KNOW THE TETRAHEDRON OF FIRE

 

 KNOW THE TETRAHEDRON OF FIRE 

Fire does not happen by accident. It needs four elements working together to start and continue burning. This concept is called the Tetrahedron of Fire.

 

1. Fuel

Fuel is anything that can burn. It may be solid (wood, paper, cloth), liquid (gasoline, alcohol, oils), or gas (LPG, natural gas). Without fuel, fire cannot exist.

 

2. Heat

Heat is the energy needed to raise fuel to its ignition temperature. It can come from open flames, hot surfaces, sparks, friction, or electrical energy. Removing heat cools the fire and helps stop combustion.

 

3. Oxygen

Oxygen usually comes from the air. Normal air contains about 21% oxygen, and most fires need around 16% oxygen to keep burning. Smothering a fire or limiting oxygen supply can extinguish it.

 

4. Chemical Chain Reaction

This is the process that keeps fire burning once it starts. The flame creates continuous chemical reactions that produce heat and flammable gases. Some fire extinguishers work by breaking this chain reaction.

 

Why this is important

A fire can be extinguished by removing any one of the four elements—fuel, heat, oxygen, or the chemical chain reaction. This explains why water, foam, CO₂, and dry chemical extinguishers work in different ways.

 

Key reminder:

Fire is not just fuel, heat, and oxygen it is a chemical process that must be interrupted. Understanding this saves lives and prevents fires from spreading.