fire fighting: Extinguishing Fires

For a fire to occur, there must be available oxygen, a supply of fuel, and enough heat to kindle the fuel. Therefore, the three basic ways of extinguishing fire are to smother it, to cut off the fuel supply, or to cool it below the flammability temperature. Fires are classified into four types: those in solids, e.g., wood, paper, and cloth; those in flammable liquids, e.g., gasoline, alcohol, oils, lacquers, and paints; those in electrical apparatus; and those in flammable metals such as magnesium. These are called, respectively, class A, B, C, and D fires.

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• History of Fire Fighting
• Special Equipment and Techniques
• Characteristics of Extinguishing Substances
• Extinguishing Fires
• Fire-Fighting Apparatus
• Fire-Fighting Personnel
• Fire-Fighting Strategy
• Bibliography

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: Technology: Terms and Concepts