FIRE SAFETYBasic Introduction

fire [ˈfi(-ə)r ] noun fire is a rapid oxidation process that creates light, heat, and

smoke, and varies in intensity. it is commonly used to describe either a fuel in a state of combustion (e.g., a campfire, or a lit fireplace or stove) or a violent, destructive and uncontrolled

burning (e.g., in buildings)

What is Fire

Fire, the common term given to the combustion reaction which results from interaction of HEAT + FUEL + OXYGEN. This combination is called ‘Triangle of Fire’.

Fuels involved can be in three states: SOLID, LIQUID, GAS.

HEAT, SMOKE, LIGHT, GASES are by-products of the reaction.

Triangle of Fire

Flashover

Growth Development Decay

TEMPERATURE

Ignition

Timeline of a Fire

Fires are very difficult to control once it crosses the flashover stage. Therefore, calling fire brigade ASAP makes all the difference

Types of FireClass A – SolidsSolid combustibles like Wood, Paper, Cloth, Rubbish, Plastics

Class B – LiquidsLiquids like Gasoline, Oil, Petrol, Diesel, Grease, Acetone

Class C – GasesGases like LPG, Methane, Propane

Class D – MetalsMetals like potassium, sodium, aluminum, magnesium

Class E – ElectricalFires involving electricity and electrical components

Stages of Fires

Initial Stage Blaze Stage (0 Seconds to 10 Minutes) (Over 10 Minutes)

TIME FACTORIncipient Stage Blaze Stage

Class A 0 -10 Minutes Over 10 MinutesClass B 0 -1 Minutes Over 1 MinuteClass C 0 - 30 Seconds Over 30 SecondsClass E Leads To a Fire of any above classes

Fire ExtinguishersFire extinguishers put out fires by taking away one or more elements from the ‘triangle of fire’.

Oxygen Removed“SMOTHERING”

Fuel Removed“STARVING”

Heat Removed“COOLING”

REMEMBER: Extinguishers Will have a label indicating what type of fire it can extinguish. Not all extinguishers can be used for all types of fires.

DO NOT USE AN EXTINGUISHER IF YOU DON’T KNOW ITS USE OR HOW TO USE IT

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

Pull the pin

Aim at base of fire

Squeeze top handle

PASSSweep from side to side

Remember the PASS method

Which Extinguisher to Use?ABC (Powder based)ABC (Powder based)

Which Extinguisher to Use?

DCP(Powder based)DCP(Powder based)

Which Extinguisher to Use?CO2 (Gas based)CO2 (Gas based)

Which Extinguisher to Use?WCO2 (Water based)WCO2 (Water based)

Which Extinguisher to Use?AFFF(Foam based)AFFF(Foam based)

But…All these are good in Offices. What about my Home?

Fire Safety in your HomeInvest in one or more Domestic fire extinguishers & place them in an easy to reach place in the Kitchen or any other prominent area.

Cease Fire is a notable company which supplies these extinguishers. It can be used for all fires.

Cost ranges from Rs.600 – Rs.5000.

If you feel its expensive, think of the money you might lose in a fire!

NOTE: Ensure you buy ABC Powder type.

Tackling a Fire at HomeIf you do not have a fire extinguisher at home, here are some tips to tackle fires:

Kitchen Fire: If a vessel with oil or any cooking item catches fire• DO NOT POUR WATER. • SWITCH OFF the stove• COVER THE TUMBLER/PAN WITH A LID so oxygen is cut off.

When you pour water, oil will float on it aggravating the fire and hot liquid/flames might splash on you.

If you cannot cover the tumbler with a lid• Take all the BAKING SODA you can and splash it on the fire.

IF IN DOUBT – GET OUT! Dial 101

Tackling a Fire at HomeElectrical Fire: When any electrical equipment starts to give out sparks /smoke, immediately SWITCH OFF THE MAINS /SWITCH. DO NOT POUR WATER ON ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

If the mains/ switch itself is on fire, wear rubber slippers/boots, wrap a newspaper in the form of a tube, and BEAT THE AREA OF MAINS/SWITCH ON FIRE. This is called “beating the fire”. Imagine you holding a newspaper and hitting someone. Same thing.

Do not mess around with electricity. Its deadly.

Once any switch/wiring is on fire & is extinguished, call an electrician to check the integrity of the remaining circuit.

IF IN DOUBT – GET OUT! Dial 101

Fire Safety at HomeIf you smell LPG in your house• Turn off the gas and open all the windows. • DO NOT turn off/turn on any electrical appliances/switch.• If possible, take the cylinder out of the house. Carefully.• Call your gas supplier for further assistance.

If you are cooking something in the kitchen• Do not leave it unattended.• Have proper ventilation• Ensure Kitchen Exhaust fans/chimneys are cleaned regularly to remove any residual grease. This can easily catch fire.• Use protective clothing /tools to handle hot utensils.

