FIRE SAFETY AT THE AIRPORT (TRAINING BY CAA IN CCCC BOARDROOM)

Table of Contents
SAFETY CONCEPT .......................................................................................................................................... 1
THE PROCEDURES ONE UNDERTAKES ON DISCOVERING A FIRE .............................................................. 1
CLASSES OF FIRE........................................................................................................................................ 2
TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS......................................................................................................................... 2

SAFETY CONCEPT
Safety is the state in which the risk of harm to people and property is reduced to and
maintained at or below an acceptable level through various procedures concerning hazard
identification and risk management. Security is the state of being free from danger or threat.

Fire safety is practices/ measures taken to either reduce the effects of a fire outbreak or to
prevent the occurrence of a fire outbreak. At the airport there is a fire department that trained us
fire safety measures at the airport. We were trained on how to conduct ourselves in the event of
a fire hazard as well as how to put them out in case of small fires.

The likely causes of fire at the airport include;

Crashes at the runway or taxiway, refueling and de-fueling, arson/intentional fire, electrical
plants, ahot aircraft engines, faulty electrical equipment and hot cooking equipment

THE PROCEDURES ONE UNDERTAKES ON DISCOVERING A FIRE

 Always be sure of what you have seen then break the glass and sound the alarm
 Call airport fire on ext 3322, 0414320879
 If possible, identify what in particular is burning and isolate power if possible or attack
fire if possible
 On hearing fire alarm stop whatever you are doing and also remind your neighbor if they
are not aware. Locate the nearest exit and go the nearest fire assembly point.
 Do not use the lift, run to the roof, return to the building for anything or take unnecessary
risks.
 In case you are in a smoke room go low and crawl on the floor where there is fresh air.
This is to avoid consuming of smoke in the lungs.
  If trapped, wave a white material for rescue.
 At assembly point, in case you don’t see anyone inform the fire department.

CLASSES OF FIRE

There are five classes of fire, classified according to what is burning. These include;
 Class A – Ordinary solids like wood and paper. These can be put out using water.
 Class B – Flammable and combustible liquids (Petroleum products). These can be put
out using foam or dry chemical powder.
 Class C – Flammable gases (Methane, Butane and Propane). These are alleviated by
turning off the gas supply. As a caution, we are meant to never switch on any electric
appliance in the event of a gas fire.
 Class D – Combustible metals (Magnesium, Sodium and Potassium). These are put out
using carbon dioxide.
 Class E – Live electrical items, these are put out by switching off power supply.
However, many fire experts do not consider this as a class of fire since it does not give
off vapour.

TYPES OF EXTINGUISHERS
 Water extinguishers: cost effective ways to fight fire of class A. There are four types
namely water jet extinguishers, water spray extinguishers, water extinguishers with
additives and water mist/fog extinguishers.
 Foam extinguishers: can be used on fire classes A and B. most suitable for fires caused
by liquid fuels such as petrol and aviation fuels. These are common at the airport. They
are not suitable for free flowing fuels.
 Powder extinguishers: carbon dioxide is the most suitable gas used to extinguish fires
caused by electrical equipment.
Note: for fires caused by gas best solution is to cut off the gas supply by closing the valve with
the linkage.
We were able to take part in a practical session on how to operate an extinguisher, Steps taken to
operate an extinguisher
The operation of a fire extinguisher is summarized in the mnemonic
“PASS”
P – Pull pin

A – Aim at the base of the fire

S – Squeeze

S – Sweep from side to side

In the operation of the fire extinguisher, the content is directed towards the base of the
fire but in the direction in which the wind is moving so as to reduce on wastage of the
extinguishing content. This can be identified by observing the direction in which the
smoke/vapour is also moving.

 Pull the pin: this unlocks the operating lever and allows one to discharge the extinguisher.
 Aim low: point the extinguisher hose at the base of the fire.
 Squeeze: the lever above the handle. This discharges the extinguishing agent.
 Sweep: from side to side while moving carefully towards the fire. Keep the extinguisher
aimed at the base of the fire.
In short the method is code named “PASS”