1

CONTENTS PAGE

Abstract………………………………………………………………….….……………………………3
Scientific reaction costing lives….………………………….…..…….…………………………………3
How do we counter fires?..........................................................................................................................................4
Education…………….…………………..……………………………………………………….4
Joining Programs………….….….……………………………………………………….………4
Change in Infrastructure………………………………………………………………………….4
The effect that we can bring about if implemented…………………………………………………….5
Better chances to tackle accidents………………………………………………………….…….5
Survival Training and Reward System……………………………………………………….…...5
New Building, Same Old Life……………………………….……………………………………6
Conclusion………………………………………………………….………………………………….....6
References………………………………………………………….…………………………………….7

Figures

Figure 1………………………………………….………….……………………….……………………5
Figure 2…………………………………………………………….……….……………………….……5
Figure 3………………………………………………………………….…….……………………….…6

2
Abstract

Stop anyone on the streets and ask them this simple question, “Do you know how to start a fire?”. Every
single person would be able to answer that in mere seconds. But on asking ways to extinguish fires, the
same person would either say “Use water” or “Use sand”. But what if you don’t have either of those
around you? Fire is dangerous and most of them take it for granted just because we think we have tamed
fire. Fire isn’t an animal to be tamed. It’s a phenomenon and a great one at that. Research showed that on
an average, 7 people die every day due to fire accidents. It also said, 3000 people die every year to
Home fires that were either caused due to carelessness or poor infrastructure. This paper discusses in
detail on what fire is capable of. It offers a detailed view at what damages fires have caused and will
cause in the future. Our only option is to come up with ways to prevent such incidents. This paper also
shares a few methods that can/need to be implemented to help in the cause.

Scientific reaction costing lives

Fire is a beautiful phenomenon when thought about. Stephen J Pyne has his own description of the kindled
flame. “What we all fail to appreciate is how a candle’s flame spreads downwards into tallow, a
campfire flame sinks deeper into its larger logs, a hearth’s flame spreads into new wood stacked upon it.
A Bunsen burners flame appears to hold steady only because new gases are rising through it (Stephen J
Pyne)”. Fire is dangerous and not to be played with. People are not scared when it comes to fire and this
is what making them careless. We humans try to tame fire, what we don’t realize is that fire has existed
before early man and that’s why we say “Fire was discovered by early man” and not invented. There
have been fires before man has lived. We homo sapiens aren’t the only means a fire can start. “For over
420 million years, the overwhelming source of ignition was lightning, as bolts blasted away at plants like
the gouged conifer in the Desierto, some fraction of which kindled into flame (Stephen J Pyne)”.
Human interaction is what has triggered fire to reach places it’s never been. When we acquired the
capacity to start fires, we became the keystone species in fire’s ecology. We have commandeered fire
and that has disrupted its patterns through which it has flourished. We are rarely taught about fire. We
understand it within the context of other disciples. Its oxidation reaction is examined in chemistry. Its
heating mechanisms belong to physics or mechanical engineering in particular. Its buoyant smoke and
plumes rise out of meteorology. Its ecological effects descend from biology. Closed combustion belongs in
engineering; open burning in forestry. The only fire department in a university is the one that sends out
emergency vehicles when an alarm is sounded. Hence our definition is based on where we site the subject.
This lack of proper education regarding fires is what causes people to be lost during a real incident. Just
performing fire drills isn’t enough. Fire drills are staged to some extent, but fires aren’t. Fires don’t come
prepared and we’re not talking about would fires, just simple basic fires should do. Proper training is
mandatory. Most people don’t know what to do other than spraying a fire extinguisher. Fire extinguishers
don’t work on all fires, because there are different types of fires based on what caused them. Another
failsafe we depend on a lot are the water sprinklers in buildings. But sometimes poor infrastructure or poor
maintenance won’t set them off and then all you have left is a blank brain to depend on. We can’t always
depend on machines and hence we need to address these issues.

3
How do we counter fires?

Education
From the past decade, schools have made it mandatory to conduct fire drills. Although the drills are aimed
to train students to evacuate in orderly manner, in reality, they’re not applicable as students undergo the
drills carelessly as they know that it’s just for practice. The teachers are already informed that there is
going to be a practice drill on that day and the teachers are more attentive. But what if there was a
surprise drill. Surprise drills are a great way to train youngsters. Fire drills should also be implemented in
workplaces because there is a lot of electronical equipment in there and a lot of fires have proved to be
emerged from electrical failures. Frequent visits from Fire Marshalls who would train everyone with the
basic emergency protocols and with some methods on how to improve efficiency and effectiveness in
avoiding fire accidents should be arranged as expert advice is always needed.

