MODULE 1: WHAT IS FIRE ELEMENTS OF FIRE

Fire
1. Heat – ignition temperature
2. Fuel – combustible matter
The heat and light that comes (organic material, hydrocarbons)
from burning substances, 3. Oxidizing agent – the common
produced by the combustion of oxidizing agent is oxygen; others
substances. are bromates, iodine, nitric acid,
It is the manifestation of a rapid peroxides, chlorates, etc
chemical reaction occurring
between a combustible matter
Air is composed of: 21% oxygen, 78%
and an oxidizer. Such rapid nitrogen, 1% inert (inactive but are still
chemical reaction releases combustible) gases
energy in the form of heat and
light. When a substance burns, Fire Triangle
heat and light are
produced. Burning is also called A geometrical figure that
combustion. diagrams the relationship
between the three elements of
HOW ARE HEART AND LIGHT ARE fire. Each side of the triangle
PRODUCED represents an element, such that if
one side is missing then there is no
Fire (conflagration) is the common triangle; meaning fire cannot be
term of the burning process – the produced.
combustion of a fuel. Combustion
involves rapid oxidation.
If any of the elements are not
Oxidation (slow & rapid) available, the combustion does not
take place. Normally, oxygen is
The chemical reaction in which supplied by air, ignition temperature
oxygen chemically combines with can be provided by the ignition
the organic elements (fuel) of a device (like a flame), and any
combustible substance. combustible material (usually organic
matter) burns when heated by the
ignition device. Most combustible
Slow oxidation sometimes becomes
materials burn in the gaseous state
rapid. The rapid oxidation of material
only.
is chemically termed
as combustion. In some fuels, if the If there is a sufficient supply of oxygen,
heat during oxidation is not easily there is rapid oxidation resulting to
dissipated, the temperature gradually complete combustion. If the supply of
rises until the material automatically oxygen and vaporization of a matter
ignites. is sufficient combustion is
accompanied by heat and light. If
When this situation occurs, the
there is an insufficient supply of
material has undergone spontaneous
oxygen, there is smoldering fire. In a
combustion. Rags or papers
smoldering fire, no flames are
saturated or soaked with animal fat
manifested.
(or vegetable oil), if stored in confined
space where the heat of oxidation is To burn a fuel, its temperature must be
not dissipated fast enough, tend to raised (increased) until the ignition
undergo spontaneous combustion. point is reached. Thus, before a
combustible material starts to burn or
before it can be ignited, it has to be
exposed to a certain degree of It refers to the temperature at
temperature. When the temperature which spontaneous combustion
of a substance is very high, it releases takes place.
highly combustible vapors known It is usually much higher (in
as free radicals. temperature than the fire point).

THE THEORY OF FIRE

Flammable range or Explosive Range
Flash Point of a Fuel

The lowest / minimum It refers to the volume range

temperature at which a needed to burn or explode a fuel
substance gives off vapors that when it is ignited.
burn momentarily (when a flame
or spark is applied).

If a fuel’s temperature has reached its

flash point, then it can be instantly
ignited thus producing a momentary
fire. If its temperature still increases,
such that it continuously releases
combustible vapors, the condition
results in sustained burning
(combustion). Hence, the fuel is
deemed to have reached its fire
point.
Combustion
Fire Point may be in the form of:

The temperature at which the fuel 1. Glowing combustion (condense-

continues to burn after it has been phased combustion) – manifested
ignited – that even if the source of by embers
ignition has been removed, the 2. Gas- phased combustion – flame
fuel continues to burn. (blue / yellow/orange)

Fire Properties

If a substance automatically Physical properties

burns without any human or
mechanical intervention, the 1. Specific Gravity
temperature of the substance has 2. Vapor Density
been spontaneously increased until it 3. Vapor Pressure
reaches the auto-ignition point. 4. Temperature
5. Boiling Point
Auto-ignition / Self-Ignition Point 6. Fire Point
7. Flash Point
The lowest / minimum 8. Auto-ignition point – kindling
temperature at which a temperature
substance can be heated to
release vapors that will ignite Chemical properties
without the application of a flame
or spark. 1. Endothermic reaction
2. Exothermic reaction
3. Oxidation 6. Turbulent flame – rough flame (ex.
4. Combustion building/forest fire)
5. Flame

FLAME

The matter produced by the fire.

It is composed of burning Hydrocarbon
incandescent gases.
Any substance containing
It is manifested of fire when the fire
primarily carbon and hydrogen
is in its gas-phased combustion.
(water).
Requirements to Produce Flame
Pyrolysis
1. high temperature
It refers to the chemical process
2. reactants (fuel and oxidizer /
whereby fire consumes the most
gases / vapors)
solid part of the fuel.
3. the concentration of short-lived
It is the thermal decomposition of
intermediate chemical reaction
combustible matter.
between reactants
It is the chemical decomposition
of a solid fuel through the action
Types of Flames of heat.
1. According to color and
completeness of combustion Free radicals – combustible vapors
a. Luminous flame such as:
reddish-orange in color
1. hydrogen gas
it deposits soot because it is a 2. carbon dioxide
product of incomplete 3. carbon monoxide (most
combustion hazardous) – can cause asphyxia
It has a lower temperature 4. nitrogen

