What Causes Fire

What Causes Fire

The Fire Triangle

Fire can start anywhere when we put together Heat, Fuel and Oxygen. These are the 3 things in the Fire Triangle. The principle of the Fire Triangle enables us to understand how fires start and how to put out fires. If we put the 3 elements together we can start fires, if we take away one or more of the elements we can put fires out.

Heat (or ignition source):

Heat is used in cooking, for example ovens, hobs and Frying Ranges. We can also use heaters and have to consider matches and lighters, which are used to light gas appliances etc. Electrical faults can also start fires if there are sparks created so all electrical equipment should be well maintained.

Fuel:

Anything can be fuel it is things that burn. The main things we consider in fish and chip shops are fat used in deep fat frying, waste scraps from the fryer, packaging we use for wrapping product and any waste packaging such as empty cardboard boxes, paper and polystyrene.

Oxygen:

We cannot really control oxygen around us as air is made up of 21% oxygen. But means of slowing or preventing air from feeding a fire is possible.