FRAGILE GIANTS

It's another amazing day with our FIRE SAFETY Series, every episode has been a wrap and if you haven't been following, you certainly have missed out of the "Gold" we have been mining.

Yesterday we discussed the CLASSES OF FIRE and we left off saying that the whole aim of safety is that you GET AWARE OF THE DANGER and FOLLOW THE RULES with TIMELY ACTION!

Emphasis my friends, on ACTION!
And that's we will be dealing with today.

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND THEIR APPLICATION TO EACH OF THE CLASSES OF FIRE!

If you missed that episode, today's episode might be a rocky terrain for you because you'll definitely need the knowledge of yesterday's episode to understand this present one.

Before we proceed, I'll like to state that THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FIRE SAFETY IS THE PERSON WHO KNOWS WHERE THE EXTINGUISHER IS AND HOW TO USE IT.

Every Home should have a FIRE EXTINGUISHER, the only exception is for homes who do not have properties worth protecting.

So people we go straight up to;

TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

• WATER AND FOAM EXTINGUISHERS

Water and Foam fire extinguisher, where the water extinguisher has a mixture of foam extinguishing components; it extinguishes the fire by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle.

The Foam agents in it is effective in separating the oxygen element from the other elements.

All water extinguishers have a red label on the body of the extinguisher.

Water extinguishers are for Class A fires only - they should not be used on Class B or C fires. The discharge stream could spread the flammable liquid in a Class B fire or could create a shock hazard on a Class C fire.

• CARBONDIOXIDE EXTINGUISHERS

Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishers extinguish fire by taking away the oxygen element of the fire triangle and also be removing the heat with a very cold discharge.

Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers (CO2) have a black label on the body of the extinguisher.

Carbon dioxide can be used on Class B & C fires. They are usually ineffective on Class A fires.

• FIRE BLANKETS

Fire blankets are primarily for use on hot oil fires such as frying pans or small deep fat fryers.
They can also be used on someone whose clothing has caught fire.
They work by smothering the fire, stopping access to the oxygen fuelling it and extinguishing it.

• DRY CHEMICAL EXTINGUISHERS

Dry Chemical fire extinguishers extinguish the fire primarily by interrupting the chemical reaction of the fire triangle.

Today's most widely used type of fire extinguisher is the multipurpose dry chemical that is effective on Class A, B, and C fires.
This agent also works by creating a barrier between the oxygen element and the fuel element on Class A fires.

Dry Chemical Extinguishers have a white band on the cylinders for identification

Ordinary dry chemical is for Class B & C fires only.

Again i emphasize, It is important to use the correct extinguisher for the type of fuel! 
Using the incorrect agent can allow the fire to reignite after apparently being extinguished successfully.

• FOAM EXTINGUISHERS

Foam fire extinguishers can be used on Class A and B fires. They are most suited to extinguishing liquid fires such as petrol or diesel and are more versatile than water jet extinguishers because they can also be used on solids such as wood and paper.

The foam extinguishes liquid fires by sealing the surface of the liquid, preventing flammable vapour reaching the air and starving the fire of fuel. They are not suitable for use on free flowing liquid fires.

Foam extinguishers have a cream label on them.

• WET CHEMICAL

Wet Chemical is a new agent that extinguishes the fire by removing the heat of the fire triangle and prevents reignition by creating a barrier between the oxygen and fuel elements.

Wet chemical extinguishers have a yellow label on the body of the extinguisher.

Wet chemical of Class K extinguishers were developed for modern, high efficiency deep fat fryers in commercial cooking operations. Some may also be used on Class A fires in commercial kitchens.

• CLEAN AGENT EXTINGUISHERS

Halogenated or Clean Agent extinguishers include the halon agents as well as the newer and less ozone depleting halocarbon agents. They extinguish the fire by interrupting the chemical reaction and/or removing heat from the fire triangle.

Clean agent extinguishers are effective on Class A, B and C fires.

• DRY POWDER EXTINGUISHERS

Dry Powder extinguishers are similar to dry chemical except that they extinguish the fire by separating the fuel from the oxygen element or by removing the heat element of the fire triangle.

