Fire Safety &

Fire Extinguisher Use

 Objectives
• Understand the combustion process and
different fire classes

• Understand fire extinguisher types, operating

procedures

• Understand basic firefighting concepts:

oR.A.C.E.
oP.A.S.S.
 What is Fire?
– Fire is a
chemical chain
reaction
combining
three
elements:
Fuel, Heat and
Oxygen.
3
4
 E.g. 1 Because the Oxygen
The Fire on the Wh is not there. itmeans if one of
candle goes off the element fromthe fire
when it is covered y? triangle is removed and the
by something…….. fire goes off

5
 Fire Classes

A Trash Wood Paper B Liquids Grease

• wood • gasoline
• paper • oil
• cloth • grease
• etc. • other solvents

C Electrical Equipment • magnesium

COMBUSTIBLE
• sodium
• computers
• potassium
• fax machine
D • titanium
• other energized
• other
electrical equip.
flammable
METALS metals
 Fire Classes (cont.)

CLASS K FIRES

• Recently recognized by NFPA 10

• Fires involving combustible oils,
lards and fats in commercial
cooking.

K Cooking Media
 Fire Extinguisher Anatomy
PRESSURE GAUGE
DISCHARGE LEVER (not found on CO2
extinguishers)

DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN CARRYING

AND SEAL HANDLE

DISCHARGE HOSE

DATA PLATE

DISCHARGE NOZZLE BODY

DISCHARGE ORIFICE
Fire Extinguisher Types
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper
PRESSURIZED WATER
• Class “A” fires only
• 2.5 gal. water
(up to 1 minute discharge time)
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease • Has pressure gauge to allow visual
capacity check
• 30-40 ft. maximum effective range
• Can be started and stopped as
C Electrical Equipment
necessary
C Electrical Equipment
• Extinguishes by cooling burning
material below the ignition point.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
CARBON DIOXIDE (CO2)
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

• Class “B” or “C” fires

• 2.5-100 lb. of CO2
(8-30 seconds discharge time)
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease • Has NO pressure gauge--capacity
verified by weight
• 3-8 ft. maximum effective range
• Extinguishes by smothering burning
C Electrical Equipment
materials
C Electrical Equipment

• Effectiveness decreases as
temperature of burning material
increases.
Fire Extinguisher Types (cont.)
MULTIPURPOSE DRY CHEMICAL
A Trash Wood Paper
A Trash Wood Paper

• Class “A”, “B”, or “C” fires

• 2.5-20 lb. dry chemical
(ammonium phosphate)
8-25 seconds discharge
time)
B Liquids Grease
B Liquids Grease

• Has pressure gauge to allow

visual capacity check
• 5-20 ft. maximum effective
range
C Electrical Equipment
C Electrical Equipment

• Extinguishes by smothering
burning materials.
 Fire Ball

SMBBTC Fire and Safety Department 13

EXTINGUISHERS
SUMMARY

14
 Fire Extinguisher Summary
EXTINGUISHER TYPE WORKS BY EFFECTIVE AGAINST

PRESSURIZED
COOLING
WATER

CARBON
SMOTHERING
DIOXIDE

MULTIPURPOSE
SMOTHERING
DRY CHEMICAL
 Fire Emergency Response

R Rescue

A Alarm

C Contain

E Extinguish
 The RACE Rule
Rescue -yourself & the nearby patient (If Possible)
Alarm- locate the break glass to initiate fire alarm;
or shout “FIRE, FIRE, FIRE “loudly at the top of your
voice Large Fire -Get to the nearest telephone line, and
specify the location of the fire

Confine the fire- shut doors, remove flammable material

away on exiting –if possible –ie waste paper bins
Extinguish/Evacuate-Use the right extinguisher to put
out the fire –only use if
trained. Find nearer safe exit from thebuilding & leave if
advised.

