FIRE PREVENTION AND FIRE FIGHTING IN
PLANTS/WORKING PLACES.
PRESENTATION ON FIRE AWARENESS TRAINING
BY KITIZA M.M
KILIMANJARO INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
Kitizamerchant@yahoo.com

INTRODUCTION
-THE OBJECTIVES
•To provide a basic understanding of the science of
fire
•Have an understanding of Fire
•Be able to reduce Fire risk at Work
•Know what to do when the Fire Alarm sounds
•Know what to do if you find a fire
•Be able to correctly and safely select and use a fire
extinguisher
To provide the basic understanding of the roles and
responsibilities of the fire warden/marshal at the
workplace

Staff Training
Each employee is
•Responsible in a fire emergency.
•Supposed to be aware about building’s fire
equipment.
•Supposed to be aware about various fire signals
means.

UNDERSTANDING FIRE
- What is Fire? (Combustion)
- Elements of Fire.
- Classification of Fire.
- The Methods of Extinction.
- Causes of Fire.
- Methods of Fire Spread.
- Ignition Temperature.

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
-What is Portable Fire Extinguisher.
-Types of Portable Fire Extinguishers and it’s
use.
-How to operate.
- Procedures for Tackling Fire.
- Health and Safety Implications.

FIRE WARDEN AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-Who is Fire warden?
-General responsibilities of Fire warden.
-Responsibilities of Fire warden in case of Fire.
-Procedures to be followed by Fire warden
while in smoke rooms.

FIRE RISK PREVENTIVE MEASURES
- Fire Prevention.
- Fire Protection.
- Evacuation Procedures.
- Assembly and Rendezvous Points.

PRACTICAL
- Live Fire.
- Evacuation Drill + Assembly Point.
- Application Of Portable Fire Extinguishers.

CONCLUSION
- Fully implementation.

INTRODUCTION
-The objective of this training is
to enable you understand
- What is fire and what causes of the fire
- What to do in case of fire
- What to do if you locate fire
- Pro-active fire safety
- Fire extinguisher awareness

FIRE; The danger which never sleeps.
The risk of loss of life, personal injury and
destruction of large amount of valuable properties
can be minimized or reduced if precautionary
measures are taken to prevent its spreading if it has
started.

What is Fire or Combustion?
• Combustion is a self sustained chemical
reaction accompanied by giving off heat and
light.

UNDERSTANDING FIRE
(COMBUSTION)
Is a chemical reaction where oxidation takes
place and therefore during this process heat
and light will appear or is a series of reactions
accompanied by evolution of heat and light,
and may be slow or rapid depending on the
availing conditions.

COMPONENTS OF FIRE
• In order for a fire to occur there must be the following components
• Oxygen- which is 21% reach in air
• Fuel – is anything which can burn
• Heat – is the ignition temperature of substance
• Self sustained chemical reaction (SSRC)
• These components are described as the “Fire Tetrahedron”. The removal of one component will
cause no combustion

Methods Of Extinguishing Fire
The limitation of one or more components will
cause the extinction of the fire.
1.Starvation – Limitation of or removal of fuel.
2. Smothering – Limitation or removal of oxygen.
3. Cooling – Limitation or removal of heat.
*Disturbing the SSCR

CLASSFICATION OF FIRE
It is very important to know the type of fire you
are fighting so as to use the right extinguishing
appliance for the effectiveness extinction.
There are four main classes of fire:-

CLASSES OF FIRES;
There are four classes of fires;
(i) Class A
(ii) Class B
(iii) Class C
(iv) Class D

Class ‘A’ Fires
• Fires involving combustible solid materials
normally organic in nature such as grasses,
clothes, wood, papers etc.
• The effective extinguishing agent is water.

Class ‘B’ Fires
• Fires involving flammable liquids-organic in
nature- such as petrol, diesel, greases,
kerosene, paraffin etc.
• The extinguishing media is Foam, Carbon
dioxide, Dry powder, Dry sand and Fire
blanket for small fires especially in the home
use or cookers.

Class ‘C’ Fires
• Fires involves gases materials such as
Acetylene, methane, butane, natural gases
etc. Also electrical equipments
• The effective extinguishing media is Carbon
dioxide and Dry Chemical Powder.

