November/December 2004 Volume 13 Issue 4
Introduction:
Firefighters are bound by the technical and ethical standards of the profession.
Possessing both theoretical and technical knowledge is an absolute must if you
are going to be a true professional.
This session deals with fire behaviour, its classification, and the four basic
methods of extinguishment.
Learning Outcomes:
The firefighter will:
a) define fire
b) explain the reasons for studying fire and its behaviour
c) explain the elements of the fire triangle and the fire tetrahedron and their
relationship to one another: fuel - oxygen - heat - molecular chain reaction
d) define and describe the stages of fire
e) describe the types of fire
f) define the following terms relating to fire - phenomenon of BLEVE, flashover,
backdraft, rollover, pyrolysis, flash point, fire point and ignition temperature
g) identify the four classes of fire and give two examples of fuels in each
class
h) define the four methods of heat transfer
i) describe the methods of extinguishment
j) describe the five sources of heat energy
k) describe the effects of heat on solid, liquid and gaseous fuels
l) describe the nature of the products of combustion produced during a fire
m) describe the factors that influence the production of toxic gases
n) identify the most common combustion gases produced during a fire and describe
their sources and effect on fire
o) describe the physical properties of each of the common combustion gases
p) describe the burning characteristics of the four classes of fire
q) describe common fire service extinguishing agents
r) describe the extinguishing agents appropriate to each class of fire along
with the advantages and disadvantages of each
s) describe the ways different types of building construction affect fire
behaviour
t) identify structural features which influence fire spread and safety
u) describe the influence of the following factors on total fire safety:
how building construction affects fire behaviour
how structural features influence fire spread and safety
Expectations of the Participant:
a) listen actively
b) participate in group discussions
c) ask questions for clarification and understanding
d) answer instructor questions
e) be a team player
Key Points and Terms |
Student Learning Activity |
References and Resources |
Trainer/Facilitator Activity |
| Reasons for studying fire: firefighter safety methods of extinguishment methods of spread methods of preventing effects on people, building materials & clothing |
Read IFSTA, Chapter 2: Fire Behaviour |
IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 4th Edition |
lead lesson record on flip chart answer questions involve learners emphasize the importance of
knowing how fire burns and reacts |
| The Fire Tetrahedron
heat chemical chain reaction - free radicals |
Read IFSTA, Chapter 2: Fire Behaviour listen take notes ask questions |
IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 4th Edition |
lead lesson answer questions explain the significance of
each process |
| Combustion complete incomplete |
explain how we almost never deal with complete combustion
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| Stages of Fire ignition growth fully developed decay |
explain the special significance of a fire in decay stages
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| Classification of fire
"A" |
give examples of each |
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| Special fire situations
backdraft - fast heat increase - ignition temperature
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Read IFSTA, Chapter 2: Fire Behaviour listen take notes ask questions |
IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 4th Edition |
lead lesson answer questions |
| Methods of extinguishment
cooling |
Read IFSTA, Chapter 2: Fire Behaviour listen take notes ask questions |
IFSTA Essentials of Fire Fighting, 4th Edition |
lead lesson answer questions |
| Methods of heat transfer convection |
explain each of the methods and examples of where they can
be found in actual fire situations, i.e. for conduction the example could be
a steel beam heating a combustible surface some distance away from the
actual fire |
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| Spontaneous combustion chemical biological |
discuss how for a biological reaction the agent(s) must
have been formerly living matter |
Summary:
As mentioned earlier, it is imperative that firefighters understand how fires
burn so that you can understand what is happening when fire reacts in a certain
way. Only through this understanding can you learn how to protect yourself and
others from the many dangers involved in fire fighting.
This knowledge also allows us to take measures necessary to prevent fires. That,
after all, is the ultimate goal of the fire service.
Evaluation:
1) Practical self-check
2) Any testing the trainer wishes to provide
Practical Self-Check
Directions: The firefighter will relate to a supervisor the principles of
fire behaviour as they apply to a structure fire.
| Level of Performance | |||
| Yes | No | N/A | |
| Fire behaviour and spread conduction, e.g. metal pipes convection, e.g. flashover radiation, e.g. exposures Rollover cause method to prevent Flashover cause method to prevent Backdraft cause method to prevent BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion) cause method to prevent Method of extinguishment cooling, e.g. water oxygen removal fuel removal interruption of chemical chain reaction |
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