Do not overload electrical sockets. One socket = one equipment

Response in a Fire Emergency

ABSENCE OF BODY IS BETTER

PRESENCE OF MIND IS GOOD

Response in a Fire Emergency• FIRST: GET OUT OF THE BUILDING. THEN CALL FIRE BRIGADE. 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. No, seriously. Be alert, save your phone battery. Tweet when you are out of the crisis safely.

Response in a Fire EmergencyIn Your OfficeEvery office has to comply with the legal requirement to have an emergency response protocol. Get in touch with your office management & ask for company policy on emergencies.

After you read this, walk around your office premises and make note of the emergency exit paths and doors. They should NEVER be blocked or locked. Your mind will not work normally during crisis. Presence of mind & Knowledge helps.

Actively participate in any safety training arranged by your office. NEVER HESTITATE to ask questions or demand for an emergency plan. After all, its is a matter of your safety & life.

Response in a Fire Emergency

• 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

When You notice a fire:

In Your Office

Response in a Fire Emergency

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 brigade & tell them exactly where you are located. Do this even if you can see fire brigade on the street below.• Wait at a window and signal for help with a flashlight or 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.• Be patient. Rescuing all the occupants of a high-rise building can take several hours.

Response in a Fire EmergencyIf you are stuck in a room & there is a fire outside the door

• If the door is not warm to the touch, attempt to open the door, brace your body against the door while staying low to the floor and slowly open it a crack. What you are doing is checking for the presence of smoke or fire in the hallway.• If there is no smoke in the hallway or stairwells, follow your building’s evacuation plan.• Cover your nose & mouth with a wet cloth.• Always crawl or keep your head as low as possible, since smoke is lighter and will be high above the ground. Inhaling smoke is as dangerous as getting stuck in a fire.• If you don’t hear the building’s fire alarm, pull the nearest fire alarm “pull station” while exiting the floor.• If you encounter heavy smoke or flames on your way out, immediately return to your office.

Response in a Fire EmergencyIf Your clothes catch on fire use STOP DROP & ROLL TECHNIQUE

• DO NOT run. It will spread the fire across your body.• Stop where you are, drop to the ground & roll back & forth• Spread across flat on the ground. DO NOT curl up.• Roll from your back to your front repeatedly till fire is squashed.• After the flames are extinguished, get up & remove the clothing.• Burnt clothing can burn you. This is no time to be shy. If you have to remove all clothes, just get naked.

Summary

1. Alert everyone by shouting fire fire.2. If you are trained, try to extinguish the fire if it is in a small area.3. Evacuate from the building, use emergency staircase. NO LIFTS.4. DO NOT waste time collecting belongings. Just GET OUT.5. Pull fire alarm trigger to alert the whole building.6. Do not lock any doors. If a room is empty, just close the door.7. Avoid climbing up the stairs/balconies. Go down the stairs.8. Assemble in a common area away from the building.9. Once outside the building, call fire brigade if they’re yet to

arrive.10. Do not go back inside the building till all clear is declared.11. Do not go away from the site. Stay put with the entire team.12. If you are not trained, do not try to be a hero. Save yourself.13. Direct the fire brigade to a particular floor if someone is stuck.14. Let the professionals do their job. Do not volunteer unless asked.

IF YOUR OFFICE /HIGH RISE BUILDING IS ON FIRE

Summary

1. If the room door is hot, DO NOT OPEN. Stay inside2. Seal the door gaps with cloth, tape, to prevent smoke leakage3. Call the fire brigade and inform them of your location4. If smoke is in the room, cover your nose & mouth with wet cloth5. JUMPING OUT OF A HIGHRISE WINDOW IS NOT AN OPTION6. Inhaling smoke will disorient you & eventually cause death7. Do not panic. Stay calm. Your presence of mind will save you8. Wait for fire brigade to reach your floor from stairs/windows

IF YOU ARE STUCK INSIDE A ROOM / ON TOP FLOORS

Summary

1. DO NOT RUN2. STOP where you are. DROP to ground. ROLL over repeatedly3. Once flames are squashed, remove the clothing

IF YOUR CLOTHES ARE ON FIRE

1. Make them stop where they are2. Cover them with a blanket or wet clothing3. When they are wrapped, the flames are extinguished4. Their burnt clothes have to be removed immediately

IF OTHERS’ CLOTHES ARE ON FIRE

If suffering from burns, get first aid as early as possible.

Our mind will not work normally during emergencies due to adrenaline rush & confusion. So staying calm is most important

Emergencies are unexpected. You will realize the potential harm and danger only when you go through it. So be prepared

The smallest mistakes can cause major damage. Have presence of mind, use common sense.

Organize your home/work area. Discard trash. Do not overload electrical sockets. Do regular cleanup.

Never underestimate fire. Never overestimate your abilities.NOTE: This document is for general awareness. Please contact your office management /professionals to ensure you have information specific to your building. Do not solely depend on the tips mentioned here.

The author of this document is not liable for any loss or damage whatsoever to any life or property. This document is made available freely to create awareness and not as a reference material/guide for emergency use. Contact a qualified expert for specific advise on life and fire safety.

Remember