In everyday life, fire is like a ticking time bomb, posing a significant threat to life and property at any moment. When a fire breaks out, many people’s first instinct is to put it out with water. However, this isn’t always the right approach. Different types of fires require different extinguishing methods, and incorrect responses can exacerbate the fire and lead to more serious consequences. Let’s learn the correct first aid for several common types of fires in everyday life.
Solid material fires are the most common type of fire. Fires caused by the burning of wood, paper, cotton, wool, linen, and plastic fall into this category. These fires are common in homes and offices, such as a lingering cigarette butt igniting a sofa or a short circuit in an electrical wire igniting wooden furniture.
First Aid Method: For small, early-stage solid material fires, water is the most common and effective extinguishing agent. Use a bucket, basin, or other water container to pour water directly onto the burning material to lower its temperature below the ignition point, thereby extinguishing the fire.
After a Class A fire occurs, extinguishing methods include cooling, suffocation, chemical suppression, and isolation. If a fire extinguisher is available, a water-based extinguisher can also be used. It forms a film of water on the surface of the burning material, isolating it from air and cooling it. However, if the fire is large and has spread, do not blindly use water to extinguish it. Call 119 immediately and evacuate the scene quickly to avoid being trapped by the flames and smoke.
This type of fire primarily involves flammable liquids or meltable solids such as gasoline, kerosene, crude oil, methanol, ethanol, asphalt, and paraffin. For example, a gasoline leak at a gas station would fall into this category.
First Aid: Never use water to extinguish a Class B fire! Because water is denser than oil, oil will float on the surface and continue to burn, and the movement of water will spread the fire.
If the fire involves flammable liquids, use a dry powder fire extinguisher, carbon dioxide fire extinguisher, or foam fire extinguisher. When using a fire extinguisher, stand upwind and aim the spray at the base of the flames.
Gas fires are typically caused by the combustion of flammable gases such as coal gas, natural gas, methane, ethane, propane, and hydrogen. They often cause explosions or deflagrations, are extremely destructive, and difficult to extinguish!
First Aid: Gas fires cannot be extinguished with water. Once a gas fire is discovered, the first thing to do is to quickly close the gas supply valve to stop further leakage.
If the fire is small, a dry powder fire extinguisher can be used. If the fire is large, evacuate the area immediately, call the police, and report the gas leak to the relevant authorities so that professional personnel can handle it. During evacuation, cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel and keep a low profile to avoid inhaling toxic gases.
Metal fires are relatively rare, but when they occur, they can be extremely harmful. Fires caused by the burning of metals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, lithium, and aluminum-magnesium alloys are all considered Class D fires. These metals react violently with water at high temperatures, producing flammable gases such as hydrogen, which intensifies the fire.
First aid: Class D fires must be extinguished with specialized fire extinguishing agents, such as 7150 fire extinguishing agent, dry sand, or cast iron powder. Ordinary water, foam, or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should not be used to extinguish metal fires. If you are unsure how to handle a metal fire, evacuate the area immediately and call the fire department for professional assistance.
Live electrical fires are fires caused by objects that are electrically charged, such as those caused by short circuits or overloads in electrical equipment. In places like offices and shopping malls, where there are numerous electrical devices, live electrical fires are common.
First aid: Do not use water or foam fire extinguishers for live electrical fires, as both water and foam are conductive and could cause electric shock. For an initial electrical fire, first disconnect the power supply before using a dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher. If the power cannot be disconnected promptly, maintain a safe distance when using a dry powder or carbon dioxide extinguisher to prevent electric shock.
This type of fire primarily involves cooking materials in cooking appliances, such as animal or vegetable oils and fats. Due to the high-temperature combustion properties of oils and fats, these fires are prone to reignition.
First Aid Methods: For Class F fires, use a pot cover or a water-based, foam, halogenated, or carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. Two people are required to operate a cart-type fire extinguisher: one person opens the valve and secures the device, while the other controls the spray hose and aims it at the fire source. Operators should maintain a distance of 10 meters upwind. Do not use water directly to extinguish the fire, as this may cause hot oil and fat to splash and spread the fire.
Fire Hazards: Prevention First
While understanding the first aid methods for various fires is important, preventing fires from occurring is crucial. When it comes to fire prevention, gas safety is a crucial element that cannot be overlooked. Take gas, commonly used in homes and businesses, for example. Fires, explosions, and poisoning accidents caused by gas leaks pose a significant threat to life and property. Therefore, seeking efficient, accurate, and intelligent preventive solutions is paramount to ensuring gas safety.
Home Gas Safety Solutions
Home combustible gas detectors are essential instruments for preventing gas leaks. To meet diverse customer needs, Chicheng Electric offers home combustible gas detectors in basic, interconnected, networked, and Bluetooth models. These detectors utilize high-performance sensors to continuously monitor combustible gas leak concentrations 24/7. When the concentration reaches a preset value, they immediately generate audible and visual alarm signals and can also trigger actions such as solenoid valves, manipulators, and fans to prevent fires and explosions. Networked home gas alarms not only generate audible and visual alarm signals but also send notifications to the user’s mobile phone via phone, text message, or app. Users can remotely mute the alarm and shut off the valve, making them ideal for extended business trips or families with elderly or children.
Industrial and Commercial Gas Safety Solutions
Article 36 of the “Work Safety Law of the People’s Republic of China,” which officially came into effect on September 1, 2021, clearly stipulates that production and business operations in industries such as catering that use gas must install combustible gas alarm devices and ensure their proper operation. Therefore, comprehensive gas alarm installation has become an urgent need for industrial and commercial users to prevent fires. Combustible gas detectors, the frontline “sentinels” of the gas safety protection system, can accurately and in real time detect subtle changes in gas concentrations within catering establishments. Utilizing high-precision sensor technology with exceptional sensitivity and stability, these detectors can quickly detect abnormal signals in the early stages of gas leaks, issuing audible and visual warnings. They can also activate solenoid valves, fans, and other equipment to prevent disasters and accidents.
Fire is merciless, but life is priceless. Everyone should enhance fire safety awareness, understand first aid methods for different types of fires, and proactively take preventive measures by installing gas detectors and other equipment to protect their own and others’ lives and property.