Joining Programs
There a vast number of organizations that work on fire damage control and spread awareness on how one
can avoid fire based accidents. These programs are designed to provide adequate training and perform
firsthand experience. Some offer courses that are aimed towards teaching Fire and Life Safety courses
that review tips in greater depth and provide people with hands on fire extinguishing experience. Our
organization has five programs that are designed to do this. Project FAIL-SAFE is a series of coordinated
research projects that are conducted in an effort to provide quantifiable data to better understand the
relationship between multiple layers of fore safety features and occupant survivability. We also offer
training to fire marshals, emergency responders to effectively manage pipeline incidents. which aim to
produce significant safety results in terms of industry, public safety and improved emergency response
tactics. It is based upon nationally recognized engineering practices, recommended operating procedures,
and training programs.

Change in Infrastructure
Fire generally isn’t large scale to start with. They start small and then grow into this devastating
phenomenon that destroys everything in its path. For fires to grow, they need fuel. And in most cases, it’s
your surroundings that act as fuel to fire. Like the wood your houses are made of. Poor infrastructure of
houses generally collapse almost immediately during fires and can become the cause of death.
Additionally, the debris left by is harmful to breath. We propose that houses be checked by a fire marshal
to confirm whether the house you’re living in, is safe and can withstand a basic house fire or buy enough
time for the residents to evacuate safely. Not only houses, but workplaces, commercial places should also
get their buildings/infrastructure checked. Smoke alarms and water showers should be frequently installed
so that the fire can be extinguished quickly. Building materials nowadays aren’t pure. They contain some
other chemicals that cause the walls to fall easily.

4
Figure 1: Above image shows how devastating fire can be on houses. Source: Click Me!

The effects that we can bring about if implemented

Better Chances to Tackle Accidents

Once implementing proper education and training exercises in schools,
children will be able to react to situations quickly. These drills would aim at
increasing one’s analyzing skills and decisive skills to make proper
judgements. We all do better when we experience it beforehand. And
that’s why I propose surprise un-staged drills where the rumor of fire is
spread and students would evacuate without hesitating. The benefits of
firefighting as a job would also be listed giving rise to young students to
join the Fire Nation and protect those in need for there is no “too much”
when it comes to fire fighters. The importance of fires would spike the
charts and as a result the number of casualties would decrease radically. Figure 2: This above image provides a generic
but informative way of teaching students their
way around fires. Source: Click Me!

Survival Training and Reward System

We all love rewards and awards and aspire to bag most of them. Most of the training programs
mentioned would give out official certificates stating the amount of work put by an individual in these
programs. The care-free attitude of humans would not be so “care-free” because being alert is something
these programs teach. Most of the scenarios included in the program are designed to cover a wide range
of potential incidents, while allowing responders to work through them using the resources available to
them, thus allowing them the tools they need for their individual toolbox should such an event occur. The
experiments will also provide critical insight into methods of increasing building and business resiliency
when exposed to the effects of a fire event. The Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services have taken a similar
approach. Their goal is to encourage everyone to learn how to be safe around fore to reduce the risk of
fire incidents so that your home, your business, your family and your friends, are all protected. Their
courses are taught by trainers who have had years of direct experience as emergency first responders.

5
Their experience gives us a better perspective on issues related to fire protection, fire prevention, and life
safety.

New Building, Same Old Life

Proper infrastructure is very important and implementing this has to be top priority. Houses fall down
almost immediately after a fire accident and the cost of restoring them is so high that one can almost buy a
new house altogether. The damages caused and loss of items can be coped up by investing more into
better materials when constructing these houses or workplaces. Proper fire exits, floor plans are very
important. Especially getting the floor plans checked with experts/fire marshals so that they can suggest
an easier and convenient fire exit. A fire can spread extremely quick, engulfing a home in a matter of
minutes. Smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan will provide time for you to get out safely. Installation
of smoke alarms is very mandatory as most fires happen at night when people are asleep. Without smoke
alarms, you have little chance of getting out alive.

Figure 3. Above chart shows the cause for most of the house fires. Source: https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-
research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Home-Cooking-Fires

Conclusion

Mankind has known fire since the early days and has made his quest to tame fire since. Just because, we
can ignite something with a flick of a matchstick, or at the press of a button, doesn’t justify our way of using
fire. There have been many casualties due to fire and this paper only discusses a few. There are other
ways how fire can be vicious and it’s up to us to take precautions. With the solutions offered, there is sure
to be a big change in the number of fire accidents. Schooling starts from home, and it’s the duty of parents
to teach their kids to not touch something they don’t know. A similar rule should be followed by everyone,
even though we are all past that stage as at least that will keep us in check. As we homo sapiens learn
more about fire, we will sure come to make new methods of exploiting and it won’t be long before we
read other headlines about a fire accident and how fire marshals couldn’t reach on time.

6
References

“Home Cooking Fires.” NFPA Report - Home Cooking Fires, www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-

research-and-tools/US-Fire-Problem/Home-Cooking-Fires.

“National Association of State Fire Marshals.” National Association of State Fire Marshals,
www.firemarshals.org/.

Pyne, Stephen J. Fire: Nature and Culture. Reaktion, 2012.

Vancouver, City of. “The Real World Dangers of Fire.” City of Vancouver, RedDot CMS, 6 Feb. 2012,
vancouver.ca/home-property-development/the-real-world-dangers-of-fire.aspx.