FIRE FIGHTING

TRAINING COURSE

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 Course objectives

 The objectives of this part of the course are

the following –
To highlight
Fire awareness

Fire prevention

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 Course outcomes

 Participants will be able to do the following at

the end of this part of the course –
Safely fight a fire

Manage fire prevention

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 Flammable and Combustible Materials
 Substitution
 Flammable liquids sometimes may be substituted by relatively safe
materials in order to reduce the risk of fires. Any substituted
material should be stable and nontoxic and should either be
nonflammable or have a high flashpoint.

 Storage
 Flammable and combustible liquids require careful handling at all
times. The proper storage of flammable liquids within a work area is
very important in order to protect personnel from fire and other
safety and health hazards.

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 Storage Inside Buildings
 Where approved storage cabinets or rooms are not provided,
inside storage will comply with the following basic conditions:
 a. The storage of any flammable or combustible liquid shall not physically
obstruct a means of egress from the building or area.
 b. Containers of flammable or combustible liquids will remain tightly sealed
except when transferred, poured or applied. Remove only that portion of
liquid in the storage container required to accomplish a particular job.
 c. If a flammable and combustible liquid storage building is used, it will be a
one-story building devoted principally to the handling and storing of
flammable or combustible liquids. The building will have 2-hour fire-rated
exterior walls having no opening within 3 m of such storage.
 d. Flammable paints, oils, and varnishes in 5 to 25 liters containers, used for
building maintenance purposes, may be stored temporarily in closed
containers outside approved storage cabinets or room if kept at the job site
for less than 10 calendar days.

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 Storage Inside Buildings

 Ventilation
 Every inside storage room will be provided with a continuous mechanical
exhaust ventilation system. To prevent the accumulation of vapors, the
location of both the makeup and exhaust air openings will be arranged to
provide, as far as practical, air movement directly to the exterior of the
building and if ducts are used, they will not be used for any other purpose.

 Removal of Incompatibles
 Materials that can contribute to a flammable liquid fire should not be stored
with flammable liquids. Examples are oxidizers and organic peroxides,
which, on decomposition, can generate large amounts of oxygen.

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 Storage Inside Buildings
 Elimination of Ignition Sources
 All nonessential ignition sources must be eliminated where flammable
liquids are used or stored. The following is a list of some of the more
common potential ignition sources:
 Open flames, such as cutting and welding torches, furnaces, matches, and
heaters-these sources should be kept away from flammable liquids operations.
Cutting or welding on flammable liquids equipment should not be performed
unless the equipment has been properly emptied and purged with a neutral gas
such as nitrogen.
 Chemical sources of ignition such as d.c. motors, switched, and circuit breakers-
these sources should be eliminated where flammable liquids are handled or
stored. Only approved explosion-proof devices should be used in these areas.
 Mechanical sparks-these sparks can be produced as a result of friction. Only no
sparking tools should be used in areas where flammable liquids are stored or
handled.

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 Storage Inside Buildings

 Static sparks-these sparks can be generated as a result of electron

transfer between two contacting surfaces. The electrons can discharge
in a small volume, raising the temperature to above the ignition
temperature. Every effort should be made to eliminate the possibility of
static sparks. Also proper bonding and grounding procedures must be
followed when flammable liquids are transferred or transported.
 Flammable Gases
 Generally, flammable gases pose the same type of fire hazards as
flammable liquids and their vapors. Many of the safeguards for flammable
liquids also apply to flammable gases, other properties such as toxicity,
reactivity, and corrosivity also must be taken into account. Also, a gas that is
flammable could produce toxic combustion products.

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How Does a Fire Work?

•Three components
•Need all three components to
start a fire
•Fire extinguishers remove
one or more of the components

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Types of Fires

•Class A - Wood, paper,cloth, trash

•Class B - Flammable liquids, oil, gas,
grease
•Class C - Electrical, energized
electrical equipment
Class D - Combustible metals

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 Different Kinds of Extinguishers

 The 4 most common fire extinguishers:

 All Purpose Water
 Carbon Dioxide
 Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical
 Dry Powder

Each kind of extinguisher has a specific use

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 Different Kinds of Extinguishers
 All Purpose Water

•Use on CLASS A fires

•Pressurized water

•Pressure gauge present

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 Different Kinds of Extinguishers
 Carbon Dioxide

•Use on CLASS B and

CLASS C fires
•Hard, plastic nozzle
•No pressure gauge

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 Different Kinds of Extinguishers
 Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical

•Use on CLASS A, CLASS B,

and CLASS C fires
•Fine powder under pressure
•Pressure gauge present

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 Fire extinguishers

 Appropriate use of extinguishers

 Alarm has been sounded
 Building has been evacuated
 Fire is small and confined
 You can fight the fire with your back toward an escape route
 The extinguisher matches the fire type
 The extinguisher works effectively
 You are properly trained in the use of the extinguisher
 You are confident you can put the fire out

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 Fire extinguishers

 Inappropriate use of extinguishers

 The fire is large and has grown beyond its original confined
space
 Your escape path is threatened
 You are not sure if you have the correct type of fire
extinguisher
 Personal hazards
 Smoke and noxious fumes
 Smoke and fumes cause unconsciousness
 Death may result

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 How to use a fire extinguisher
 P.A.S.S. Method

Pull the pin

This will allow you to squeeze the

handle in order to discharge the
extinguisher.

