Basic fire theory Flashcards
What makes up the Fire triangle?
Oxygen, heat, fuel.
What makes up the Fire tetrahedron?
oxygen, heat, fuel, chemical chain reaction
What is a class A fire?
A fire that’s fuel is a common solid material such as wood, rubber, paper, plastic, or grass.
What method of extinguishment do you use for a class A fire?
Water, type A and b foam, Extinguishing powerder,
What is a class B fire?
A fire that’s fuel is a flammable liquid such as petrol or petroleum.
What method of extinguishment do you use for a class B fire?
Class B foam, carbon dioxide, Extinguishing powders and Vaporisng liquids,,
What is a class C fire?
A fire that’s fuel is a flammable gas like natural gases or LPG.
What method of extinguishment do you use for a class C fire?
Turn off the supply or use a white band fire extinguisher
What is a class D fire?
A fire that’s fuel is a combustible metal like magnesium.
What method of extinguishment do you use for a class D fire?
It usually requires a special method of extinguishment, depending on the substance. It can be smothered sometimes.
What is a class (E) fire?
A fire that is caused by electricity.
Why is class (E) different from other classes of fires?
Electricity is heat, not fuel.
what method of extinguishment do you use for a class (E) fire?
Carbon dioxide and Vaporisng liquids mainly
Which of the following is safe to use on a Class E fire: Extinguishing powders, Foam class b, water.
Extinguishing powders
What is a class F fire?
A fire that’s fuel is a oil or fat.
What method of extinguishment do you use for a class F fire?
Wet chemicals.
Radiation=?
Heat that comes off the fire.
Convection=?
air currents created by rising heat.
How does Convection work?
Air comes down to replace the rising air, creating an indraft wind; this creates a convection column. This can cause a fire to supply its own oxygen and affect the fire’s behaviour if large enough.
Conduction=?
In a fire, conduction refers to the movement of heat through the fire.
The transfer of heat through solid objects i.e. metal.
Why is oxygen needed for a fire to burn?
It’s an element of the chain reaction.
What are the three Methods of exstugishing
Smothering is cutting off oxygen to a fire. A fire extinguisher, dirt/sand, or foam, hit it.
Cooling: cooling fuel down with water lower than its ignition point—target base of the fire.
Starving: removing fuel. Back burning, removing fuel and creating a control line. Dry firefighting
What are the 7 most common firefighting agents?
Water
Foam class a
Foam class b
Carbon dioxide
Extinguishing powders
Vaporisng liquids
Wet chemicals