Class ‘D’ Fires
• Combustible metals such as magnesium,
titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium,
zirconium., etc.
• The effective fighting media is Dry Chemical
Powder. Do not use water.

Note
• There is no electrical fire in the world but
electrical fault can cause fire. Therefore when
fighting fire we normally consider the material
that is burning and normally can be found in
either class A,B,C or D. The foremost
procedure is to switch off electricity and fight
fire according to the class.

CAUSES OF FIRE
HUMAN BEING- causes fire through the following aspects;-
1.carelessness: smoking in the prohibited areas such as petrol
stations.
2.Ignorance: burning rubbish/debris during farm preparation,
poor storage of reactive chemicals.
3.Malicious or sabotage: this is done for the purpose of
destroying documentary evidence of the lost items or making
revenge due to the jealousness, etc

CAUSES OF FIRE
Human causes of fire:
- Local over heating by over loading of extension cable
and incorrect of fuse fitting.
- Unattended fire
- Appliances left on Cookers/Irons
- Aerosols and flammable liquids
- Careless handling
- Arson Such as making revenge.
- Playing with fire
- Misuse of appliance.
- Ignorance Such as Chip pans, Burning Rubbish,
Debris during farm preparation, Poor Storage of
Reactive Chemicals and Flammable Liquids.

CAUSES OF FIRE
• ACCIDENTS: This mostly occurs in motor
vehicles, machines, etc

CAUSES OF FIRE
• ELECRICITY: In a certain circumstance
electricity can cause fire through electrical
faults such as poor wiring, overloading of the
extension cable etc. But there is no electric
fire

CAUSES OF FIRE
Electrical causes of fire;
- Broken causes
- Dirty insulators
- Loose flexible wiring
- Perishable or damaged insulation or wiring. -Bad
connection e.g. Switches or Junction boxes
- Over loading circuits e.g. Several appliances on socket
outlet.
- Incorrect fusing
- Current traveling via gas pope.
- Earth connection should be clean
- Sparking

CAUSES OF FIRE
• SPONTENEOUS: Some times combustion can
occur due to higher temperatures in relation to the
rate of combustibility/ flammability of the burning
material or fuel e.g. Sawdust, volcano, earthquake
etc. A good example here is fires that normally
occur in damping areas or poor storage of materials

METHODS OF FIRE SPREAD:
Heat travels from high to low temperature as
water does for example heat can be transmitted
using three methods: That is
(i) Conduction.
(ii) Convection.
(iii) Radiation.

CONDUCTION;
Is the transmission of heat without molecules
and takes place in solids, the ability to conduct
heat (thermal conductivity) varies between
materials.
The best conductors of heat are silver and
copper.

CONVECTION;
Is the transmission of heat by actual motion of
heated particles and takes in either liquids or
gases, when heated expands and is transferred
from the original sources to higher place.

RADIATION;
Is the transmission of heat from one body to
another by heat rays eventually air heated and
reaches the other object resulting is an increase
in temperature.

IGNITION TEMPERATURE;
Is the minimum temperature at which a
substance whether solid, liquid or gaseous must
be heated before combustion can be expected
to occur.

PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
• Portable fire extinguishers are ‘First Aid Fire
Appliances’ (or FAFA) used in the incipient
stage of fire. The extinguishers contain the
extinguishing media which is expelled by the
internal pressure.

Marking Of Extinguishers
Standard specification is clearly marked with
the following information.
1. Methods of operation.
2. Description of content.
3. Year of manufacturer.
4. Test pressure.
5. British standard number.
6. Code color of the extinguisher.

TYPE OF PORTABLE FIRE
EXTINGUISHERS.
THERE ARE FOUR MAIN TYPES OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Water Type
It contains water
•Red body
•Suitable for use on Class A Fires, wood
and paper etc.
•Not suitable for combustible liquids,
cooking fats etc.
•Not safe to use on fires involving
electricity.
•Extinguishes by cooling.

Foam type
It contains foam solution
•Cream body (Old type) or Red Body with
Cream label.
•Suitable for Class A and B Fires.
•Not suitable for use on fires involving
electricity.
•Extinguishes by cooling and sealing the
surface of a burning liquid.