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 How to use a fire extinguisher
 P.A.S.S. Method

Aim at the base of the fire

Aiming at the middle will do no good.

The agent will pass through the
flames.

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 How to use a fire extinguisher
 P.A.S.S. Method

Squeeze the handle

This will release the pressurized

extinguishing agent.

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 How to use a fire extinguisher
 P.A.S.S. Method

Sweep side to side

Cover the entire area that is on fire.

Continue until fire is extinguished.
Keep an eye on the area for
re-lighting.

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 Location and Marking of Extinguishers
 Extinguishers will be conspicuously located and readily accessible for
immediate use in the event of fire. They will be located along normal
paths of travel and egress. Wall recesses and/or flush-mounted
cabinets will be used as extinguisher locations whenever possible.
 Extinguishers will be clearly visible. In locations where visual
obstruction cannot be completely avoided, directional arrows will be
provided to indicate the location of extinguishers and the arrows will be
marked with the extinguisher classification.
 If extinguishers intended for different classes of fire are located
together, they will be conspicuously marked to ensure that the proper
class extinguisher selection is made at the time of a fire. Extinguisher
classification markings will be located on the front of the shell above or
below the extinguisher nameplate. Markings will be of a size and form
to be legible from a distance of 1 m.

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 Condition

 Portable extinguishers will be maintained in a fully charged and

operable condition. They will be kept in their designated
locations at all times when not being used. When extinguishers
are removed for maintenance or testing, a fully charged and
operable replacement unit will be provided.

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Mounting and Distribution of Extinguishers
 Extinguishers will be installed on hangers, brackets, in cabinets,
or on shelves. Extinguishers having a gross weight not
exceeding 40 pounds will be so installed that the top of the
extinguisher is not more than 900 mm feet above the floor.
 Extinguishers mounted in cabinets or wall recesses or set on
shelves will be placed so that the extinguisher operating
instructions face outward. The location of such extinguishers will
be made conspicuous by marking the cabinet or wall recess in a
contrasting color, which will distinguish it from the normal decor.
 Extinguishers must be distributed in such a way that the amount
of time needed to travel to their location and back to the fire does
not allow the fire to get out of control.

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 Inspection and Maintenance

 Once an extinguisher is selected, purchased, and installed, it is

the responsibility of the CDC Office of Health and Safety to
oversee the inspection, maintenance, and testing of fire
extinguishers to ensure that they are in proper working condition
and have not been tampered with or physically damaged.

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 Emergency Egress

 Every exit will be clearly visible, or the route to it conspicuously

identified in such a manner that every occupant of the building
will readily know the direction of escape from any point. At no
time will exits be blocked.
 Any doorway or passageway which is not an exit or access to an exit
but which may be mistaken for an exit, will be identified by a sign
reading "Not An Exit" or a sign indicating it actual use (i.e.,
"Storeroom"). Exits and accesses to exits will be marked by a readily
visible sign. Each exit sign (other than internally illuminated signs) will
be illuminated by a reliable light source.

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 Most Important Slide

 NEVER fight a fire if any of the following apply:

 Don’t have the proper extinguisher or equipment
 Fire has spread beyond its point of origin
 Your instincts tell you GET OUT

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 Prevention methods

 Keep work areas clean and clutter-free

 Know how to handle and store chemicals
 Know what you are expected to do in an emergency
 Know about the chemicals you work with
 Become familiar with emergency action plan for fires

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 Emergency Procedures
 In the Event of Fire
 Pull nearest alarm station
 Immediately exit the building

If you hear an alarm

DO NOT
assume it is a drill,
your life may depend on it!

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National Fire Statistics

•About 70% of all structure

fires occur in the home.
•One fourth of home fires
occur between 10:00 p.m. and
6:00 a.m. yet account for one
half of all home fire deaths.
•About 80% of all fire deaths
occur in the home.

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 Fire Deaths

 Risk Factors For Fire Deaths

Supplemental heating devices - most house fires May-Jul
Cigarette smoking - 23% of fatal house fires
Drug and alcohol abuse - 40% of fire deaths in
Philadelphia- Similar Nationally.
No or inoperable smoke detectors

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Most Fire Deaths are NOT Burn Victims!
 Causes of Death in Fires - SMOKE
Hydrogen cyanide, hydrocyanic acid
Carbon monoxide
Other toxic vapors
Burns
Trauma (non-burn).

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 Fire Hazards at Work

 Heat generating appliances

 Storage and handling of flammables/combustibles
 Open flames
 Vehicles and equipment

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 Heat Generating Equipment

 Coffee pot
 Toaster oven
 Microwave
 Mug warmer
 Heaters
 Cooling fans
 Torch/Heat gun
 Other electrical appliances

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 Causes of Home Fires
 Smoking or smoking materials.
 Heating equipment.
 Cooking & cooking equipment.
 Children playing with matches/lighters.
 Arson/suspicious

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 Survive a Fire
 How to Survive a Fire
Don’t get trapped
Cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth (when
possible)
Keep low to the floor
Don’t hide
Be determined to survive
If clothes catch fire: Stop, Drop and Roll
Once out of the building NEVER RETURN!

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