Fire Safety

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Fire Safety
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• In Australia, fire is a significant hazard
  to people, property and the environment. A fire
  at home can mean more than just a few days off.
  You, could be badly injured or even killed.
• Even if no one is injured, a serious fire can
  mean that you could lose your home and personal
  possessions.

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What are the statistics?

• Approximately 100 fatalities per year from
  structure fires.
• Approximately 3000 injuries per year from
  structure fires.

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What are the statistics?

• On average, 83 homes per year are lost to
  bushfire, costing the country millions of
  dollars, although this does vary yearly.
• E.g. In 2003, the Canberra bushfires
  destroyed over 500 properties, killed 4 people
  and cost AUD300 million

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Question

• Which is the odd one out?
• Fire alarm systems
• Smoke alarms
• People
• Fire and Rescue Service
• Emergency Exits
• Fire extinguishers

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Answer

• Fire alarms, exits, wardens, FRS etc., are
  "re-active" forms of fire safety. They only work
  once a fire has started.
• People are the only potential "pro-active" form
  of fire safety. They can prevent a fire before it
  happens.

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Fire Awareness

• With basic, fire awareness, we can stop fires
  from even starting
• Understand how fire behaves and safely use each
  type of common fire extinguisher
• Have the knowledge to prevent and/or safely react
  to a fire situation.

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What is Fire?
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Extinguishing a Fire
Fire extinguishers work by removing one or more
of the sides of the Fire Tetrahedron.

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Extinguishing a Fire

• SMOTHERING
• Reduce or remove the supply of oxygen to the fire

• Seal compartments, rooms, buildings, etc.
• Use of smothering agents
• CO2
• Fire blanket
• Foam
• Sand or Earth

CHEMICAL CHAIN REACTION
X
HEAT
FUEL
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Extinguishing a Fire

• STARVING
• Reduce or remove the source of fuel.

• Gas Fires or Liquid Fuel Fires Isolate valves
• Bush Fires Fire breaks, Back burning

X
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Extinguishing a Fire

COOLING Reduce or remove the heat
X

• Water
• Foam

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• A CLASS
• Combustible, Carbonaceous Materials
• Wood, Paper, Textiles

• B CLASS
• Flammable Liquids
• Petrol, Oil, Lubricants.

• C CLASS
• Flammable Gasses
• LPG, Acetylene, Natural Gas

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• D CLASS
• Combustible Metals
• Magnesium, Aluminium, Iron Filings
• Special portable extinguishers used

• E CLASS
• Electricity
• Ensure extinguishing agent should be
• NON CONDUCTIVE

• F CLASS
• Hot Cooking Oil and Fats

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Portable Fire Extinguishers
Wet Chemical Class F
Water Class A
Foam Class B
DCP Class C
CO2 Class E
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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• WATER
• Most suitable for Class A fires
• Cools

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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• FOAM
• Most suitable for CLASS B fires
• Smothers, Cools
• Designed for most B class fires flammable
  liquids

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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• CARBON DIOXIDE
• Extinguishes CLASS B, E and F fires
• Displaces oxygen
• Most suitable for electrical fires
• Limited effect on Class A fires

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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• DRY CHEMICAL POWDER
• Extinguishes CLASS B, F and E fires
• Interferes with the chemical chain reaction,
  Smothers

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Portable Fire Extinguishers

• WET CHEMICAL
• Most suitable for CLASS F fires, also Class A
• Smothers by turning hot fats or cooking oils into
  a
• combustion resistant soap

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Portable Fire Extinguishers
Application of Extinguishing Medium WATER
seat of fire CARBON DIOXIDE (C02) between fuel
surface and flames DRY CHEMICAL POWDER (DCP)
flame zone FOAM Surface of fuel WET CHEMICAL
Surface of fuel
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What do you do if you spot a fire
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1. Raise Alarm (Fire Fire Fire)
ask yourself

• Are there any hazards (trips etc)?
• Are there any people in the building?
• What is the class of fire?
• What is the exact location of fire?
• How big is the fire?
• Do you need to call FESA

Decide if you have appropriate equipment and you
can safely extinguish the fire.
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• 2. If safe attempt to extinguish fire
• (ensure you have an escape route)
• Ask yourself
• Is the extinguisher suitable?
• Is the extinguisher big enough?
• What hazards are nearby?

3. Evacuate if you are unable to fight the fire
successfully and safely.
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REMEMBER If in any doubt. GET OUT STAY OUT CALL
US OUT