Carbon dioxide type
It contains CO2
•Black body (Old type) or red body with
black label (New type).
•Best on Class B and C fires but safe to use
on any type of fire.
•Safe to use on fires involving electricity
•Extinguishes by reducing oxygen levels
and cooling.

Dry Chemical Powder
Contains dry powder agent.
•Blue body (Old type) or Red body with
blue label.
•Best on Class B fires but safe to use on
any class of fire- A, C, D.
•Works by chemically interfering with
the combustion reaction.

HOW TO USE A PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS;
(i) Remove the portable fire extinguisher from wall
bracket.
(ii) Pull out the safety pin.
(iii) Press the handles properly.
(iv) Test it before.
(v) Direct the stream to the base of the fire by sweep
side to side.
Cut the
seal, Pull
the pin.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
When using fire extinguishers (hand operated), always note the
following hazards: -
 Electrocution: Water/Foam extinguishers are good
conductors of electricity.
 Inhalation of dry chemical powder can cause respiratory
problems.
 Frost bite – Caused by CO2 so when operating CO2 be
careful do not touch the handle (metallic handle)
 Noise, CO2 is too noisy.
 You must know means of escape.
 Impaired vision e.g. Dry Chemical Powder.

Checking and Testing:
Fire extinguishers should be checked
and serviced by competent persons
once or twice a year or after use.

DISCOVERING A FIRE
Fire can be discovered through smelling, seeing
or hearing. Remain calm and take action of
fighting fire by the right appliance.
Panic will affect your ability to act effectively
against the fire and may also frighten others
unnecessarily.

Fire Fighting Procedure –
Finding a Fire
• Sound the fire alarm.
• Fight the fire if you are competent
and you consider it safe to do so.
• Evacuate as per normal fire
procedure.
• Inform the Fire Warden.

Fire Fighting Procedure - Fire Alarm
• Leave the building immediately
• Use the nearest exit.
• Walk quickly but don’t run, close doors
behind you.
• Do not delay your exit to collect your
belongings.
• Attend the Fire Assembly Point and
report to the Fire Warden.
• Do not return until told to do so.

POINTS TO BE NOTED DURING EVACUATION
a) During evacuation DO NOT USE LIFT as you may be trapped
if the electrical power fails.
b) Assist people who are not familiar with the building. The
first priority should be given to the disabled.
c) Close but do not lock the doors and windows. This will help
to stop the spread of the fire smoke and heat.
d) Go immediately to the fire assembly point. Report any
person missing or trapped in the building.
e) Do not re enter the building unless fire brigade says that it is
safe to do so.

Fighting a Fire -
Do not fight the fire if : -
• It is bigger than a waste paper bin.
• One extinguisher is not enough.
• Smoke is affecting your breathing.
• You cannot see the way out.
• Gas cylinders or chemicals are
involved.
• Your efforts are not reducing the size
of the fire.

POINTS TO BE NOTED WHEN TACLING
FIRE
a) Only tackle a fire with the right FAFA in its early stage, in
case of doubt get out.
b) Raise an alarm either by shouting FIRE,FIRE, FIRE, or
activating fire alarm system if available.
c) Always put yourself and others safe first. Smoke kills if you
are in doubt get out.
d) Never let a fire get between you and your way out
e) Call the emergency service immediately.

CALLING FIRE BRIGADE- 114
a) When you contact the emergency service try to be brief and straight to the
point as follows;
b) Tell exactly what is happening
c) The location and address of the place
d) Tell Which part of the building is affected
e) Tell whether any one is injured or trapped
f) What action has been taken so far
g) Details of the main access points.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES
When faced with the first stage of fire it
necessary to know what to do for the best, the
following processes are very important.

POINTS TO BE NOTED DURING EVACUATION
a) During evacuation DO NOT USE LIFT as you may be trapped
if the electrical power fails.
b) Assist people who are not familiar with the building. The
first priority should be given to the disabled.
c) Close but do not lock the doors and windows. This will help
to stop the spread of the fire smoke and heat.
d) Go immediately to the fire assembly point. Report any
person missing or trapped in the building.
e) Do not re enter the building unless fire brigade says that it is
safe to do so.

