Full Fire Fighting & Fire Protection Course - (Part 1)

 

            Starting this Full Course of Fire Fighting and Fire Protection, where we will learn about fire fighting and fire protection. I am starting this series because I got many requests from most people to start the Fire fighting series as well. This will help most beginners to have a base, and something to start their journey. So, let's start with the Introduction as the first part of this full vast series.

Introduction to Fire Fighting

What Is Fire?

Fire is any sudden release of radiant energy (heat) in the matter. Fire is produced mainly by the oxidation of combustible material and is one of the five basic elements of nature.

How do Fires Start?

Most fires begin accidentally when the combustion of fuel occurs at high temperatures and low relative humidity. Combustion occurs when the air supplied to the burning substance contains oxygen and sufficient amounts of heat. When these conditions exist, the chemical reaction between carbon and oxygen causes a chain reaction that releases huge amounts of energy.

Different Types Of Fires And How They Spread

Fires can take several forms. A simple fire starts when a spark ignites a small amount of flammable vapor or liquid in the air; this type of fire may not be noticed until it gets out of control. Molten metal fires can occur when a container holding molten metal breaks open or if a pot or pan drops its contents onto a hot surface. These are both examples of spontaneous combustion (also called pyrolysis). Spontaneous combustion does not involve a flame and cannot be extinguished by ordinary means. Another type of fire is flashover, which is characterized by the rapid ignition of a mass of flaming particles that travel rapidly along a path until they reach a region where they ignite additional masses of material. An example of a flashover is a pile of hay ignited by lightning striking nearby trees. Flashover is difficult to extinguish because it involves an intense, concentrated flow of highly heated gases and flames.

Types Of Fires And How They Can Spread

Flame Explosion

A gas burner or electric heating appliance with a pilot light is likely to produce fire and explosion hazards. If a gas or oil tank leaks or ruptures, the resulting spillage can cause a dangerous explosion or fire.

Flame Outbreaks

These are caused when a continuous supply of fuel is burned continuously without interruptions. If someone lights a candle while smoking, the smoke will continue to fill the room even though the candle is no longer being lit. Flame outbreaks can be extremely hazardous, especially if a candle or cigarette burns continuously in a closed space.

Explosion Hazards

Mixed fuels and explosive mixtures are inherently unstable. Explosively formed penetrators (EFPs) consist of explosives and shaped charges that create a hole in steel armor. Once inside the vehicle, the EFP explodes, causing severe damage. Improvised devices called pressure plates have been developed to detonate EFPs without using an initiator charge. A pressure plate consists of a flat piece of steel placed under a heavy object such as a vehicle. Pressure plates can be attached to any structure and designed to explode when subjected to a predetermined force.

 Firefighting

The job of a firefighter is to prevent fires or limit their damage, while at the same time protecting firefighters and civilians. Their jobs range from preventing wildfires to putting out small house fires.

Firefighters' duties have evolved over the years. In the past they consisted of simply being first responders, arriving on the scene after the fire was already started. As technology advanced and equipment grew, firefighters were able to do things before the fire had even begun, including extinguishing small flames and smothering larger ones. Today, firefighters still attend fires before they start but now also perform tasks that protect people and property, such as searching for victims, using ladders to fight blazes and rescuing those trapped inside burning buildings. Some firefighters work directly for government agencies like the fire department, while others serve as volunteer first responders who respond to emergencies.

Training

There are several organizations dedicated to training firefighters. These groups offer classes ranging from basic CPR and fire safety to advanced courses in fire management. Check with local fire departments and colleges for courses offered near you. There are also online courses that are available, including courses developed by the National Fire Academy, Bureau of Labor Statistics, American Red Cross, and others. Many universities also run programs for aspiring firefighters.

Fire fighters (Fire prevention)

A firefighter is someone who fights fires. Firefighters fight fires by using many different tools and methods. Most often firefighters use water, foam, fire extinguishers, ladders, and sometimes even their bodies to put out the fire and save lives. Depending on what type of fire they are responding to, fire crews may bring along special equipment to help them do their job. In some cases fire departments have specialized units known as hazardous materials units that are trained specifically for dealing with things like hazardous chemicals like gasoline, paints, etc. These are called hazmat teams. Other types of fire department units are specialized in certain situations. For example, police departments respond to crimes involving guns. They call themselves armed-response units. Or, if they are responding to a medical emergency, paramedics are called first responders. All of these are examples of specialized units within fire departments.

 Hazards (Hazardous Materials)

As mentioned above, hazardous materials units are specialized fire departments that handle specific situations where dangerous substances are involved. These include chemical spills and fires involving flammable gases and liquids, and toxic chemicals and poisons. Hazardous material units deal with all kinds of accidents including transportation incidents. When responding to an accident, these units need to know how to take care of injured people and of vehicles involved. They also have to keep track of what happened at the scene, document everything, and record any information about the incident. Once the scene is secure, the unit gathers data about the situation and investigates to find out what caused the problem and what precautions should be taken moving forward.

