Fire Control & Fire Fighting

Techniques

Fire Facts

FUEL: Paper, wood, oil, solvents, gas,

etc.
HEAT: The degree necessary to
vaporize, fuel according to its nature.
OXYGEN: Normally at least 15% of
oxygen in the air is required to sustain a
fire. The greater the concentration of
oxygen, the brighter the blaze and the
more rapid the combustion.
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Types of Fires & Control

Fires are classified into Four types:

Class A: Fires generally combustible e.g.
wood, paper, cloth or rubbish are
usually controlled by cooling e.g. using
water to cool the material.
Class B: Fires generally liquids e.g.
gasoline, oil, grease, paint are usually
smothered by oxygen control using
foam, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical.

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Types of Fires & Control

Class C: Fires due to gases such as

Methane, Ethane, LPG, Acetylene, are
usually smothered by dry powder &
CO2.

Class D: Fires erupt due to

combustible elements such as
magnesium, lithium or sodium and
require special extinguishers and
techniques.

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How to Prevent Fire

Know where fire extinguishers are kept?

What each is for and how to use them?
Maintain a neat, clean work area and
prevent accumulation of rubbish?
Put oil-soaked and paint-soaked rags in
covered metal containers.
Observe all no-smoking signs.

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How To Prevent Fire contd.

Keep fire doors, exits, stairs, aisles, fire lanes

and fire fighting equipment clear of obstruction.
Keep all flammable materials away from
furnaces an other sources of ignition.
Report any fire hazards that are beyond your
control, especially electrical hazards, which are
the source of many fires.
Obey no smoking signs, dispose of cigarettes
and matches by placing them in the proper
receptacles, and make sure they are
extinguished.

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How To Prevent Fire contd.

We should watch for frayed electrical cords and

overloaded circuits and dispose of flammables waste
and scrap by placing them in metal containers.
Store combustibles in safe area.
Remove combustible materials and fumes from
paint, solvents and other flammables.
If you should ever have occasion to dispose of
flammable liquids, dont pour them down the drain.
If you should have to burn waste paper, make sure it
doesnt contain explosive materials such as aerosol
or paint cans.

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How To Prevent Fire contd.

Fire alarm procedures my be reviewed.

Proper maintenance procedures are
important to fire safety.
Keep mechanical equipment properly
lubricated to avoid excessive friction.
Ensure heater used in the workplace is
away from flammable materials and
cannot be tipped over.

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Leading Causes of Industrial

Fires

Electrical failure
Misuse of electrical equipment
Friction
Foreign substances
Open flames
Smoking Matches

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Result of Fire

Industrial fires result not only in

economic lost but in much human
suffering as well.
Damage to Infrastructure
Loss of valuables

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How To React The Fires

Set off the alarm

Leave the area if the fire is too big to
handle
Deal with a small fire
Know your fire exits
Do not use the elevator but the staircase
When leaving, crawl on your hands and
knees to the exits

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PREPARING FOR DISASTER

Familiarize yourself with the disaster plan review it

frequently.
Know what action you and others working in your
immediate environment should take in response to
the various types of disaster in the plan.
Participate in emergency / disaster drills ; they are
very important part of planning for disasters.
In fact, the very best plans may not be helpful at all if
they are not rehearsed.
In the event that a disaster does occur, carry out your
responsibilities as indicated by the disaster plan
without delay; be alert for additional instructions.

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DRY FIREFIGHTING TECHNIQUES

Generally we use water which has the

primary effect of cooling the fuel.
This describes techniques used when
water is scarce, and use of water is not
possible.
Track crews also work on the other two
sides of the fire triangle, removing air
(smother) or fuel (clearing) to control fire.
Effectiveness depends greatly on hard
work, diligence and experience.

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FIRELINE CONSTRUCTION
Tools
Shovel - beating, digging, scraping, delimbing
light branches, throwing soil
Slasher - cutting light fuels for tracks
Fire rake - scraping tool with serrated cutting
edge used for removing surface fuels
McLeod tool - scraping and grubbing into
surface fuels
Axe - felling small trees and removing branches
Chainsaw - fell scrub and small trees for fire
line construction.
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Safe Handling of Tools

Carry tools at waist level, blade forward

Keep 3 metres apart when carrying or using
pass tools handle first
Ensure handles fit tightly and are free of
splinters
Cover cutting edges when not in use
Keep cutting edges sharp
Dont leave tools where they can be stepped on
secure tools when transporting
Use correct safety equipment - helmets, gloves,
chaps, ear muffs
Maintain communication with rest of crew

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SUPPRESSION TECHNIQUES

Progressive Method
The most effective way of using hand tools
on the perimeter of a fire is to work the
progressive or one lick method.
This involves the firefighters each only
doing part of the required job, then stepping
on to let the following firefighters finish it
off.
The lead firefighter may get greater heat
exposure as a consequence, and rotation
steady pace so that the suppression can be
maintained for a long period, and so that
safety is not jeopardized through tiredness.
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Direct Suppression

A fire usually has a well-defined edge and can

burn very slowly or very fast depending on
conditions.
In the latter, hand tools are ineffective.
The litter then burns through the underneath
heating the tops until they suddenly burst into
flames
Thus repeating the process.
The best time to tackle the fire is when it is at
the ground stage by beating/smothering the
litter.
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Water from the Regas is used sparingly to

douse fire in the crown of the gorse;
alternatively, loose soil may be thrown to
quell the flames.
This reduces the heat and prolongs the time
during which the shovels can be used at
close hand to deal with the flames in the
ground stage.
Whenever possible, Regas should be filled
from the houseline, if one is in operation or
from streams.
Using the progressive method, the last
firefighter must be careful to watch for hot
spots that have been missed.
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Parallel/Indirect Suppression
Strip of vegetation around the fire edge to help
contain the fire.
Control lines are natural or constructed barriers
(rivers, roads, barren areas and fire breaks) that
help to contain the fire.
The most effective type of construction:
anchors to control lines
avoid heavy fuels
take easiest route
take shortest possible route
cut across fire edge bays
avoid steep slopes, and trenching needs

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