Powder extinguishers have a blue label on the body of the extinguisher.

However, dry powder extinguishers are for Class D or combustible metal fires, only. They are ineffective on all other classes of fires.

• WATER MIST EXTINGUISHERS

Water Mist extinguishers are a recent development that extinguish the fire by taking away the heat element of the fire triangle. They are an alternative to the clean agent extinguishers where contamination is a concern.

Water mist extinguishers are primarily for Class A fires, although they are safe for use on Class C fires as well.


USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

• It is important to know the locations and the types of extinguishers in your Home or workplace prior to actually using one.

• Fire extinguishers can be heavy, so it's a good idea to practice picking up and holding an extinguisher to get an idea of the weight and feel.

• Take time to read the operating instructions and warnings found on the fire extinguisher label. Not all fire extinguishers look alike.

• Practice releasing the discharge hose or horn and aiming it at the base of an imagined fire. Do not pull the pin or squeeze the lever. This will break the extinguisher seal and cause it to lose pressure.

When it is time to use the extinguisher on a fire, just remember acronym PASS!

Pull the pin.

Aim the nozzle or hose at the base of the fire from the recommended safe distance.

Squeeze the operating lever to discharge the fire extinguishing agent.

Starting at the recommended distance, Sweep the nozzle or hose from side to side until the fire is out. Move forward or around the fire area as the fire diminishes. Watch the area in case of reignition.

FIRE EXTINGUISHER MAINTAINANCE
Like any mechanical device, fire extinguishers must be maintained on a regular basis to ensure their proper operation.

You, the owner or occupant of the property where the fire extinguishers are located, are responsible for arranging your fire extinguishers' maintenance.

Fire extinguishers must be inspected or given a "quick check" every 30 days, that is monthly. 

Lastly, make sure your Fire extinguisher is in the correct location.
A Location where it is VISIBLE and ACCESSIBLE!

That's it people on FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, You'll just make reference to the picture below on HOW TO IDENTIFY EACH TYPE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

And that's how we wrap up the FIRE SAFETY SERIES....
Thank you for staying with me on this voyage and I honestly hope it has been both interesting and rewarding for you!

And as a HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (HSE), i'll say;
Seek Safety, Aim Safety, Follow Safety, Ensure Safety, Teach Safety, Yield Safety!
SAFETY!

With Lot's of Love,
Your Fragile Giant!

Yes Beautiful People, it's still the FIRE SAFETY series. 

The knowledge on FIRE SAFETY is a Chain, You can't know and work with part, that will be breaking the chain, you must have the complete procedure or else;
Trust when i scream, "effort in futility"!

So people it is absolutely necessary that you complete this journey, you never know for whom you are acquiring this knowledge!

Without much Ado, we will be Learning the CLASSES OF FIRE, as well as other FIRE SAFETY TIDBITS you should be conversant with!

Why CLASSES OF FIRE???
By being prepared and quickly determining the type of fire with which you’re dealing, you have an even better chance of not only extinguishing the fire but also of doing it without risking injury!

However, remember that the safety of everyone in the proximity; including you, comes first!

Remember also that the goal is to be able to reduce the effect of a potential fire, including saving your life and other people's lives and not necessarily to turn you into a Barbecued Chicken (lol) as you attempt to play "super Hero".

Therefore before we proceed, I think it's important that I introduce you to the rules for Fighting Fire.

RULES FOR FIRE FIGHTING
Trust me when i say you are BETTER OFF a thousand times more careful than " Once" Dead and of course nobody dies twice. So people the ground rules are;

Only fight a fire if:

• The fire is small and contained
• You are safe from toxic smoke; smoke Inhalation is the fastest killer in a fire incidence because it will cut off your Oxygen supply even before you get burnt.
• You have a means of escape
• Your instincts tell you it's OK

Where you have carefully considered the afore mentioned and you ascertain your safety then;

Just remember the three A's

REMEMBER: Before you proceed with the 3 A's have an EXIT STRATEGY at the back of your Mind, just in case the fire becomes uncontrollable.

What are these three A's???

• ATTEMPT to extinguish the fire.

