Procedures for dealing with incipient fires and basic methods for extinguishing them

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Procedures for dealing with incipient fires and basic methods for extinguishing them (1. Reporting the fire； 2. Evacuation, rescue, fire fighting ； 3. Safety precautions and protection ； 4. Post-incident handling. 1. In case of a fire, one must follow the “three checks and nine steps”. The three checks refer to: 1. Check the source of the fire – smoke, glowing points, the location where the fire started, and the surrounding environment, etc ； 2. Check the nature of the fuel — the properties of the material being burned (solid substances, chemicals, gases, oils, etc.), whether there are any flammable or explosive materials present, and what the oxidizing agents are ； 3. Assess the fire situation – that is, determine which stage of combustion the fire is in (combustion has three stages: Stage A is the ignition phase – within 5-7 minutes, and it is the best time to extinguish the fire) ； B spread phase – within 7-15 minutes ； Phase C: Expansion – 15 minutes or more. The nine steps are: alarm activation, fire extinguishing, rescue of people, evacuation of materials, prevention of explosions, prevention of collapses, smoke exhaust, setting up a security perimeter, and medical assistance. II. How to report a fire? 1. Under normal circumstances, in the event of a fire, efforts should be made to extinguish it while simultaneously calling the police promptly ； 2. When there is only one person at the scene, they should call for help while providing assistance. They must call the police as quickly as possible, shouting for help while running, in order to get help from bystanders ； 3. Emergency phone number: “119”. III. What should be noted when reporting an emergency? Upon discovering a fire, immediately call the fire emergency number 119. Stay calm when calling the police; provide the exact address, the location of the fire, the material that is on fire, the intensity of the fire, as well as your name and phone number. Also, send someone to wait at the intersection for the fire truck. IV. What are the basic methods of extinguishing fires? 1. Cooling method: Based on the fact that for a combustible material to burn, it must reach a certain temperature, the fire extinguishing agent is sprayed directly onto the burning object in order to lower its temperature below the ignition point, thereby stopping the combustion ； Using water for cooling and extinguishing fires is a common method for putting out fires. 2. Asphyxiation method: Based on the fact that combustible materials require sufficient air (oxygen) to burn, this method involves preventing air from entering the combustion area or using non-combustible materials to reduce the oxygen content in the air, thereby causing the burning material to go out due to the lack of oxygen needed for combustion. 3. Isolation method: Based on the fact that combustion requires the presence of combustible materials, the burning object is isolated from or separated from nearby combustible materials to stop the fire. This is a relatively common method of extinguishing fires. 4. Suppression method: Fire extinguishing agents are used to interfere with and suppress the chain reaction of combustion, causing the free radicals generated during combustion to disappear, forming stable molecules or low-reactive free radicals, thereby bringing the combustion reaction to a halt. V. What precautions should be taken when extinguishing a fire? 1. First, identify the substance that caused the fire, and then decide what firefighting equipment to use. 2. Use all available fire-fighting tools, utilizing materials available on site. 3. The fire extinguisher should be directed at the base of the flame. 4. Personnel should stand upwind. 5. Pay attention to the surrounding environment to prevent collapses and explosions. Note: Fire types should be classified into the following categories based on the material and its burning properties: 1. Class A fires: refer to fires caused by the combustion of carbon-containing solid combustibles, such as wood, cotton, wool, linen, paper, etc ； 2. Class B fires: Fires involving liquids of categories A, B, and C, such as gasoline, kerosene, methanol, ether, and propane ； 3. Class C fires: refer to fires caused by the combustion of flammable gases such as gas, natural gas, methane, acetylene, hydrogen, etc ； 4. Class D fires: refer to fires caused by the combustion of flammable metals such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, lithium, and aluminum-magnesium alloys ； The selection of fire extinguisher types shall comply with the following provisions: 1. For extinguishing Class A fires, water-type, foam, ammonium phosphate dry chemical, or halon-type fire extinguishers shall be used ； 2. For extinguishing Class B fires, dry chemical, foam, halon, or carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should be used. Chemical foam fire extinguishers must not be used for extinguishing Class B fires involving polar solvents ； 3. For extinguishing Class C fires, dry powder, halon, and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers should be used ； 4. For extinguishing fires involving live electricity, halon, carbon dioxide, and dry powder fire extinguishers should be used ； 5. For extinguishing Class A, B, C fires and electrical fires, ammonium phosphate dry powder and halon-type fire extinguishers should be used ； 6. The fire-fighting equipment for extinguishing Class D fires shall be determined through consultation between the design unit and the local public security fire supervision department. VI. How to rescue people in case of a fire? 1. Calm and rescue method: When there are many people trapped by fire, they can first be evacuated to other safer areas within the same building, and then attempts should be made to transfer them to the ground floor. 2. Transfer and rescue method: Guide the trapped persons to descend to the ground via the stairs from the roof to another unit. 3. Ladder rescue method: Utilize various ladders and climbing tools to rescue trapped individuals. 4. Rope tube rescue method: Use various outdoor pipes in the building or available ropes indoors to carry out a descent. 5. Control and rescue method: Use fire hoses to control the fire in the fire escape, and evacuate people down via it. 6. Descent rescue method: Use a specialized descent device to rescue the trapped person to the ground. 7. Net-dragging rescue method: When someone is about to jump from a building in desperation, coats, blankets, canvas, etc. can be used to create a “rescue net” to save the person. VII. How to escape in case of a fire? 1. When you are in a firework explosion, the first thing to do is find a way to escape. If the smoke is not thick, one can walk bending over ； If the smoke is too thick, one must crawl on the ground and cover the mouth and nose with a wet towel to minimize the harm caused by toxic fumes. 2. Do not run in the downwind direction; it is best to take a detour around the burning area and run in the upwind direction. 3. When a fire breaks out in a building, if the fire is not severe, one can cover oneself with wet quilts or blankets and rush through the fire. If the stairs are blocked by the fire, one should immediately escape via the roof and use the stairs of another unit to get to safety ； If other methods don’t work, use a rope or a torn sheet to tie them together and slide them down ； If time is short, throw some quilts, sofa cushions, and other items on the ground first to provide more cushioning. (Applicable to low-rise buildings) VIII. How to evacuate people in case of a fire? 1. Activate the emergency fire broadcast to indicate the location of the fire and evacuation routes. 2. Organize the people on floors under threat from fire, such as those on the floor where the fire is occurring, to evacuate in an orderly manner along evacuation corridors and safety exits, in the direction opposite to the spread of the fire. 3. During the evacuation process, natural smoke exhaust windows should be opened, and smoke control systems should be activated to ensure the safety of those being evacuated ； If there are no smoke exhaust facilities, those being evacuated should be advised to cover their mouths and noses with wet towels and move toward the safety exits in an orderly manner while staying close to the ground. 4. In emergency situations, evacuation equipment can be used to evacuate people. X. How to prevent explosions at a fire scene? 1. It is necessary to first determine whether there is a possibility of an explosion within the combustion area. 2. When fighting a fire in a closed room, first touch the metal doorknob with your hand. If the doorknob is very hot, under no circumstances should you open the door rashly or stand directly in front of it to extinguish the fire, to prevent an explosion. 3. When fighting fires involving containers storing flammable and explosive substances, valves should be closed promptly or the containers should be cooled with water. 4. If an oil tank containing oil expands into an oval shape, it may explode very quickly; firefighters should not stand at the tank’s connections or in front of it, and additional cooling measures should be taken to protect the tank. 5. When a standing liquefied petroleum gas cylinder leaks and catches fire, if the flame changes from orange-red to silver-white and the sound changes from a roaring noise to a hissing sound, an explosion is likely to occur soon; therefore, prompt and effective emergency measures must be taken and people present should be evacuated. Procedures for dealing with fires I. Several common methods for extinguishing incipient fires: 1. Electrical equipment. In the event of a fire involving electrical appliances, the power supply must be cut off first. Under circumstances where it’s impossible to cut off the power supply, never use water or foam to extinguish the fire, as both water and foam conduct electricity. Carbon dioxide, 1211, dry powder fire extinguishers, or dry sand should be used for extinguishing the fire, and a distance of more than 2 meters should be maintained from electrical equipment and wires; in the case of high-voltage equipment, care must also be taken to prevent injury from step voltage. 　2. The gas tank is on fire. Use wet bedding, clothing, etc. to cover the fire and quickly close the valve. II. Types of fires suitable for dry chemical fire extinguishers and their usage methods. 