Burning issues 
Warren Schmidt

Fires occur throughout the year – during the dry season, bush or grass fires are prevalent over much of the country.

These are often localised, but occasionally they can burn out of control and cause extensive damage to property. Fires cause millions of rands of damage every year and also cause the death of many people. The hazards of fires are portrayed every year in the media, be it fires destroying thousands of hectares of fynbos and destroying homes or an informal settlement that has burnt down.

The cause of fires

There are many ways that a fire can break out in the home and these can be caused by an open flame igniting fabric or material, such as a paraffin lamp or candle falling over. Indoor fireplaces are also potential danger zones should material get too close to the flames. Another problem is if coal or wood ‘explodes’ causing a shower of sparks which could land on the carpet or furniture. Open bar heaters are also responsible for many house fires each year.

Gas stoves and gas heaters are also potential hazards and it is essential that any item that uses gas is regularly inspected and serviced and used strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications.

Faulty, incorrect or damaged electrical wires and connections can also lead to a fire. When a fault (which does not trip the earth leakage or circuit breaker), occurs through an overload or loose connection, the sparking and burning could result in burning wires. These in turn could set nearby material on fire. Using the incorrect sized wiring or inferior electrical components could also lead to the wire or device overheating and in turn causing a fire.

Another cause can be traced back to adventurous children experimenting with fire. All too often this leads to disaster when the fire gets out of control or the children thought they had extinguished the fire but the smouldering material re-ignites.

How fire works

Fire needs three basic elements in order to burn: fuel, oxygen and heat. Fuel can be anything from paper and wood, gas, oil, coal, fabric material and a range of other combustible items.

Fire needs oxygen to breathe and heat is the energy that increases the temperature of fuel to a certain point where combustion can occur.

Fires are classified according to their chemical characteristics and the type of fuel involved. You should familiarise yourself with the different categories of fire as there are different methods of extinguishing the different blazes.

Class A fires: These fires are fuelled by materials such as wood, fabrics and paper.

Class B fires: These fires are the result of flammable liquids and gasses such as oils, petrol, benzene and gasses like acetylene and propane.

Class C fires: Class C fires are caused from an electrical fault or hazard, for example, electronic equipment, electrical wiring or machinery.

Class D fires: This type of fire is specialised in nature and requires specialised equipment and procedures to extinguish the blaze. These fires will usually occur in chemical plants and factories or inside laboratories. They usually break out from chemical elements such as sodium, magnesium and aluminium.

Extinguishing a fire

The first thing to do when a fire breaks out is to remain calm and level headed. Try to determine what caused the fire and how extensive it is. Every household should have a hand-held fire extinguisher and it should be readily available and within reach. (Not locked away in the garage).

Never use water on electrical or oil fires. Water is a good electrical conductor and you could get electrocuted should water touch a live wire. Water sprayed onto an oil fire could cause the oil to spread rapidly and explode back onto you.

A dry powder extinguisher is one of the better general purpose extinguishers to have around the home. The fine white powder chemically inhibits the flames and can be used on Class A, B and C type fires. Never risk your life trying to extinguish a blaze. If the fire gets too large or out of control rather evacuate the premises and let the fire department handle the situation.

By law, all townhouse complexes, security villages, flats and public buildings, such as office blocks and shopping centres, require a range of fire-fighting equipment, such as hand-held fire extinguishers and hose reels. This equipment needs to be serviced and inspected annually by a certified fire company. The location of all equipment needs to be clearly marked, with clear and precise signage displayed showing escape routes.

Fire alarms and smoke detection sensors are also required and these devices are also useful to have inside of the home. Many fires break out when the occupants of the home are asleep and by the time they have woken up it may be too late or they may be overcome by smoke inhalation.

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