1. By: Dirk Patrick Cloete
Fire Behavior
By: Dirk Patrick Cloete

2. The importance of knowledge of fire behavior for a firefighter?
Firefighters need to have an understanding of fire behavior that permits them to recognize developing fire conditions and be able to respond safely and effectively to mitigate the hazards presented by the fire environment.

3. Do you still remember the different classification of fires?
DISCUSSION QUESTION
Do you still remember the different classification of fires?

4. Class A Fires
Involve ordinary combustible materials

5. Class B Fires
Involve flammable and combustible liquids and gases

6. Class C Fires Involve energized electrical equipment
Typical sources — Household appliances, computers, electric motors

7. Class D Fires
Involve combustible metals

8. Class K Fires Involve oils and greases
Require extinguishing agent specifically formulated for materials involved

9. Lesson Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this lesson, the student shall be able to:
Describe methods used to control and extinguish different types of fires

10. Temperature Reduction
One of the most common methods of fire control/extinguishment
Depends on reducing temperature of fuel to point of insufficient vapor to burn
Solid fuels, liquid fuels with high flash points can be extinguished by cooling

11. Temperature Reduction
Use of water is most effective method for extinguishment of smoldering fires.
Enough water must be applied to absorb heat generated by combustion.
Cooling with water cannot reduce vapor production enough to extinguish fires in low flash point flammable liquids/gases

12. Fuel Removal
Effectively extinguishes any fire
Simplest method is to allow a fire to burn until all fuel consumed.

13. Oxygen Exclusion
Reduces fire’s growth and may totally extinguish over time
Limiting fire’s air supply can be highly effective fire control action.

14. Chemical Flame Inhibition
Extinguishing agents interrupt combustion reaction, stop flame production
Effective on gas, liquid fuels because they must flame to burn
Does not easily extinguish surface mode fires

15. Summary
Firefighters need to understand the combustion process and how fire behaves in different materials/different environments. They also need to know how fires are classified so that they can select and apply the most appropriate extinguishing agent.

16. How can fires be controlled and extinguished?
DISCUSSION QUESTION
How can fires be controlled and extinguished?

17. DISCUSSION QUESTION
Match the different classes of fire with the type of extinguishing method that will control or extinguish it

18. For next time read up on the phenomena known as Backdraft