out. Doing this will lessen injuries and put out the fire as quickly as
possible.
5. National Emergency Hotline 911
Nothing is better than being prepared. Before fire happens, be aware of the fire exits in your building and homes.
Make sure you know the emergency numbers for your town or city.

What you should NOT do during a Fire Incident?

1. Don’t install smoke alarm detectors.
A smoke detector gives early warning of a fire increasing the chances of escape. They are so cheap and easy to fit
you can have no excuses
2. Pop upstairs to retrieve heirlooms, passports and pets.
Fire can spread very quickly blocking your escape route. Keep that sort of stuff on the ground floor.
3. Open doors that have smoke flowing from the joints.
Opening the door will add oxygen that will fuel the fire and cause a fireball that could take you off your feet for good.
A contained fire may burn out for lack of oxygen.
4. Throw water on a chip pan fire.
We all know that water doesn’t mix with oil. The burning oil will explode spreading the fire and engulfing you in the
process. If you are going to throw anything make it a purpose made fire blanket or use a class F extinguisher.
6. Try and escape using an Elevator.
The electric circuits are often the first to blow. Being trapped in an elevator in a fire could roast you alive. Always use
the stairwells.
7. Jump from an upstairs window.
The fall could kill you. Use blankets as a rope and throw mattresses out to cushion the landing or better still use a
purpose made escape ladder.
8. Hide in a cupboard or under the bed.
Hard enough for the fire service without having to play hide and seek and it won’t save you from the smoke and
heat.
9. Delay calling the Fire and Rescue Services.
Don’t dilly dally. Make them your first call to action. Seconds save lives.

Since fire is considered to be one of the disasters that may cause great damage to human beings, it is therefore
important that students like you will have the basic knowledge on how can you take part in the community’s drive
for your awareness. It is important that you have knowledge on fire safety and precautions in order for you to have
better idea on how to prevent it from happening.

School Fire Safety Education

 Educating and preparing students for a fire emergency should be a priority.
 Conduct expected and unexpected monthly school fire drills in which everyone participates.
 Inspect exits regularly to ensure stairways, doors and windows are unblocked and working properly.
 Train students on how to respond to a fire alarm during a school fire drill.
 Know locations of the fire protection system, fire alarm pull stations and sprinklers.
 Make sure every room has a map showing 2 exits.
 Pair students with specific needs to an adult or classmate for extra assistance.
 Have a predetermined location where students know to meet once they exit the building and practice during a
school fire drill.
 Have a list to ensure every student is accounted for.
 Encourage parents to practice home fire drills, and prepare them in the event of a residential fire.
On-Campus Fire Safety
 Cook only in designated areas.
 Keep cooking areas clean and free of clutter.
 Never leave cooking unattended.
 In case of a fire inside a microwave, close the door and unplug the unit.

Campus Laboratory Fire Safety

 Never leave laboratory experiments or pressure containers unattended.
 Keep flammable gases and chemicals away from heat.

Maintaining Your Computer Room to Prevent Fire

There are some things that you can do to prevent a fire from breaking out— in some cases, fire prevention is more
powerful than any fire protection system. If you put in place practices that all but eliminate any unintentional
fire emergency, you may never have to use your fire suppression system or evacuation plans.
1. Keep your computer room free of storage—storing combustible materials in your computer room can increase the
chance and spread of a fire. Keep minimal supplies in the area and store boxes, packaging, and manuals elsewhere.
2. Inspect power cords—frayed or damaged power cords increase the risk of fire, as a spark could easily ignite the
room. Check for damage and have repairs done immediately.
3. Maintain and clean computer systems—allowing dust and debris to settle on your equipment only adds to
flammable materials. Think of dust as kindling.
4. Train employees and display fire emergency plans—ensuring your employees know how to respond to a fire
(whether that means proper use of a fire extinguisher or immediately evacuating to safety) can save lives
and help prevent further damage.
5. Schedule regular inspection of your fire protection systems—your life safety and fire protection systems are only
effective if they are in working order. Schedule regular inspections with a local, professional fire protection company,
like State Systems Inc. They can ensure that your equipment is not only in working order but that it meets all local
and state fire codes.