Fire Hazards Module Quiz

Fire Hazards Module

• Content Standard: Learners demonstrate understanding of the fire triangle.
• Learning Competencies: Learners are able to:
  • Recognize elements of the fire triangle in various situations.
  • Analyze different causes of fires.
  • Observe safety measures and procedures during fire incidents.
  • Apply basic response procedures in fire incidents.
• Objectives: At the end of the lesson, learners will be able to:
  • State the positive and negative effects of fire.
  • Define and identify components of the fire triangle.
  • Know different fire classes and classify fire incidents.
• Activate Prior Knowledge: Fire protection, prevention, and control are important parts of any safety program, crucial to reducing annual loss of life and property.

Fire Triangle

• Definition: A chemical reaction between a flammable or combustible material and oxygen, causing rapid oxidation with light and heat.
• Elements: The fire triangle consists of three elements that must be present simultaneously for a fire to start:
  • Fuel: Any substance that will combine with heat. Ordinary fuels are compounds of carbon and hydrogen. Metals can also be burned in an atmosphere of pure oxygen.
  • Oxygen: Essential for combustion. Air typically contains 21% oxygen, which is sufficient for fires. Pure oxygen atmospheres can cause fires to burn more intensely.
  • Heat: The minimum temperature needed to ignite or cause self-sustaining combustion of the fuel. Different materials have varying ignition temperatures. Typical sources of heat include cutting and welding, spontaneous ignition, chemical reactions, the sun, electricity, smoking, and friction.

Fire Classes

• Class A: Burning wood, paper, dried grass, etc.
• Class B: Burning oil, gasoline, kerosene, LPG, chemicals, alcohol
• Class C: Electrical fires.
• Class D: Combustible metals (magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium)
• Class K: Kitchen fires (cooking oil, grease)

Fire Extinguishment

• Methods:
  • Starvation: Removing the fuel source.
  • Smothering: Reducing or excluding oxygen supply (e.g., using a wet blanket).
  • Cooling: Lowering the temperature of the fuel below its ignition point (e.g., using water).
  • Interruption of Chain Reaction: Using special extinguishing agents (e.g., dry chemicals, halons).

Fire Phases

• Ignition Phase: Heat, oxygen, and fuel source combine, leading to a chemical reaction, and the fire triangle is complete.
• Growth Phase: Fire expands, depletes oxygen, and increases in temperature, creating a highly dangerous situation.
• Fully Developed Phase: All fuel has ignited, the hottest phase of a fire, depending on oxygen
• Decay Phase: Fire starts to diminish because of reduced fuel and/or oxygen, also known as Smoldering Phase.

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

• T: Twist the lock.
• P: Pull out the pin.
• A: Aim the nozzle.
• S: Squeeze the handle to release the agent.
• S: Sweep the nozzle side to side aiming at the base of the fire.

Fire Alarm/Emergency Response

• Phase 1 (Alarm): Fire alarms are sounded.
• Phase 2 (Response): Learners become alert to fire and smoke.
• Phase 3 (Evacuation): Evacuation process follows pre-determined routes to evacuation areas.
• Phase 4 (Assembly): Learners assemble at designated evacuation areas.
• Phase 5 (Head Count): Teachers ensure all participants are accounted for.
• Phase 6 (Evaluation): Evaluation to identify problems during the drill and how these can be corrected.
• General Actions (discovering/hearing fire alarm): Act in accordance with the agreed fire emergency/evacuation plan, identify key escape routes, relocate outside of the building using stairways only, secure important materials (documents, money, valuables).

Fire Safety Procedures

• Contain: Close windows and doors to contain fire and smoke.
• Extinguish: Only attempt to extinguish if the fire is small, contained, and manageable with the right fire extinguisher.
• Relocate: Relocate promptly to a safe area when inside a building. Don't use elevators.
• Secure: Secure valuable items and documents first, when appropriate.

Resources

• Quebral, V. (2016) Disaster Readiness and Risk Reduction. Lorimar Publishing, Inc.
• Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Post-Activity

• Sketch the current room or a part of a house, identify areas where fires could start, and list down 5 precautionary steps.
• Describe a scenario of fire in the assigned room and the steps to address it.

This quiz assesses your understanding of the fire triangle and fire safety measures. You will identify components of the fire triangle, analyze various fire causes, and apply safety procedures effectively. By the end, you will have a clearer perspective on fire incidents and their management.