Fire and Emergency Medical Services

Fire Response: How Fires Start
 

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of fuel. It needs three elements to occur:

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Fuel cam be any combustible material: solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn.

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The air we breathe is about 21% oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16% oxygen.

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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.