Fire Life Safety Tips: Understanding the Science of Fire

1. Fire Life Safety Alexander Archie Compliance Enforcement Supervisor Chief Engineer's Office 5500 Snyder Avenue Office: (775) 887-3255 Cell: (775) 722-8703

2. Fire Life Safety Keith Jaquillard Compliance Enforcement Officer Chief Engineer's Office 3955 West Russell Road Office: (702) 8791396 Cell: (702) 308-0902

3. Fire Life Safety • Fire Triangle & Tetrahedron • Fire Classification • Fire Extinguishers • The P.A.S.S. Method • Fire Extinguisher Inspection

4. Fire Life Safety AR 440 http://www.doc.nv.gov/ Purpose To establish an institutional fire safety and evacuation plan.

5. Fire Life Safety • Notes: Lightning has 1.5 million volts, 50,000 degrees at a distance of 8 miles. In a wilderness fire, the heat temperature ranges from: 18000 to 20000 Aluminum will melt at: 15000 Brass will melt at: 15750 to 18000 Glass will melt at; 14750 to 15000 Tin will melt at: 4250 to 4750 Your lungs will be effected at: 4250 to 4750

6. Fire Life Safety Fire Triangle Oxygen Source Approximately 16% Required Normal air contains 21% O2 Some fuel materials contain sufficient oxygen within their make-up to support burning Heat Source To Reach Ignition Temperature Open Flame – The Sun Hot Surfaces Sparks and Arcs Friction – Chemical Action Electrical Energy Compression of Gasses Heat Oxygen Fuel Gases Natural gas Propane Butane Hydrogen Acetylene Carbon Monoxide Others Liquids Gasoline Kerosene Turpentine Alcohol Cod Liver Oil Paint Varnish Lacquer Olive Oil Others Solids Bulk – Dust Finely Divided Coal Plastic Wood Sugar Paper Grain Cloth Hay Wax Cork Grease Leather Others

7. Fire Life Safety The wet towel thing...

8. HEAT FUEL OXYGEN CHEMICAL REACTION Fire Life Safety Fire Tetrahedron The process we know as fire is a chemical reaction which involves rapid oxidation or burning of a combustible material. In the past, we learned that three elements, fuel, heat, and oxygen were necessary for fire to start and continue burning, hence the fire triangle concept. In recent years this concept has been expanded to include a fourth element, that of the ________ ________, thus creating the fire tetrahedron.

9. Fire Life Safety • How fires start, fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs four elements to occur: • Fuel – Fuel can be any combustible material – solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn. • Oxygen – the air we breathe is about 21 % oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16% oxygen. • Heat – Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur. • Chemical Reaction – A chain reaction can occur when the other three elements are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place. • Take any one of these factors away and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.

10. Class A Class B Class C Class D Fire Life Safety How Fires are Classified List the four classes alphabetically

11. Fire Life Safety • How fires are classified: • Class A – Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics. • Class B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners, and propane. • Class C – Energized electrical equipment such as appliances, switches, panel boxes and power tools. • Class D – Certain combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.

12. Fire Life Safety • How to prevent fires from occurring: • Class A – Ordinary combustibles: • Keep storage and working areas free of trash • Eliminate excess/unnecessary storage of combustible material • Place oily rags in covered containers • Class B – Flammable liquids or gases: • Don’t refuel gasoline-powered equipment in presence of an open flame such as a furnace or water heater • Don’t refuel gasoline-powered equipment while it is hot • Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly closed, self-closing , spill-proof containers. Pour from storage drums only what you’ll need. • Store flammable liquids away from spark-producing sources. • Use flammable liquids only in well-ventilated areas.

13. Fire Life Safety • How to prevent fires from occurring: (cont) • Class C – Electrical equipment: • Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report any hazardous conditions to your supervisor. • Prevent motors from overheating by keeping them clean and in good working order. A spark from a rough-running motor can ignite the oil and dust in the unit. • Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over them. Heat from an uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles. • Don’t misuse fuses, never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit. • Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of fire. • Don’t overload wall outlets. Two outlets should have no more than two plugs.

14. Fire Life Safety • When not to fight a fire: • If the fire is spreading beyond the spot where it started • If you can’t fight the fire with your back to an escape exit • If the fire can block your only escape • If you don’t have adequate fire fighting equipment • When it is past the incipient stage

15. Fire Life Safety PRESSURE GAUGE (not found on CO2 extinguishers) DISCHARGE LEVER DISCHARGE LOCKING PIN AND SEAL CARRYING HANDLE DISCHARGE HOSE DATA PLATE DISCHARGE NOZZLE BODY DISCHARGE ORIFICE

16. Fire Life Safety Pressurized Water • For class “A” fires • Extinguishes by cooling the burning material A – Paper, Wood, Trash B - Flammable Liquids, Grease C - Energized Electrical Equipment

17. Fire Life Safety Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • For class “B” or “C” fires • Extinguishes by cooling the burning material • Approximately 8-30 seconds discharge time A – Paper, Wood, Trash B - Flammable Liquids, Grease C - Energized Electrical Equipment

18. Fire Life Safety Multipurpose Dry Chemical • For class “A” “B” or “C” fires • Extinguishes by smothering burning material • Approximately 8-25 seconds discharge time • Contains (ammonium phosphate) A – Paper, Wood, Trash B - Flammable Liquids, Grease C - Energized Electrical Equipment

19. Fire Life Safety Halon • For class “B” or “C” fires • Extinguishes by removing oxygen • Approximately 8-18 seconds discharge time A – Paper, Wood, Trash B - Flammable Liquids, Grease C - Energized Electrical Equipment

20. Fire Life Safety Combustible Metal • For class “D” fires • Extinguishes by smothering burning material COMBUSTIBLE D METALS

21. Fire Life Safety P.A.S.S. Method Pull the pin This will allow you to squeeze the handle in order to discharge the extinguisher Aim at the base of the fire Aiming at the middle will do no good. The agent will pass through the flames. Squeeze the handle This will release the pressurized extinguishing agent Sweep side to side Cover the entire area that is on fire. Continue until fire is extinguished. Keep an eye on the area for re-lighting.