FIRE SAFETY AT HOME
a) Decide who will tackle the fire, only if it is safe to do so
b) Do not leave electrical appliances switched on or plugged
when not in use.
c) Keep portable heater away from furnitures and furnishers.
d) Never smoke in bed
e) Keep matches and lighters out of reach of children.

EVACUATION PLAN AT WORKPLACE AND
HOME
Drawup an evacuation plan at workplace and home so as
to minimize the fire risk through
a)Construction of escape routs, and ensuring every one
knows the best way out for them.
b)The occupants must stop and drop down and roll if
their clothes catch up fire.
c)Practice evacuation regularly, every one has to know
how to evacuate the building during the fire outbreak.

FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION
Fire prevention and control are the most
important non fire fighting techniques
performed by the Fire Service. Fire prevention
inspection practices are less expensive but more
effective medium for accomplishing fighting
objectives.

FIRE PREVENTION
It is a step measure taken to stop the risk of the fire from
taking place through considering the following procedures;
a) Educating people on the concept of fire
b) Sitting non smoking signs to all the dangerous areas such as in the petrol
stations/tank farms
c) The provision of metal dust buns and ash trays in the offices
d) Good house keeping
e) Installation of the fire extinguishers such as portable fire extinguishers, hose
reels, hydrants.
f) The installation of fire alarms
g) The installation of automatic fire detection and suppression system such as
automatic sprinkler systems, smoke detectors, heat detectors etc.
h) To educate people on how to call fire brigade
i) making regularly fire prevention inspection of the installed fire extinguishers to
make sure that they are always in use or good order.

FIRE PROTECTION
Is all measures taken to reduce or minimize the fire destruction
by extinguishing the fire immediately, it can be achieved through
the following;
a)Making the use of the installed fire extinguishers
b)Taking immediate action of calling fire service through
emergence No. 114
c)Evacuation from the fire site or building

People to worry about when carrying out Fire Risk
Assessment.
The following people should be considered as being at risk in
the event of fire:
•Employees and customers.
•Employees and customers whose mobility, sight, or hearing
might be impaired.
• Employees and customers with learning difficulties or
mental illness.
•Visitors and members of the public.

Fire Warden/ Fire Marshal
Who is the fire wardens
Fire wardens is an officer/person who is
responsible for fire control
Fire wardens play an important role in
ensuring a business is prepared for a fire
emergency.
•Along with the emergency plan, fire wardens
are an important risk control measure to ensure
that a workplace is prepared should an
emergency situation, potentially a fire, occur.

Fire Warden
Key duties of fire wardens
•To assist in implementing and improving
effective emergency procedures in the
workplace;
•To help prevent emergencies by monitoring the
adequacy of the fire risk control measures;
•To raise awareness with other staff about the
fire hazards that exist in your workplace;
•To instruct workers in how to respond in an
emergency;

Key Duties Of Fire Wardens
• To lead the fire drills and real evacuation
procedures – they must be familiar with all
escape routes and exits from their designated
area;
• To ensure all workers are accounted for
during an evacuation; and
• To assist all people in the workplace should an
emergency occur, including assisting people
with special needs, e.g. helping someone in a
wheelchair to evacuate.

Key Duties Of Fire Wardens
To assist in the safe evacuation of workers and visitors from
your workplace immediately, and to ensure that their
designated area has been cleared.
To check that final exit doors are not obstructed
Check on a regular basis that fire exits are clear at all times
During an evacuation, fire wardens need to:
 Direct everyone to leave the building using all the appropriate
routes and exits
 Check all accessible spaces in their area, latrines, to make sure
everyone has evacuated
– This should be done on the way out of the building so that the
fire warden isn’t putting themselves at risk by re-entering the
evacuated area;

Key Duties Of Fire Wardens
 close the doors to help to isolate the fire
 guide everyone to the assembly area and
assist in checking that everyone has arrived
safely.
 The fire warden should normally be the last
person off their floor.
 To take part in any post-alarm de-briefing.

