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Fire Brigade Response and Water Utilization in Effective Fire Control
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- Arrival: a fire brigade, specialized in fire control, typically pours water on the fire.
- Water: Water serves two purposes:
- It cools the combustible material, reducing its temperature below the ignition point, thus preventing the fire from spreading.
- The water vapours surround the combustible material, restricting the supply of air, and effectively extinguishing the fire.
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Crucial Components for Fire Ignition and the Mechanics of Fire Extinguishers: A Comprehensive Guide
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- Three critical elements are needed to produce fire:
- Fuel
- Air (supplying oxygen)
- Heat (to elevate the fuel’s temperature beyond its ignition point).
- Fire Control involves eliminating one or more of these components.
- Working: Fire extinguishers work by either restricting the air supply, reducing the fuel’s temperature, or both.
- In many situations, the fuel itself (like a building) cannot be removed.
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Choosing the Right Fire Extinguisher for fire control: A Comprehensive Look at Water, Carbon Dioxide, and Dry Powdered Chemicals
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- Water:
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- Water is the most common extinguisher.
- It is effective for fires involving materials like wood and paper.
- Water is not suitable for electrical fires (due to conductivity) or oil and petrol fires (since water is denser than oil and sinks beneath it).
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2):
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- Ideal Fire Extinguisher for Fire control: It is ideal for fires involving electrical equipment and flammable materials like petrol.
- Blanket Formation: It is heavier than oxygen, CO2 forms a blanket over the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply.
- CO2 doesn’t typically damage electrical equipment.
- It can be stored as a high-pressure liquid in cylinders.
- Upon release, CO2 expands and cools, providing a dual benefit of suffocating and cooling the fire.
- Dry Powdered Chemicals:
- Chemicals like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) or potassium bicarbonate can be used.
- These chemicals, when near fire, release CO2, which then acts as a fire control and suppressant.
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