FIRE IN YOUR HOME

FIRE IN YOUR HOME

REMAIN CALM
CALL 911

If you are leaving a room in a burning building, never open a door without checking to see if it is warm. A warm door may mean there is fire on the other side. Feel the door with the back of your hand to see if it feels hot if so try another excape exit route.

If you should awaken to a smoke filled room, stay low, crawl as low as possible and exit to safety.

If your clothing should catch on fire, Stop, Drop, and Roll to smother the fire.

Have a family fire escape plan. Have a meeting place outside your home. Plan to have two exits, if possible. Be sure you are able to follow the plan even in a dark room. Make a floor plan. Discuss your plan with your family and have practice fire drills.

Fire Hazards in your home

Avoid careless smoking, use ashtrays and never smoke in bed.
Use caution while cooking such as deep fat frying and keep a lid near by to cover the hot liquid if it catches on fire.
Check smoke alarm regularly and replace the battery at the first of each new year.
Avoid storing flammable liquids in your home such as gasoline, and solvents.
Never store propane bottles in your home
Do not use unsafe electrical appliances, throw away frayed extension cords.
Clean your wood stove from soot and keep the roof clear from leaves and debris.

Why should my home have smoke alarms?

In the event of a fire, a smoke alarm can save your life and those of your loved ones. They are the single most important means of preventing house and apartment fire fatalities by providing an early warning signal -- so you and your family can escape. Smoke alarms are one of the best safety features you can buy and install to protect yourself, your family and your home.

Where would I get smoke alarms?

Many hardware, home supply or general merchandise stores carry smoke alarms. Make sure the alarm you buy is UL-listed. If you are unsure where to buy one in your community, contact the Comptche Volunteer Fire Department and someone will give you some suggestions we can offer for little or no cost.

INTRODUCTION

Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, yet most people ignore it.

How fires start?

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs three elements to occur:

FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn.
OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent oxygen.
HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur.
CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur when the three elements of fire are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.

Take any one of these factors away, and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.

HOW FIRES ARE CLASSIFIED

CLASS A

Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material, such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics.

CLASS B

Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners and propane.

CLASS C

Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools.

CLASS D

Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium.

These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.

HOW TO PREVENT FIRES:

Class A – Ordinary combustibles:

Keep storage and working areas free of trash. Place oily rags in covered containers.

Class B – Flammable liquids or gases:

Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space, especially in the presence of an open flame such as a furnace or water heater. Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment while it's hot. Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly closed, self-closing, spill-proof containers. Pour from storage drums only what you'll need. Store flammable liquids away from spark-producing sources. Use flammable liquids only in well-ventilated areas.

Class C – Electrical equipment:

Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report any hazardous condition to your supervisor. Prevent motors from overheating by keeping them clean and in good working order. A spark from a rough-running motor can ignite the oil and dust in it. Heat from an uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles. Don't misuse fuses. Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit.

Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of fire. Don't overload wall outlets. Two outlets should have no more than two plugs.

Class D – Flammable metals:

Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium generally take a very hot heat source to ignite; however, once ignited are difficult to extinguish as the burning reaction produces sufficient oxygen to support combustion, even under water.

In some cases, covering the burning metal with sand can help contain the heat and sparks from the reaction. Pure metals such as potassium and sodium react violently (even explosively) with water and some other chemicals, and must be handled with care. Generally these metals are stored in sealed containers in a non-reactive liquid to prevent decay (surface oxidation) from contact with moisture in the air. White phosphorus is air-reactive and will burn/explode on contact with room air. It must be kept in a sealed container with a non-reactive solution to prevent contact with air.

WHEN NOT TO FIGHT A FIRE

Never fight a fire:

If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started.
If you can't fight the fire with your back to an escape exit.
If the fire can block your only escape.
If you don't have adequate fire-fighting equipment.

In any of these situations,

DO NOT FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF! CALL FOR HELP.

HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER

Remember the acronym, "P.A.S.S."

P - Pull the Pin.

A - Aim the extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flames.

S - Squeeze trigger while holding the extinguisher upright

S - Sweep the extinguisher from side to side, covering the area of the fire with the extinguishing agent.

REMEMBER:

Should your path of escape be threatened
Should the extinguisher run out of agent
Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective
Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire

......THEN LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY!