Fires can spread quickly and easily, leaving property damage and even death in their wake. It's crucial that you know what to do if a fire starts in your home or office.
Small fires are easily manageable. You may put it out yourself and stop it from spreading throughout the building. By following these essential tips, you can help prevent a fire from spreading and minimise the damage it causes.
How To Stop Fire From Spreading
Home Kitchen Fires
Home fires are the most common type of fire and often happen when cooking. The best way to prevent these cooking fires is by being vigilant. Don't leave the kitchen unattended, and always keep an eye on pots and pans. If a fire starts while you're cooking, take these steps:
Smother the fire by covering it with a metal lid or pouring a baking soda.
Turn off the heat source.
Exit the kitchen and call the fire department.
If the fire is in your oven, leave it closed and exit the house.
If a kitchen fire gets out of control, don't try to fight it yourself - evacuate the premises and call the fire department. It is also essential to be aware of the dangers of kitchen fires.
Oil and grease fires are also common in the kitchen. If a pan of oil or grease catches on fire, don't try to put it out with water - this will only spread the fire. Turn off the heat source and cover the fire with a metal lid, or cookie sheet, or pour baking soda on it to smother the fire.
Electrical Fires
A common potential fire hazard at home is extension cords. They can overheat and start a fire.
The key to keeping them safe while in use is to make sure you use extension cords rated for the amount of power they carry and don't overload them. If an extension cord starts to smoke or smell funny, unplug it and replace it.
Non-Chemical Fires
For fires caused by non-flammable fluids, such as left out candles or cigarettes, there are a few things you can do to try to put it out. If the fire is small, you can try to put it out with a handheld extinguisher or bucket of water if these options are handy.
Cigars and pipes can also cause fires. When smoking, use an ashtray. Make sure cigarettes are completely extinguished before putting them out in an ashtray.
If a fire starts to spread in your walls or door, evacuate the premises and call the fire department. It's important to remember that fires can spread quickly and easily, so it's crucial to take these precautions to help stop the fire from spreading.
Commercial Building Fires
Commercial building fires can often be more difficult to control than home fires, as they may involve multiple floors or even the entire building. The best way to prevent a commercial building fire is by having a well-organised evacuation plan and drills.
If a fire starts in your office, take these steps:
If the fire is small, try to put it out with a fire extinguisher
Alert others in the building by turning on the fire alarm
Make sure to use fire doors and fire curtains to help contain the fire
If you can't put out the fire, or it's too dangerous to stay in the building, evacuate and call the fire department
In the event of a large fire, everyone must evacuate the building immediately. Do not try to take anything with you, just leave the building. Once you're out, don't re-enter the building - the fire department will take care of it.
Fire Prevention Measures
Active and Passive Fire Prevention
As a precautionary fire measure, it will help if you are aware of the different types of fire prevention methods classified as active and passive.
Active fire prevention methods require human interaction and include the following:
Smoke detectors. These detect the presence of smoke and activate the fire alarm.
Sprinkler systems: These systems spray water onto the fire to help extinguish it.
Fire suppression systems: These systems use a variety of methods, such as carbon dioxide or foam, to extinguish a fire.
On the other hand, passive fire prevention is a method that does not require human interaction to be effective. Examples of passive fire prevention are:
Fire doors: most of the time, these are aluminium sliding doors designed to close off a section of the building to contain a fire.
Fire curtains: these are metal curtains installed in the building structure. They can also be activated by a fire alarm to help contain a fire.
It is important to have both types of protections in place as they each serve a different purpose. Active fire preventions are used to put out the fire, while passive fire prevention can stop or delay the spread of the fire, which gives people more time to evacuate.
For active and passive methods to work effectively together, everyone in the building needs to be aware of the fire plan and know how to use the active fire prevention methods.
Fire Education and Drills
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to fire safety is that it's not just for firefighters or people in authority. Everyone in a building needs to be aware of fire prevention and evacuation procedures.
To ensure that everyone is on the same page, it's essential to have regular fire drills. During these drills, everyone in the building should participate to ensure that they know what to do in the event of a fire.
In addition to drills, it's important to have fire safety education for everyone in the building. This can include things like knowing how to use a fire extinguisher or where the evacuation routes are.
Fire Safety for Everyone
Preventing a fire from spreading is everyone’s responsibility. Be aware of your surroundings, and get educated on how to help prevent small fires from causing significant damage to your property.
If you see a fire or something that looks like it could start a fire, report it to the nearest person in authority. By working together, we can help keep everyone safe from fire.
For all your passive fire protection needs, give Australian Fire Control a call (08) 9399 6957 or email us at sales@australianfirecontrol.com.au and our friendly team will be more than happy to assist you.
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