2. Non-luminous flame Two Basic Modes of Fire

bluish in color 1. Flaming mode

it does not deposit soot because it
is a product of complete It is represented by the fire
combustion tetrahedron – a four-sided figure
it has a higher temperature than with the sides representing fuel,
luminous flame temperature, oxygen, and the
uninhibited chemical chain
1. According to burning fuel and air reaction.
mixture
2. Premixed flame – e.g. flame of a 2. Surface or Smoldering Mode
Bunsen Burner or LPG
3. Diffused flame – e.g. flame of the It is represented by the fire triangle
oxyacetylene torch (ethyl alcohol with the three sides representing
lamp) fuel, temperature, and oxygen.
4. Based on smoothness
5. Laminar flame – smooth flame (ex. MODULE 2: EVOLUTION OF FIRE
from a candle)
Early humans used fire to warm He stole fire from the gods, gave it
themselves, cook food, and frighten to man, and taught him many
away predators. Sitting around a fire useful arts and sciences.
may have helped unite and
strengthen family groups and speed Early Fire Making Techniques
the evolution of early society. Fire
enabled our human ancestors to 1. Rubbing together pieces of flint
travel out of warm, equatorial regions that could produce sparks that
and, eventually spread throughout would set fire to wood shavings.
the world. But fire also posed great 2. Rubbing together pieces of wood
risks and challenges to early people, until the wood produced a hot
including the threat of burns, the powder that could light kindling
challenge of controlling fire, the 3. Adaptation of the bow and drill
greater challenge of starting a fire, which consisted of a block of
and the threat of wildfires. wood and a stick that was fixed in
the looped string of a small,
As early civilizations
curved bow.
developed, people discovered more
4. Use of wood piston to compress
uses of fire. They used fire to provide
air inside a bamboo tube that
light, to make better tools, and as a
contained wood shavings.
weapon in times of war. Early religions
Compressed air became
often included fire as a part of their
increasingly hotter, eventually
rituals, reflecting its importance to
igniting the shavings.
society. Early myths focused on fire’s
5. Use of tinderbox – moisture-proof,
power.
metal carrying case held tinder,
In ancient Greece and later, usually charred cotton or linen
the fire was considered one of the cloth, and pieces of steel and flint.
four basic elements, a substance from Striking the steel and flint together
which all things were composed. Its produced a spark that lighted the
great importance to humans, the tinder.
mystery of its powers, and its seeming 6. Tinderbox that operates like a
capriciousness has made fire divine or present-day cigarette lighter in
sacred to many people. Fire as a god which the rotary motion of a
is a characteristic feature of metal wheel against flint set off
Zoroastrianism, in which, as in many sparks in tinder.
sun-worshiping religions, fire is 7. Development of phosphorus
considered the earthly representative match. (mid 19th century)
or type of the sun.
Uses of Fire
Vesta
Prehistoric Uses of Fire
Roman goddess of the hearth
To honor Vesta, the high priest of 1. Hunter-gatherers (people who
the Roman religion periodically lived by hunting and gathering
chose six priestesses called Vestal wild food) made use of fire so that
Virgins who were responsible to they can remain active after the
keep the holy fire going in a sunset, protect themselves from
community hearth. predators, warm themselves,
cook, and make better tools.
Prometheus 2. Source of light by taking
advantage of the glow of wood-
Fire bearer
burning fires to continue their
 activities after dark and inside release energy through the fission
their dwelling. (splitting) or fusion (joining together) of
3. Enabled people to make better atoms.
weapons and tools.
In the fire triangle, fuel is one of
People learned to control fire the vital elements needed to produce
by blowing at it through reed pipes. fire. To burn fuel, it must be heated to
its ignition point.
Then they used this technique to burn
hollows in logs to create cradles, General Categories of Fuels
bowls, and canoes.
1. Solid combustible materials
Fires in Early Civilizations – includes organic or inorganic,
natural or synthetic, and metallic
1. Artisans first used fire to make solid materials.
pottery and bricks. 2. Liquid combustible materials
2. Ancient people developed - includes all flammable liquid
improved devices for using fire to fuels and chemicals.
provide light 3. Gaseous substances – includes
3. The use of candles made of yarn those toxic hazardous gases that
or dry brushes dipped in animal are capable of ignition.
fat.
Classification of Combustible
Modern Uses of Fire Materials

1. Used in appliances that rely on fire 1. Class A Fuels (can cause Class A
to operate fires)
2. Used to supplement the main
heating system in their homes Ordinary combustible materials
3. Used over campfires that are usually made of organic
4. Used to manufacture products substances such as wood and
and dispose of waste wood-based products
5. Used in incinerators to destroy It includes some of those synthetic
garbage and/or inorganic materials like
6. Fire also heat large boilers to rubber, leather, and plastics.
generate steam which then
powers large turbines. 2. Class B Fuels (can cause Class B
7. Used in power plants to generate fires)
electricity
8. Used as a weapon in times of war Materials that are in the form of
(catapult) flammable liquids such as alcohol,
acidic substances, oil, and other
MODULE 3: FUELS chemicals such as those liquid
petroleum products.
FUELS (COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS)
3. Class C Fuels (can cause Class C
Most fuels release energy by fires)
burning with oxygen in the air. But
some, especially chemical fuels used
Normally fire-resistant materials
in rockets, need special oxidizers in
Materials used in electrical wiring
order to burn. Oxidizers are
and other electrical appliances
compounds that contain
oxygen. Nuclear fuels do not burn but
4. Class D Fuels (can cause Class D
fires)

Combustible metallic substances

such as magnesium, titanium,
zirconium, sodium and potassium

5. Class K – Kitchen fires

A new classification as of 1998

and involves fires in combustible
cooking fuels such as vegetable
or animal fats.