Elements of Fire

In order to understand how fire extinguishers work, you first need to know a little bit about fire.

Fire requires 3 elements to ignite and burn;

• Oxidizing agent – Usually oxygen
• Fuel – Wood, plastic, rubber, petroleum products (gas, diesel), etc.
• Heat – Cigarettes, lighters, electricity, sparks, etc.

The Fire Triangle

• A fire naturally occurs when the three elements are present and combined in the right mixture.
• The elements cause a chemical reaction, which is fire.
• This means fire is not a thing, but actually an event.
• A fire can be prevented or extinguished by removing any one of the elements in the fire triangle.