Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting in Libraries

Rajasekhar Gopalasetti1
Prof C. Sasikala2
1 Junior Research Fellow, Deptt. Of Library and Information Science, Andhra University.
E-Mail: kingsekhar143@gmail.com.
2 Librarian, Dr. V S Krishna Library, Andhra University. E-Mail: prof.csasikala@gmail.com.
Abstract:
Libraries and information centers are exposed to a complete range of disasters. No library
is entirely free from risk and disasters. They can happen anywhere at any time. Library resources
are constantly requires security, safety and to safe guard them from environment, atmospheric
hazards, natural threats, user and staff behavior etc. The disasters can be divided in to two types
according to the nature of occurrence. They are natural disasters and manmade disasters. Natural
disasters are brought about by change in natural phenomenon or what is known as acts of god.
The extent of loss experienced is dependent on the vulnerability of the population. On the other
hand, manmade disasters are influenced by humans and they are caused often as a result of
negligence and human error among other factors. Among all type of manmade disasters fire is
the mainly dangerous and most damageable disaster in libraries.
Further most of the libraries in developing countries are paper based libraries containing
nearly 90% of books, magazines and periodicals etc. Libraries are mostly equipped with wooden/
plastic chairs, wooden catalogue cabinets, wooden reading tables etc. These materials are
combustible at a low flash point which can be caused by manmade/ electrical short circuit.
This article first provides an introduction on nature of disasters usually libraries may come
across. Then it examines specifically disasters caused because of fire, examples of libraries
damaged in fire accidents from India and abroad. It explains scientific and theoretical aspects of
fire and their impact, reasons for fire accidents and preventive measures available to avoid or
lesser the damage caused due to fire accidents in libraries.
Key Words: Fire Fighting, Fire Prevention, Types of Fire, Library, Books, Furniture, Disasters
in libraries, Extinguisher, CO2 , DCP, AFFF.
Introduction:
Libraries and Information Centers as Social Institutions are bestowed with the
responsibility of not only sharing the knowledge but also preserving them for future generations.
Libraries and information centers are exposed to a wide range of disasters. No library is entirely
free from risk and disasters. They can happen anywhere at any time.
Disasters can be categorized according to the primary cause i.e natural disasters and
manmade disasters. Natural disasters happen because of change in natural phenomena and its
like acts of god. Floods , tornados, hurricanes, heavy rains, earthquakes, cyclones, landslides,
droughts, cloudbursts and tsunamis are said to be natural disasters. Manmade disasters are
caused because of negligence or human errors like fires, accidents, chemical reactions, nuclear

radiations, bomb blasts, war, terrorism, building collapse and electricity failure etc. Natural
disasters are extreme, sudden events caused by environmental factors that injure people and
damage property and cannot be assumed, where as manmade disasters occur due to negligence or
error of humans so these types of disasters can be prevented with care and proper use of safety
material and by following the safety measures.
The following figure illustrates the basic types of disasters:

Among all types of manmade disasters fire is on top of the list always. Earlier major
portion of library resources are imprint form. But most of the contemporary libraries can be
termed as hybrid libraries holding all types of materials. Beside paper based material they hold
plastic, rubber, film based materials. All the electronic & digital gadgets are supported by
electrical wiring and fittings which are prone to fire accidents. Further libraries usually holds
combustible material like books, wooden shelves, wooden cabinets, wooden chairs and plastic
chairs. In this backdrop there is a dire need to develop a good and strong fire fighting system in
libraries to prevent the loss of books and other library properties from fire besides the human
lives.
Historical examples of Libraries damaged due to Fire:
Following are some examples of libraries damaged or destroyed due to fire. Some of the
accidents are caused by nature of environment and some are created by human errors.
1. In May, 1943 a fire completely destroyed the National Library of Peru, with the loss of
100,000 volumes as well as 40,000 manuscripts.

