Did you know that if a fire starts in your home, you may have just two minutes to escape?<\/p>\n The most effective way to protect yourself and your home from fire is to identify and remove fire hazards and to be sure to have working smoke detectors in appropriate areas. 60% of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. During a home fire, working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do a room to room inspection of your home – go from area to area and carefully observe any potential fire or safety hazards:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong> \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Selecting the tree<\/strong><\/p>\n Placing the tree<\/strong><\/p>\n Lighting the tree<\/strong><\/p>\n After Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Before a Wildfire<\/p>\n If a Wildfire Is Approaching<\/p>\n Each year more than 2,500 people die and 12,600 are injured in home fires in the United States, with direct property loss due to home fires estimated at $7.3 billion annually. Home fires can be prevented!<\/p>\n To protect yourself, it is important to understand the basic characteristics of fire. Fire spreads quickly; there is no time to gather valuables or make a phone call. In just two minutes, a fire can become life-threatening. In five minutes, a residence can be completely engulfed in flames.<\/p>\n Heat and smoke from fire can be more dangerous than the flames. Inhaling the super-hot air can sear your lungs. Fire produces poisonous gases that make you disoriented and drowsy. Instead of being awakened by a fire, you may fall into a deeper sleep. Asphyxiation is the leading cause of fire deaths, exceeding burns by a three-to-one ratio.<\/p>\n Every day Americans experience the horror of fire but most people don’t understand fire.<\/p>\n There is little time! In less than 30 seconds a small flame can get completely out of control and turn into a major fire. It only takes minutes for thick black smoke to fill a house or for it to be engulfed in flames. Most deadly fires occur in the home when people are asleep. If you wake up to a fire, you won’t have time to grab valuables because fire spreads too quickly and the smoke is too thick. There is only time to escape.<\/p>\n Heat is more threatening than flames. A fire’s heat alone can kill. Room temperatures in a fire can be 100 degrees at floor level and rise to 600 degrees at eye level. Inhaling this super-hot air will scorch your lungs. This heat can melt clothes to your skin. In five minutes, a room can get so hot that everything in it ignites at once: this is called flashover.<\/p>\n Fire isn’t bright, it’s pitch black. Fire starts bright, but quickly produces black smoke and complete darkness. If you wake up to a fire you may be blinded, disoriented and unable to find your way around the home you’ve lived in for years.<\/p>\n Smoke and toxic gases kill more people than flames do. Fire uses up the oxygen you need and produces smoke and poisonous gases that kill. Breathing even small amounts of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short of breath. The odorless, colorless fumes can lull you into a deep sleep before the flames reach your door. You may not wake up in time to escape.<\/p>\n If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL 9-1-1 for help.<\/strong><\/p>\n Only when we know the true nature of fire can we prepare our families and ourselves.<\/p>\n Good Rules to follow: Every 6 months: Change Your Clock, Test Your Alarms, Practice Your Home Fire Drill, When Alarm Goes Off You Get Out!<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n UNDERSTANDING A FIRE EVENT<\/strong><\/p>\n The fire triangle<\/strong> or combustion triangle<\/strong> is a simple model for understanding the necessary ingredients for most fires<\/a>.The triangle illustrates the three elements a fire needs to ignite: heat<\/a>, fuel<\/a>, and an oxidizing agent<\/a> (usually oxygen<\/a>). A fire naturally occurs when the elements are present and combined in the right mixture, meaning that fire is actually an event rather than a “thing”. A fire can be prevented or extinguished by removing any one of the elements in the fire triangle. For example, covering a fire with a fire blanket<\/a> or lid to a pan on the stove removes the “oxygen” part of the triangle and can extinguish a fire.<\/p>\n To stop a combustion reaction, one of the three elements of the fire-triangle has to be removed.<\/p>\n Without sufficient heat,<\/strong> a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue. Heat can be removed by the application of a substance which reduces the amount of heat available to the fire reaction. This is often water, which requires heat for phase change from water to steam.\u00a0\u00a0 Fire departments use water because it\u2019s readily available and it removes the heat.<\/p>\n Without fuel,<\/strong> a fire will stop. Fuel can be removed naturally, as where the fire has consumed all the burnable fuel, or manually, by mechanically or chemically removing the fuel from the fire. Fuel separation is an important factor in wildland fire<\/a> suppression, and is the basis for most major tactics, such as controlled burns<\/a>. The fire stops because a lower concentration of fuel vapor in the flame leads to a decrease in energy release and a lower temperature. Removing the fuel thereby decreases the heat.<\/p>\n Without sufficient oxygen,<\/strong> a fire cannot begin, and it cannot continue. With a decreased oxygen concentration, the combustion process slows. Oxygen can be denied to a fire using a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher<\/a>, a fire blanket<\/a> or water.<\/p>\n USING A FIRE EXTINGUISHER<\/strong><\/p>\n A typical fire extinguisher contains only 10 seconds of extinguishing power. This could be less if it has already been partially discharged. Always read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher beforehand and become familiarized with its parts. It is highly recommended by fire prevention experts that you get hands-on training before operating a fire extinguisher. Most local fire departments offer this service.<\/p>\n Once the fire is out, don’t walk away! Watch the area for a few minutes in case it re-ignites. Recharge or replace the extinguisher immediately after use. It is recommended that you replace your ABC extinguisher every year. Don\u2019t waste it though, use it for family fire prevention practice to give everyone a hands on experience. (It can leave a white residue, so best to spray into an area outside and away from cars and household items, perhaps into a large trash bag.)<\/p>\n It is vital to know what type of extinguisher you are using. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for the wrong type of fire can be life-threatening.<\/strong><\/p>\n Choose an What What do the A B C ratings mean on Fire Extinguishers?<\/strong><\/p>\n Fire Extinguisher Ratings<\/strong><\/p>\n Fire extinguishers are classified by fire type. The A, B, C rating system defines the kinds of burning materials each fire extinguisher is designed to fight. The number in front of the A, B, or C indicates the rating size of fire the unit can extinguish.<\/p>\n ABC Fire Extinguishers are very versatile. They are often the ideal choice being that they are able to put out many different types of fires. They use monoammonium phosphate which is a dry chemical that is able to quickly put out the fire. It is a pale yellow powder that is able to put out all three classes of fire; Class A for trash, wood and paper, Class B for liquids and gases, and Class C for energized electrical sources. The dry chemical smothers the fire. It can leave a residue once the fire has been put out so keep this in mind when choosing this type of extinguisher.Most fire extinguishers used in the home are classified as A.B.C<\/p>\n![\"FIrefight\"](\"https:\/\/sanclementestakereliefsociety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/10\/FIrefight.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nPREVENTION<\/h2>\n
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WILD FIRES<\/h1>\n
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HOME FIRES<\/h1>\n
Fire is FAST!<\/h3>\n
Fire is HOT!<\/h3>\n
Fire is DARK!<\/h3>\n
Fire is DEADLY!<\/h3>\n
Help Me Plan My Home Fire Drill<\/h2>\n
Everyone in your household should take part in planning your escape.<\/h3>\n
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<\/a><\/p>\nExtinction of the fire<\/h2>\n