HSE 101: Fire

Fire
How come the first thing that comes to our minds when we hear fire is usually chaos, damage, burns, and the likes?
Fire is actually a good friend, you know that? Oh, it causes unemployment, loss of lives and properties. But then, to speak in favor of the fire, fire only acts that way when it is in a bad mood and this bad mood is often times is caused by us 🤷
Still doubtful of how nice fire is? Well here are some of the good sides of fire.

Fire helps us cook.

Yeah, I bet when you are eating those freshly cooked hot meals, you tend to forget it was fire that made that possible?

Fire helps our cars move.

You know why the keys are put into a place called 'Ignition'? It is because it leads to igniting the fire in your car in order for it to be able to move. Your car engine makes use of fuel (petrol or gas), heat and oxygen which are the needed components to start a fire (Fire triangle). This leads to your car burning as it moves. I guess that is why my dad always tell me to stop burning his fuel when I leave the engine on for too long.
This method does not apply to cars only, it is also employed in factories and ships!

Fire heats up or homes.

During winter, we all appreciate the heat that emanates from the fire in our firewalls. This warms us up and is an important use of fire.

Bush clearing

Yeah, I know. This is not an environment-friendly approach to clearing our grasses, but we still use it. It is easy and quicker and mostly used to clear up sugar cane farms for replanting.

A good source of light

We just cannot deny fire being the main source of light. Our light bulbs come up with a spark, street lights do the same, and do not forget those scented and beautiful candles used for romantic dinners. Fire makes all those possible.

What then is Fire?

Fire Triangle
It is a rapid chemical reaction involving two or more combustible gases giving rise to heat and/or smoke and light. It occurs when the three components of the fire triangle are in their right proportions. Fire is divided into different types. Just because they are all bright and burning does not mean they are all the same. There are differences actually.

There are different types of fire and they include;

Class A Fire

This type of fire comes up from free burning materials (paper, wood, textile) and can be extinguished using ordinary water. Note please, for this type of fire, you do not need to mix washing detergent in the water you use in extinguishing this sort of fire.
Ordinary water would do thank you 🙄🙄

Class B Fire

This involves flammable liquids.. Petrol, diesel and kerosene and cannot be extinguished with just water but water with a chemical or just dry Chemical powder as using water alone will make it spread to other areas.

Class C

This class involves gaseous gases and electrical appliances and can be put off using CO2 extinguisher

Class D

This involves metals and can be extinguished using CO2

Like earlier stated, fire gets into a bad mood and causes damage. So what causes the mood swing?
Carelessness:
This is the major cause of fire out breaks. You see situations like children playing with matches, we leaving electrical appliances unattended to or on for a long time. There is also the issue of careless disposal of cigarettes butts which can lead to fire.
Accidents:
Collision of vehicles, earthquakes, setting things on fire on purpose, probably out of wickedness or with the intention of burning something. Fire can happen in store rooms, electrical appliances left without switching off such as air conditioners and fans, and from those who sell petrol in black market.
Smouldering
This is fire without smoke. Yes, that actually exists. Some of our electrical appliances are actually burning slowly without our knowing and then one day it eventually gives rise to a huge fire.
With the above information, what would you do when you are in a situation with a Fire in a bad mood? You extinguish the fire by...
Starvation
This means stopping the source of oxygen and could be as easy as closing all the windows and doors. This starves the fire removing one of the components that makes up fire.
Cooling
You could also stop the fire by pouring water to reduce the burning material with the release of vapor thereby removing another of the triangles of fire.
Use of extinguishers
This should be found in every home. They are usually of different types including CO2 and dry chemical extinguishers.
Note please: Extinguishers shouldn't be kept on the floor and in panic should not be thrown into a fire during a fire incident.

I am going to stop here and I hope with these few points of mine I have been able convince you and not confuse you that Fire is not all bad, and updated you with little tips about fire 🤓🤓

References:

1. Types of Fire
2. Uses of Fire
3. HSE seminar I attended today