 Hazardous substances

Hazmat means “hazardous” and substances that are classified as hazardous are those that pose a threat to human health or the environment. There are two categories of hazards: chemical and physical. Chemical hazards are normally gases and liquids that are harmful when inhaled or ingested. Physical hazards are things like explosions and projectiles. Some examples of chemicals that are considered hazardous are natural gas, chlorine bleach, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, sodium hydroxide, ethanol, and lead acetate. Examples of physical hazards are dynamites, firearms, explosives, and radioactive materials.

What is firefighting?

Firefighting is the practice of suppressing or controlling a fire. Generally speaking, firefighting takes place when a fire occurs. The first step in fighting a fire is determining whether the fire poses a serious risk to people, property, or the environment. If the danger posed by the fire is low, then simply putting out the fire is sufficient. However, if the danger posed by the flames is high, then a fire control method must be employed to prevent the fire from spreading.

Fire prevention

There are several ways to prevent fires from starting. One way is to make sure that buildings and structures are not built over flammable materials. Another is to ensure that electrical systems are safe. Yet another way to prevent fires is to maintain the facilities in a clean state. Fire hazard risk assessment helps determine the safety of the building and its occupants.

Emergency Response Teams

Emergency Response Team (ERT): ERTs are units that respond to emergencies. An emergency is defined as anything that causes damage or inconvenience to the public. In order to protect the public, these teams train regularly to react effectively to any sudden event that could result in injury or death. They use special training to prepare for potential events. Their goal is to limit the number of injuries and deaths they experience throughout the course of their career. ERTs are trained to recognize warning signs that a disaster is imminent and to arrive at the site of an incident quickly. They are trained to assess the severity of the situation and coordinate with other emergency personnel before entering the area. ERT members can carry both a gun and a taser, and are allowed to use deadly force if necessary. After an incident, the team reports back to headquarters to summarize the details and provide recommendations for future improvements. Because of this, teamwork is extremely important skills taught to ERT members.

                            Fire protection systems (also known as fire sprinklers) are designed to mitigate damage from fires occurring in both commercial and residential buildings. In commercial buildings these systems are often required by law and in residential dwellings, they are widely recommended by insurance companies and building codes authorities. There are many different types of fire protection system and each type offers its own advantages. For example, while smoke detection systems provide early warning of blazes, suppression systems put out fires before they become full-blown incidents.

Fire Protection Systems (FPS) are often overlooked while building a home, yet they make a huge difference in how safe our homes and communities become. Fire protection includes many different components including sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and much more. In order to protect your family and property, it is important to have adequate fire protection systems installed. Before choosing a system, it is important to understand what each type of system does, and how they work together.

                    Sprinklers use water pressure to spray water at high velocity at specific locations. Sprinklers are typically designed to provide fire protection in two ways. The first way is by extinguishing a fire with water. Secondly, sprinklers help prevent fires by cooling the surrounding air. When sprinklers activate, the sprinkler heads create a mist. Water droplets then fall down onto the floor below. These droplets evaporate and cool the room. When the temperature drops below 212 degrees F, the evaporation increases and decreases the amount of humidity in the room.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke detectors detect dangerous gases in the air. If a gas detector detects smoke, an alarm sounds and activates a siren. Smoke alarms are not intended to replace working smoke alarms. Both types of alarms should be installed in any bedroom, inside and outside of sleeping areas. Most smoke alarms are battery operated; however, if yours is wired to operate off of electrical power, change to a battery operated model. Each year, about 8 people die in America from house fires, and about 75% of these deaths could have been prevented had smoke alarms been present.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon Monoxide (CO) is an invisible, colorless, odorless gas produced whenever fuel burns. CO causes 100 times more damage than either smoke or flames. Carbon Monoxide detectors are inexpensive devices that measure CO levels via sensors that react to changes in the level of oxygen in the atmosphere. This device alerts occupants by sounding an alarm when the CO level reaches toxic levels.

Flame Detectors

Flames are the number one cause of death in residential fires. Flame detectors are designed to alert users of low flame conditions. Once activated, they send out a loud and long warning signal. Usually located near exits and stairwells, flame detectors warn of low-level flames and allow residents time to escape.

Window/Door Guards

A window guard is a metal or plastic grate, installed between the windowsill and door frame. Window guards keep items from falling out of windows. Door guards keep objects from entering doors. A window guard costs less than $10, while a door guard may cost anywhere from $20 to over $100.

Locks

Locks are the last line of defense against burglaries. Locks can be electronic, mechanical, or combination electronic and mechanical locks. Electronic locks are programmed with an access code which only the owner knows. Mechanical locks require keys and are opened with a key. Combination locks require both a key and an access code. An advantage to electronic locks is that they do not need batteries.

Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are classified based on the materials they contain. Halon extinguishers are considered non-flammable extinguishers. Class B contains chemical extinguishers. Class C contains dry chemical extinguishers. Every home should have a minimum of 2 class B extinguishers. Class C extinguishers should be stored away from flammables.

                We will learn about each and every fire protection system that exists, in this series, so stay tuned , you dont miss any part.. Happy learning.. Keep exploring..