TOP TIPS
1. Make regular checks to identify fire hazards.
2. Look out for anything unusual, e.g. blackening of
plugs.
3. Do not overload electrical sockets.
4. Undertake regular maintenance of equipment.
5. Be “Fire Aware”.
6. Train staff to be “Fire Aware”.
- END -

This process falls under three categories:
(i) Flash point
(ii) Fire point
(iii) Spontaneous Ignition
Temperature.

FLASH POINT;
Is the lowest temperature at which fuel will flash but
only when flame of high energy sparks are applied.
FIRE POINT;
Is the lowest temperature at which fuel will ignite
when is applied and continue burning to sustain
combustion.

SPONTANEOUS IGNITION TEMPERATURE
(COMBUSTION);
Is the reaction in which heat and light are
evolved without any heat haring supplied to the
reacting substance from any extra source.

PROCEDURES FOR TACKLING FIRE:
>Raise an alarm first i.e. Fire, Fire, Fire, (Shout)
>Ask yourself the following ques
>Is it safe to tackle?
>Where is the exit route to safety?
>What is the current type of extinguisher?
>Remember “TEST IT” before committing yourself.
>Where is the safe position from which to fight fire
>Do not be too close to the fire
>Is the fire growing?

NOTE: USE ALL OF YOUR SENSE, BE ALERT FOR
CHANGES.

HEALTH AND SAFETY IMPLICATIONS: When using fire
extinguishers (hand operated) always note the following
hazards;
- Electrocution water/ Foam extinguisher
- Inhalation of Dry Chemical Powder can cause respiratory
problems
- Frostbite CO2
- Inhalation of Smoke and Toxic gases
- No protection offered
- You must know means of escape
- Failure rate
- Weight
- Noise CO2
-Impaired vision e.g. Dry Chemical Powder and smoke.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIRE WARDEN:
-Knowing the area of responsibilities
-Knowing the building e.g. All means of escape,
doors, staircases, fire button,
fire alarm panel etc.
-Be recognizable
-Close all doors/ windows on way out ONLY if safe to
do so
-Knowing the procedures for disabled persons
-Informing colleagues if you are away e.g. Meeting
or public holiday.

4. FIRE WARDENING AND RESPONSIBILITIES
FIRE WARDEN
Is an appointed person who takes care and safes
guard other person’s lives (i.e. by carrying all
necessary evacuation procedures) and their
properties (by extinguishing fire if possible to do
that)

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FIRE WARDEN INCASE OF FIRE:
-To clear the building of member of staffs.
-To ensure everyone reports to
-predetermined assembly point
-To conduct a roll call
-To reports finding to the immediate superior
-To ensure nobody re-enters the building
-Fight fire per available fire fighting equipment

- Call fire brigade – DSM 2151885-7/ 114
- Give the operator your telephone number
and ask for the “FIRE BRIGADE”. When the Fire Brigade
replies give the correct address and information.
FIRE AT ………………………………….
- Do not assume that the call has been received until the
fire brigade has acknowledge it.
-Stop re-fueling
- All vehicles should be removed from the area
- Leave the main gate open for emergency services e.g. fire
engine, ambulance e.t.c
- Inform the fire situation to the first fire officer to arrive.

PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED BY FIRE WARDEN WHILE IN
SMOKE ROOMS:
-Always keep low (i.e. to the ground that’s where
oxygen)
-Do not walk straight, always craw / or keep low
down
-Open windows or door to ventilate smoke if there
are possibilities of doing so.

FIRE RISK PREVENTIVE MEASURES:
FIRE PREVENTION:
The subject fire prevention entails second knowledge
of building process and the hazards involved, so
arrangements should be made to ensure that in any
section within the building work is carried out in a
safest manner.

(i) The practice of fire prevention.
Is directed to preventing fire start such as no
smoking signs. Good and orderly arrangement
of goods to avoid spontaneous ignition.
(ii) Preventing fire Spread
Well arranged goods provide space between
goods, fire Segregated walls where applicable
(firewalls) do preventive measures against
easily spread of fire.

(iii) House keeping
Is a phrase used in fire prevention, which
means simply cleanliness and tidiness and
proper arrangements of articles and regular
checks, it has to be is carried out at every
working place.
Therefore ; Fire prevention is a term indicates
measures specifically directed towards the
inception of fire.

