How Does a Fire Start?

5/7/2019 (Permalink)

Be mindful of heat, fuel, and oxidization.

Handling fire damage at your home can be a devastating task. To minimize the risk of disaster, there are preventative measures that can be taken to keep your household safe. Below is an overview of how fires start to help you better understand how to exercise caution in daily life.

Heat, Fuel, and Oxidization

Known as the fire triangle, heat, fuel, and oxidization are three elements that when combined, make a fire occur. In order to extinguish a fire, one of the elements must be taken away.

Heat

A fire cannot ignite or grow without heat. That’s why when fighting a fire, cooling agents are used, such as water or a chemical fire retardant, to diffuse the fire.

Fuel

In order for a fire to occur, there must also be a fuel source which allows combustion. The most common fuel sources are wood, chemicals, and fabric.

Oxidization

The last element is Oxygen, it is required for a fire to continue burning. That is why dirt and non-flammable blankets can be used to put out fires.

Stages of a Fire

A fire has four main stages:

1. Ignition – It is when the fire is started. At this point, a fire extinguisher can contain it.
2. Growth- Growth occurs when fuel is added to the fire.
3. Fully developed- The fire becomes difficult to control.
4. Burning out or Smothering- The fire either burns out or is smothered by another source.

What determines how bad the fire is depends on the stage it reaches. The damage is greater on fires that have gone past stage two.

Even when all the precautionary measures are taken, accidents still happen. If you have suffered from fire damage in your home, call our team at SERVPRO (808)235-5015. We specialize in restoration and reconstruction services for fire damage, mold, and storms. Call today for an inspection.