17
 How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

THE PASS METHOD

P Pull the pin

A Aim at base of fire

S Squeeze top handle

S Sweep to the base side toside

SMBBTC Fire and Safety Department 18

 WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A FIRE ??
• Know department emergency procedures and evacuation routes
• Know locations of extinguishers in your area and how to use them
• Always sound the alarm regardless of fire size
• Avoid smoky conditions
• Ensure area is evacuated
• Don’t attempt to fight unless:
o Alarm is sounded
o Fire is small and contained
o You have safe egress route (can be reached without exposure to fire)
o Available extinguishers are rated for size and type of fire
• If in doubt, evacuate!

“DON’T ATTEMPT TO FIGHT UNLESS YOU ARE TRAINED”

 Response in a Fire Emergency
• FIRST: GET OUT OF THE BUILDING. THEN CALL SHOU FIRE ,
FIRE , FIRE.
• Gases in smoke can disorient an adult in under a minute.
• Do not assume anyone else has already called the fire
• department. If you get a chance to call, do so.
• Calling your friends & family may not be of immediate
help. It
• can wait. Call them once you are safe.
• Stay calm when you call fire brigade. Give the information
they
• request like precise floor no, street, landmarks, intensity of
fire.
• Your safety & well being is more important than posting on
twitter /facebook. Be alert, save your phone
• battery. Tweet when you are out of the crisis safely.
 When You notice a fire In Your Office

• Sound the fire alarm. SHOUT “FIRE FIRE FIRE FIRE”

• Fight the fire if you are competent and if safe to do so
• Evacuate as per normal fire procedure
• Leave the building immediately. Use the nearest exit
• DO NOT use elevators/lifts. Always use emergency stairs.
• Walk quickly but don’t run. STAY CALM.
• Close doors behind you (if no one else is evacuating)
• Do not delay your exit trying to collect your belongings
• Assemble at the fire assembly point. Report to fire officers
• Do not go home. Rescuers need to ensure that all
occupants are safely out of the building & are accounted
for.
• Do not return inside the building until told to do so
 Response in a Fire Emergency
If you are stuck in a room & there is a fire outside the door
• Feel the door with the back of your hand (more nerve
endings,
• more sensitive to touch). If the door feels warm to the
touch, DO
• NOT attempt to open it. Stay in the room.
• If you are stuck in a room & there is a fire outside the
door
• Stuff the cracks around the door with wet towels, rags,
bedding and cover vents to keep smoke out.
• Fire is attracted to oxygen & a room not on fire has more
oxygen than a room on fire.
• Call fire department & tell them exactly where you are
located.
• Wait at a window and signal for help with by waving a
bright cloth.
• If possible, open the window at the top and bottom, but
do not break it, you may need to close the window if
smoke rushes in.
 Fire Safety & Fire Extinguisher Use

Summary
• Combustion Process (Fire Triangle)
• Class A, B, C, D, K fires
• Types of portable fire extinguishers:

o Operating procedures
o Capabilities and limitations

• Basic firefighting concepts: R.A.C.E.

P.A.S.S.
 Quiz Question 1
• Fire extinguisher marked with an A is used on:

• A) oil fires
• B) Electrical fires
• C) paper material fires
• D) none of the above
 Quiz Question 2
• Fire extinguishers marked with a B can be used on:

• A) Paper, trash
• B) Oil or Grease
• C) Electrical
• D) Non of the above
 Quiz addendum
• How else you can kill a grease fire?

A) Smother
B) Baking Soda
C) A&B
 Quiz Question 3
• Fire extinguisher marked ABC can be used on:

• A) Wood, Paper
• B) Electrical
• C) Liquids and grease
• D) All of the above
 Quiz Question 4
• Fire Extinguishers marked with D are used for

• A) Combustible chemicals
• B) Magnesium
• C) Potassium
• D) other flammable metals
• E) all of the above
 Quiz Question 5
• For what fires is a CO2 Fire Extinguisher being used?

• Solid Materials
• Liquid Fires
• Electrical Appliances
• All of them