2. The Jewish Theological Seminary Library, New York, in April, 1966 destroyed many books
which had escaped destruction in Europe during the Second World War. About 70,000 books
were burned while the remaining 150,000 were damaged by water.
3. USSR Academy of Sciences Library in Leningrad, in February 1988 which destroyed or
damaged about 3.6 million books. The library also lost 400,000 newspapers and scientific
periodicals. (van der Hoeven, & van Albada, 1996).
4. The Artificial Intelligence Library at University of Edinburgh was destroyed due to fire in
2002. The library housed a unique and historic collection of publications on the topic, dating
from the early years of the development of the field. (Battersby, 2005)
5 A fire due to old wiring resulted in the loss of a medical library having rare materials at
Radcliffe Infirmary at Oxford, England in 1971. (Buchanan, 1988)
6. The Los Angeles Central Library lost nearly 400,000 volumes out of a total of 2.1 million due
to a deliberately-set fire in April, 1986. Another 700,000 volumes were water-soaked or
dampened, while all remaining books suffered smoke damage. The largest and oldest collection
of patents and inventions in the American West and large collections of cook books were lost.
(van der Hoeven, & van Albada, 1996)
7. A fire in the basement of the University of New Mexicos Zimmerman Library in April 2006
destroyed 30,000 bound volumes of periodicals and also damaged and destroyed library
furniture. Shelving had leaned by 45 degrees with wet books. An accelerant was used to start the
fire. (Gugliootta, 2006)
8. The California Aerospace Museum and Library at San Diego was totally destroyed in 1977 by
an arson fire resulting in a loss of $16,000,000. (Buchanan, 1988)
9. The library of 15,000 to 20,000 books at the Sikh Cultural Society Temple in Queens, New
York city was virtually destroyed in 2002 because of a fire. Many of the destroyed books on Sikh
culture and Punjbai history were out of print and impossible to replace. (Fire..., 2002)
Some examples of fire accidents in Indian libraries:
1. The Nalanda University, one of the greatest
centres of learning during the ancient period,
dates back to the sixth century B.C. Considered
to be a monastic university of international
repute, this university once sheltered both
Buddha and Mahavira. According to Tibetan
accounts, ancient NalandaUniversitys library
called Dharmaganjaconsisted of three grand
buildings called Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi and
Ratnaganjaka. The whole establishment is
surrounded by a brick wall. When the savage Bakhtiyar Khilji sacked Nalanda, the
library burnt for 3 months. Nothing denotes the violent end to the knowledge enshrined at
Nalanda more than the image of the burning library: a library whose vast resources are
captured in the vivid image of the length of time it took to burn.

2. On 26th april, 2016 smoke rises from the

National Museum of Natural History in New
Delhi. it is said to have housed over 60,000
Books, bound Journals and old editions of
Indian and International wildlife Magazines.
It had handwritten books by surveyors from
the British era with rare info on Indias flora
and fauna species in the 19th and 20th
century. When fire was controlled it is found
that the entire collection of books and
periodicals and other material of library was burnt.
3. On 23rd march, 2016 the AKG Memorial
Library, Malappuram, Kerala went up in a
burst of flames. More than 5,000 books,
several rare manuscripts and numerous musical
instruments were lost. The cost of the damages
is estimated to be around Rs. 40 lakh Indian
rupees.
4. On 9th september,2016 inside the server room of
the library of Presidency University at College Street, Kolkata was fired due to some kind of
electrical botch-up from the air conditioning machine, the officials were taken a quick action
and the library was not effected with any loss.
Theory of Fire:
Chemical reaction causing fire: using a fire tetrahedron we can explain how a chemical
reaction causes fire in a particular environment. Essentially four elements must be present for
fire to occur. Removal of any one of these essential elements will result in the fire being
extinguished. The four elements are oxygen to sustain combustion, sufficient heat to raise the
material to its ignition temperature, fuel or combustible material and subsequently an exothermic
chemical chain reaction in the material. Theoretically, fire extinguishers put out fire by taking
away one or more elements of the fire tetrahedron.

Fire Tetrahedron

Classification of Fire:
Fires can be classified into following categories according to the fire causing substances as class
A, B, C, D, E and F (K).
Class A: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Ordinary combustible
materials such as wood, cloth, paper, and some rubber and plastic materials is classified as class
A fire.
Class B: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Flammable or
combustible liquids such as petrol, propane, kerosene, gasoline, paint and paint thinners etc is
classified as class B fire.
Class C: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with flammable gases such as
propane, butane, methane etc is classified as class C fire.
Class D: Fire caused by the chemical reaction of heat and oxygen with Combustible metals such
as magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, lithium, and zirconium is classified as class D fire.
Class E: These are fires involving any of the materials found in Class A and B fires, but
including electrical appliances, wiring, or other electrically wound up objects in the vicinity of
the fire, with a resultant electrical shock risk if a conductive agent is used to control the fire.
Class F (Class K): These are fires involving cooking fats and oils. The high temperature of these
types of fats and oil when on fire far exceeds that of other flammable liquids.
The emergency protection plan should consider the following aspects of safety.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Life safety.
Fire prevention.
Safeguarding ignition sources.
Safeguarding fuel sources.
Passive fire protection measures.
Fire detection system.
Fire suppression system.