• ACTIVATE the building alarm system or notify the fire department by calling 911. Or, have someone else do this for you.

 In my part of the world, I'm well aware this might not be very feasible but you could just try if you live in are area where Emergency Hotline's are active.

• ASSIST any persons in immediate danger, or those incapable on their own, to exit the building, without risk to yourself.

The Next phase of FIRE SAFETY You need to know are FIRE EXTINGUISHING METHODS.
Yesterday, we had dealt extensively on the FIRE TRIANGLE, for want of time we can't go back there but you can look it up.

This is not necessarily repeating the FIRE TRIANGLE EXPOSITION but shading more Light on the best approaches to FIRE FIGHTING.

First this will  help you understand what Fire Extinguishing methods is most suitable for whatever class of fire you may be dealing with.

Secondly your assimilation of this stage will guide you in choosing the KIND OF EXTINGUISHER to be used in a particular class of fire.

FIRE EXTINGUISHING METHODS

COOLING : Removal of HEAT.
Cooling the burning material is the most common method used to extinguish fire. Water is widely available and the best cooling agent to use specially in fires involving solid materials. By evaporating in contact with fire, water also blankets the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply. There is a warning however to the use of water, you should never apply water to fires involving hot cooking oil or fat; water can cause the fire to spread.

STARVATION : Removal of FUEL
This is another method of extinguishing a fire in such a way that you remove the fuel supply by switching off the electrical power, isolating the flow of flammable liquids or removing the solid fuel, such as wood or textiles. In woodland fires, In the case of gas fire, closing the main valve and cutting off the gas supply is the best way of extinguishing the fire.

SMOTHERING : Removal of OXYGEN.
In other words, excluding Oxygen from the fire.
Smothering agents are substances used to extinguish a fire by cutting off the oxygen supply. Foam, which is the content of some fire extinguishers, can help to cool down and isolate the fuel surface from the air, eliminating combustion


CLASSES OF FIRES

Class A
Class A fires are fires in ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics.
So you see, for a Class A fire, COOLING is the best Extinguishing method, we will match the rest of the classes of fires to the right Extinguishers when we deal with FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

Class B
Class B fires are fires in flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum greases, tars, oils, oil-based paints, solvents, alcohols. Class B fires also include flammable gases such as propane and butane. Class B fires do not include fires involving cooking oils and grease.

Class C
Class C fires are also called ELECTRICAL FIRES. These are fires involving energized electrical equipment such as computers, servers, motors, transformers, and appliances. Remove the power and the Class C fire becomes one of the other classes of fire.

Class D
Class D fires are fires in combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium.

Class K
Class K fires are otherwise called KITCHEN FIRES. These are  fires in cooking oils and greases such as animal and vegetable fats.

The whole essence of safety is that you GET AWARE OF THE DANGER and FOLLOW THE RULES with TIMELY ACTION.

Okay People, that's it for today, we have just one episode to go, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!

I'm hoping you are as excited as I am, because this episode will be covering the TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS that there, WHAT CLASS OF FIRE REQUIRES EACH OF THESE EXTINGUISHERS and HOW TO USE AN EXTINGUISHER!

If you have come this far, I'm begging you not to break the chain by stopping HERE!

Please Pitch In tomorrow for the CONCLUSION.
I may not be able to give you certificates but trust me, you'll be as good as any certified FIRE FIGHTER after tomorrow.

My only motivation is Love, Love for your well being!

Always with Love,
Your Fragile Giant!

Alright People, we started the FIRE SAFETY series yesterday.
Out of a recognition that Fire is the most ravishing of all the elements of nature.

It may be HIGHLY DESTRUCTIVE but my dear friends, you are not entirely powerless against it's rage if you understand the DYNAMICS OF FIRE!

Yes People exactly what I mean, there is a dynamics to Fire.
If you understand the chemistry of Fire, it becomes easy to curb and that's what the FIRE TRIANGLE seeks to explain today!

Just stick with me.....

I remember saying Yesterday that,
A fire needs three elements -  HEAT, OXYGEN and FUEL.
These 3 elements form what is referred to as  FIRE TRIANGLE, with one of the elements on each side of the Triangle.