1. Ammonium phosphate (ABC) dry powder fire extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing incipient fires involving solids, flammable and combustible liquids, gases, and energized equipment, but they cannot be used to put out fires caused by the burning of metals. 2. When extinguishing a fire, carry the fire extinguisher by hand and rush to the scene. While running, the operator removes the safety pin from the operating lever. Then, grasp the nozzle at the front end of the discharge hose, stand on the upwind side, and use the other hand to press down on the operating lever to activate the extinguisher. Aim at the base of the flames and sweep it from side to side to put out the fire. The operating lever must be kept pressed down at all times; otherwise, the discharge will be interrupted. III. The causes of electrical fires include: circuit aging, overloading, moisture, and poor environmental conditions (mainly excessive dust), which lead to circuit short circuits and overloads, resulting in heat generation and fires. Common locations where fires occur: electrical switches, wire connections, fuses, lighting fixtures, and electric heating appliances. IV. As a company employee, what specific knowledge should one know regarding fire prevention and firefighting? 1. One should understand what types of fire suppression systems the company has and their distribution ； 2. One should be aware of the placement of various fire-fighting tools ； 3. One should learn how to call the fire department ； 4. One should learn how to use a basic fire extinguisher ； 5. One should learn the most basic fire extinguishing methods and escape techniques. V. What to do in case of a fire? 1. First, call the police and report to the company’s management ； 2. Buy time by using local materials to organize firefighting efforts ； 3. Promptly arrange for trapped personnel to evacuate from safe passages to a safe location. Basic methods for extinguishing incipient fires, types of fire extinguishers commonly used, their purposes and usage methods: 1. Types: Fire extinguishers can be classified according to the extinguishing agent they contain, such as dry powder fire extinguishers, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers, and foam fire extinguishers. 2. Uses: Dry powder fire extinguishers use liquid carbon dioxide or nitrogen as a propellant to force the dry powder extinguishing agent inside the extinguisher to be discharged for fire suppression. The common types are BC and ABC. Class B and C dry powder fire extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing Class B and C fires (fires involving flammable liquids and electrical equipment under voltage). ABC dry powder fire extinguishers are suitable for extinguishing A, B, and C class fires (fires involving solid combustible materials, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment under voltage). Carbon dioxide fire extinguisher: Suitable for extinguishing Class B and C fires (fires involving flammable materials and electrical equipment under voltage). Foam fire extinguishers: They can generally be used to extinguish Class A and B fires (fires involving solid combustible materials and flammable liquids). In case of an electrical fire, they can also be used after the power supply has been cut off. 3. Usage Method: To use a dry powder fire extinguisher, carry it by hand or slung over your shoulder and rush to the scene. Place the extinguisher at a distance of about 5 meters from the source of the fire (when extinguishing fires outdoors, choose a location upwind). Remove the safety pin on the handle of the extinguisher, hold the front end of the nozzle with one hand and aim it at the base of the fire, then use the other hand to press down the release button in order to activate the extinguisher and put out the fire. How to use a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher: When using it, pull out the safety pin. Hold the handle at the base of the nozzle with one hand, and firmly grasp the trigger lever of the on/off valve with the other hand. For carbon dioxide fire extinguishers without a spray hose, the nozzle should be tilted upward by 70–90 degrees. When in use, do not touch the outer wall of the horn or the metal connection pipes with your hands directly to prevent frostbite. When used outdoors, it should be sprayed from the upwind direction ； When used in small indoor spaces, the operator should leave quickly after extinguishing the fire to avoid suffocation. How to use a foam fire extinguisher: When using it, hold the handle at the top of the extinguisher and rush to the site of the fire (be careful not to tilt the extinguisher too much, nor hold it horizontally or upside down). When you are about 10 meters away from the burning area, turn the extinguisher upside down, grip the handle with one hand, and use the other hand to support the bottom of the extinguisher. Aim it at the burning point and spray from close range to farther away. 4. How to use indoor fire hydrants: When using an indoor fire hydrant to extinguish a fire, open the door of the hydrant box, take out the hose, connect one end of the hose to the nozzle and the other end to the hydrant connector, press the alarm button on the hydrant, turn the hydrant switch counterclockwise, and direct the water flow at the source of the fire in order to put out the fire.