Methods of Fire Extinction

What is Fire?

The Fire Triangle Fire is a chemical reaction known as combustion which occurs when fuel and oxygen are bought together with sufficient heat to cause ignition. A simple representation of this is the "fire triangle" which shows the components required for fire to occur.

Methods of Fire Extinction

Fire can be extinguished if any one of the three components necessary for an outbreak of fire to occur is removed. Three basic methods are employed:

Removal of Heat (Cooling) Water is most commonly used for cooling a fire. It has great heat absorbing properties. Cooling by water will extinguish a fire by absorbing more heat than the fire is generating.

Removal of Fuel (Starving) A fire will go out if deprived of its fuel supply. A fire caused by a gas leak can be extinguished by turning off the gas. If pallets are stacked in the open, rather than against a warehouse wall, they will eventually burn out, leaving the warehouse and its contents out of danger.

Removal oR Limitation of Oxygen (blanketing and smothering) A fire can be extinguished by removing or limiting its oxygen supply. It is not necessary to completely remove the supply of oxygen, a reduction of oxygen below 6% is sufficient to extinguish a fire. Examples of this method of extinguishing are: Snuffing out a candle Placing a lid on a chip pan fire Closing doors and windows - a fire in a room may burn itself out