22. Fire Life Safety • Leave the area immediately: • Should your path of escape be threatened • Should the extinguisher run out of agent • Should the extinguisher prove to be ineffective • Should you no longer be able to safely fight the fire • If ever in doubt, GET OUT!

23. Fire Life Safety • How to inspect your fire extinguishers: • Know the locations of your fire extinguishers. • Make sure the class of extinguisher is safe to use on fires likely to occur in the immediate area. • Check the seal. Has the extinguisher been tampered with or used before? • Look at the gauge and feel the weight. Is the extinguisher full? Does it need to be recharged? • Make sure the pin. Nozzle and nameplate are intact. • Report any missing empty or damaged fire extinguisher to the appropriate person at your facility whenever you notice any discrepancies.

24. Fire Life Safety • Evacuation Plans: • Staff and inmates must be aware of the plan. • It shall be the responsibility of the Warden/designee to provide a system of fire prevention and control to ensure the safety of employees, inmates, and visitors. • Institutions/facilities with major fire fighting equipment shall be responsible for training the employees assigned to operate the equipment. • During an emergency, the Warden or highest ranking officer on duty shall have absolute and total authority concerning decisions made affecting the institution/facility.

25. Fire Life Safety • Control Center – when notified of a fire, will be alert and observant concerning the fire alarm panel and, as directed: • Call the fire department • Notify affected areas • Advise all radio units of the emergency • Begin notification of personnel on the emergency notification roster • Alert medical staff • Maintain accurate records of notifications & times

26. Fire Life Safety • All employees should assist in fire prevention. This shall include, but is not limited to: • Proper storage of combustible materials, • Preventing hazardous electrical situations, • Training inmates in fire safety procedures, • Conducting fire drills, • Reporting fire hazards to the designated officer, • Checking fire control equipment regularly.

27. SNCC Fire On 12 April 2007 at about 4:55PM the following incident occurred at Southern Nevada Correctional Center. Correctional Officer Wazoo was supervising an inmate working in the SNCC maintenance area. Inmate Waxbean was utilizing a hand held grinder which caused metallic sparks to fly across the maintenance building and ignite a fire in the upstairs open storage area.

28. SNCC Fire

30. JCC Fire On November 23 2007 at approximately 9:00PM the following incident occurred at Jean Conservation Camp. After drying several loads of laundry, the inmate removed the dried clothing from the dryer. The inmate then placed washed culinary rags and clothing into the hot dryer. The dryer was not turned on and the laundry room was left unattended. Later that evening a fire alarm alerted staff to a fire in the laundry room.

31. JCC Fire

32. JCC Fire

33. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time • What is the primary concern in terms of fire safety? • Prevention • If a fire breaks out, what is the next ultimate concern? • Life Safety • What should I look for when checking extinguishers? • Make sure an extinguisher is present • Make sure the arrow is positioned in the green for charged • Check the tag – make sure the tag has not been removed • What is an “A” type fire? • Ordinary combustibles, paper, wood, clothing

34. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time • What is a “D” type fire? • Certain combustible metals, magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. • What is a “B” type fire? • Flammable or combustible liquids; gas, paint, kerosene, grease, tar, etc. • What is a “C” type fire? • Energized electrical equipment, electric appliances, computers • What is known as a common extinguisher? • A-B-C • What is the first thing I should do to operate a fire extinguisher? • Pull the pin

35. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time • What is the second thing I should do to operate a fire extinguisher? • Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire • What is the third thing I should do to operate a fire extinguisher? • Squeeze the handle on the extinguisher • What is the fourth thing I need to do? • Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire • What type of fires do we use “Halon” on? • Metal or equipment fires; Halon does not damage electronic components! Computers, radios, etc.

36. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time • How often should I inspect fire extinguishers in my area? • Every time I walk by, daily, weekly, etc. • How often should fire extinguishers be services? • Annually • What elements are necessary for a fire to start? • Fuel • Oxygen • Heat • What are the (3) types of fuel? • Gases • Liquids • Solids

37. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time • Why do people die from inhaling smoke? • Suffocation – Carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, which are a poison • Why is good housekeeping important? • Disposes of possible fuel for the fire • Prevents blocking of evacuation routes • Prevents interference with fire control equipment • Avoids obstructing fire fighter – responding team • What kind of materials must be disposed of in a tightly covered metal container? • Rags soaked in oil, paint, or any other combustible liquid • Material which explode if combined with other materials • Greasy materials

38. Fire Life Safety Quiz Time Bonus Point Question • How would you fight a large fire that’s spreading rapidly with an extinguisher? • Throw the extinguisher in the fire and “Haul ?” the extinguisher will explode and put the fire out, you are home free.