Without HEAT, OXYGEN and FUEL, A FIRE WILL NOT START OR SPREAD.

Now with this in mind, I'm going to be breaking down this elements.....
Starting with;


HEAT
Heat can be generated by work processes and is an essential part of some processes such as cooking. 
In other words, one cannot completely avoid the presence of heat.

This heat must be controlled and kept away from fuel,unless carefully controlled can cause lot's of Damage!

Heat generated as a by-product of a process must be dealt with properly. 

Heat may be generated from

• Plants and equipments

If you have not lost a loved one to a fire, heard bloodcurdling stories of victims of fires or even witnessed first hand the effect of a fire, this series might not make a lot of sense to you!

But I would wish more than anything in the world that you follow through on this Series.
It could save your Life and Properties or those of other people.

Life is very precious my friends and no point emphasizing that each of us has just one chance to Live.
The goal should be not just to live but to stay alive in the best possible condition!

With every sense of humility I have a background in Health and Safety.
As a matter of fact I'm a certified HEALTH AND SAFETY EXECUTIVE (HSE), but that's not the story; here's what the story is.....

So I sat in church yesterday and it was testimony time. Someone shared how they walked into their home, put on their switches only for the bulbs to erupt in flames!
Quite scary right?

But that wasn't what scared me, there are different classes of fires and of course specific ways of putting out each type,

So the man continues by saying that he used WATER TO PUT IT OUT, at this point I clutched my heart!

Now from the eyes of a Health and Safety Executive, that was a very dangerous move!

That my Friends, was an electrical fire and using water to quench it would have been a straight ELECTROCUTION in addition to loss of property, if not for the mercies of God!

So many Pictures played out in my head with tags of "what if's?"
Talk about Colossal Disaster!

Beyond the Mercies of God, I realize how uninformed we are on a lot of issues including FIRES!

There and then I decided to share with you guys and as many more people what I know about Fires.

THE GOAL OF THIS SERIES, is to educate you on precautions to take to prevent POTENTIAL FIRES and the best ways to put out FIRES before help comes.

EVERYONE AND ANYONE could be victims of fire!

It's safe to say that fires can be considered the fastest life threatening element that there is!

Fire safety is your PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, Don't wait to count your loses before you learn.

It is on this note I bring to you FIRE PREVENTION!

INTRODUCTION
A fire needs three elements -  HEAT, OXYGEN and FUEL.
These 3 elements form what is referred to as  FIRE TRIANGLE, with one of the elements on each side of the Triangle.

Without HEAT, OXYGEN and FUEL, A FIRE WILL NOT START OR SPREAD.

Pause! Try to picture a Triangle in your head, now hang each of the element I mentioned earlier on one side of the triangle. Beautiful!

Now stay with that picture, it will help you understand the dynamics of fire prevention!

Here is the secret,
A key strategy to prevent fire is to remove one or more of any of the elements - HEAT, OXYGEN and FUEL.

Oh don't be scared, I won't leave you without a clear explanation on how this works but first you'll need to understand these three Elements, know what constituents they are made of.

Before then, I consider it absolutely necessary to show you Some common fire hazards, these include;

• Kitchen fires from unattended cooking, such as frying, boiling, and simmering

• Electrical systems that are overloaded, poorly maintained or defective

• Combustible storage areas with insufficient protection

• Combustibles near equipment that generates heat, flame, or sparks

• Candles and other open flames

• Smoking (Cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters, etc.)

• Equipment that generates heat and utilizes combustible materials

• Flammable liquids and aerosols

• Flammable solvents (and rags soaked with solvent) placed in enclosed trash cans

• Fireplace chimneys not properly or regularly cleaned

• Cooking appliances - stoves, ovens, Gas cookers

• Heating appliances - fireplaces, wood burning stoves, furnaces, boilers, portable heaters

• Household appliances - clothes dryers, curling irons, hair dryers, refrigerators, freezers

• Electrical wiring in poor condition

• Leaking Batteries, Car Owners Beware!

• Personal ignition sources - matches, lighters

• Electronic and electrical equipment

• Exterior cooking equipment - barbecue