Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction: Fire Hazards

Fire Hazards

• Fire hazards include live flames, sparks, hot objects, and chemicals that can ignite or aggravate a fire, as well as potential threats to fire prevention, firefighting, and built-in fire safety systems.
• Fire hazards pose threats to life and property, and the primary object of safety systems is to detect, remove, or reduce these risks.

Elements of the Fire Triangle

• The fire triangle is a model that represents the three interdependent elements needed for fire: heat, fuel, and oxygen.
• Heat is necessary for the initial ignition of fire and its spread, and can be caused by various sources such as candles, stoves, and electrical appliances.
• Fuel is any combustible material, and its characteristics (moisture content, size, shape, quantity, and arrangement) affect its ability to burn.
• Oxygen is necessary for combustion to occur, and most fires require at least 16% oxygen content to burn.

Top Causes of Fire

• Cooking equipment is the leading cause of home structure fires and injuries.
• Smoking is the leading cause of civilian home fire deaths.
• Other common causes of fire include faulty wiring, kitchen stoves, smoking in bed, lighting, flammable liquids, candles, and children playing with fire.

Precautionary Measures

• Before a fire incident: have a disaster plan, ensure smoke alarms are installed and functional, keep household fire extinguishers handy, and make sure you can open windows, screens, security bars, and doors.
• During a fire incident: get to the nearest exit immediately, contact emergency services, and do not go back into a burning building.
• After a fire incident: wait for the fire department's instruction before re-entering your home, contact relevant agencies, collect valuable materials, and assess the damage.

NCCC Mall Fire Incident

• The NCCC Mall Fire incident on December 23, 2017, had a main cause and resulted in casualties (research required to identify the exact cause and casualties).