FIRE PROTECTION:
Is the installation of fire equipment inside and
outside the building, not only that but also to protect
the building from many other risk against extensive
damage resulting from an outbreak of fires. The aim
is to protect people and properties also to ensure the
continuity of operation.

I. Hand appliances;
- Extinguishers
- Buckets of sands
- Hand pumps

II. Fixed Installation System;
Is divided into four groups, it is called a
system because is the combination of
more than one equipment.

A. Detection System;
Is the earliest stage which is used to detect the
fire.
B. Fire Alarming System
Is used to alert during the danger condition
especially fire. It can be either automatic or
manual.

C. Extinguishing System;
Is the system which is used to extinguish the fire.
There are two types of extinguishing system;
(i) Extinguishing system which is using water
(a). Hose reels system. This is a system
which posses hose drum, hose tubing and booster
pump, must be connected with permanent water
from galvanized pipe
normally 19mm and 30 m length
(b). Raising main
-Dry riser (the building of 18m – 60m)

- Wet riser (the buildings of 61m and above)
(c) External private hydrants, is shown by a
post
sign plates as F.H or H
(d) Automatic Sprinkler System
The system posses the sprinkler head, permanent
water to the system, also act as a detector. This is
special fitting which discharges water in the form of
fine spray.
- It detect fire 68 c
- It covers 9m2 or 7m2
- When it is 68 c the bulb burst and the head
releases water

- Gives information
- Prevents Spread of fire.
D. Water Projector Spray System
This system is used in electrical installation to protect
a transformer as a cooling system. It gives out fog
and act as a coolant agent in a transformer farm.
(ii) Extinguishing system which is not using water
(a) Dry Chemical Powder
Extinguishing System
(b) Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing System

E. Venting System;
Is the system that used to remove the smoke,
toxic airborne gases from the structure and
replace the fresh air.
Venting system is divided into two groups as
follows;
(i) Horizontal Ventilation
(ii) Vertical Ventilation

There are five phases of fire growth which are;
(i) Ignition phase
( earliest stage of fire)
(ii) Growth phase
(iii) Flashover
(iii) Fully developed phase
(iv) Decay phase

Radiation detector;
It detects the fire after the rise of the fire
flame and the rays try to heat the different
structures.

EVACUATION PROCEDURES:
Is a removal of people from an area of danger in an
orderly manner thus to prevent confusion and panic.
During these procedures, the risk of injuries should be
discouraged or minimized by following the required
instruction such as signs of emergency ,exit route,
assembly point and fire fighting.
Also emergency evacuation and assembly drills
should be conducted after every three months as a
matter of routine. This can include announced and
unannounced drills.

During the evacuation drills the assessment is made
on;
(i) Fire alarm effectiveness
(ii)Timelines of notification
(iii)The fire team’s performance with
established fire procedures
(iv) Safe evacuation and assembly

ASSEMBLY POINT FOR EVACUATION.
Is a safe selected area for workers (staff) to
run and assemble in case of fire (Roll Call)? This area
should be pre- determined by the staff. If one of the
staff is not seen during the roll call then the
firefighters or the team on site is responsible. In
conducting drills, emphasis shall be placed on
orderly evacuation rather than on speed. Drill
participants shall assemble to a predetermined
location and remain at such location until a roll call
or dismissal signal is given.

RENDERVOUS POINT FOR EVACUATION.
This is a meeting point for first responders such as fire
engines, ambulance, and mobile e.t.c. Also this area
should be predetermined but can be changed due to
wind direction and fire situation just in case.
(c) PRACTICAL
LIVE FIRE
Hot fire drill should be conducted by using used tires
and other available materials.

EVACUATION DRILL AND ASSEMBLY POINT.
Ensuring the staffs are informed on what is going on
and assuming the fire is located somewhere.
Therefore evacuation procedures are to be followed
rather than rushing randomly to the predetermined
assembly point.

APPLICATION OF PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER.
The fire team is to practice and prove the efficiency
of different types of portable fire extinguishers,
procedure of handling them and tackling fire is a
priority.

STAY SAFE

Thank you for being attentive!