Life Safety in libraries:

Libraries should give more importance to safeguarding the lives of its staff and visitors
than the preservation of the library collections. Libraries should follow the policy of safety
first. Library authority should ensure that staff knows what to do in case of fire in libraries.
Fire Prevention in Libraries:
In case of fire accidents, always prevention is better than cure
As righty said by Kofi Annan (1999) More effective prevention strategies would save
not only tens of billions of dollars, but save tens of thousands of lives. Funds currently spent on
intervention and relief could be devoted to enhancing equitable and sustainable development

instead, which would further reduce the risk for war and disaster. Building a culture of
prevention is not easy. While the costs of prevention have to be paid in the present, its benefits
lie in a distant future. Moreover, the benefits are not tangible; they are the disasters that did NOT
happen
Fire prevention must be adopted in a canonical way by every library as fire constitutes
one of the most potential and lethal hazards for the books as well as libraries. It is entirely the
responsibility of management and staff to minimize the possibilities of outbreak of fire by
following certain rules and regulations meant for this purpose. Although, the chances of fire
taking place by accident can never be completely eliminated but the chances of its occurrence
can certainly be reduced to minimum.
Right from the designing of the structure of the library building to the implementation of
the rules and regulations and implementation of safety standards, each area should be upgraded
continuously in the light of the increase in experience and better technology to prevent fires that
occurs in library.
Many fire accidents occur due to poor housekeeping operations performed in homes and
organizations. Libraries are not exempted from an exemption to this. Good housekeeping is as
essential outdoors as it is within structures. Standard cleanliness and order is perhaps one or the
important element in fire prevention. Regular disposal of wastepaper and other combustive waste
are of utmost importance to prevent the fire. Exposed light bulbs near flammable material,
careless disposal of cigarettes and matches and unprotected electrical wirings and fittings also
the sources of fire accidents in libraries.
Fire Detection system:
Fire can be detected in two ways i.e first way is by humans visible eye and smell of
smoke and second one is fire detection by available fire detectors. Device that gives a warning in
case of occurance of fire is called fire detector, it works on the principle that whenever fire
occurs the atmosphere around the fire place gets changed and these changes are sensed by the
fire detector which in that case raises the alarm. Automatic fire detection is more reliable than
relying entirely on the detection of the fire by the human beings. Any sign of fire even if of the
slightest nature is immediately detected by the system. It works round the clock and so keeps a
vigil continuously. It gives ample time for the fire fighting personnel to act accordingly because
any delay in the detection and the action taken as a consequence may prove to be more fatal and
more devastating, heat, smoke and flame are the most common elements used to detect fire.
Types of fire Detection:
All the fire detectors sense heat, smoke, flame or other indications of fire. They are of
different types and some of them are as follows:
1. Heat detectors operate when the rate of the temperature in the surrounding increase
beyond a set limit.
2. Smoke detectors which operate when smoke obscures a beam of light falling on a photo
electric cell.
3. Smoke detectors which operate when a beam of light is scattered by smoke and caused to
fall on photo electric cell.

4. Smoke detectors which operate when an electric current flowing through an ionized
atmosphere is changed by combustion products.
5. Flame detectors which react to radiation emitting from flame.
6. A sprinkler system also incorporates an automatic fire detection alarm and extinguishing
system.
Heat activated fire detectors:
These are heat sensitive and operate between 54 C to 78 C temperature. There are three
types of heat activate detectors:
1. Fixed temperature detectors these initiate a fire alarm when the temperature around the
device reaches to pre defined or a pre set temperature value.
2. Rate of rise of temperature detectors they are activated when the rise in temperature
increases faster than the pre set value. Rate of rise detectors sense temperature changes
rather than the temperature itself.
3. Combination of fixed temperature and rate of temperature rise detectors fixed
temperature detector will not initiate an alarm until the detector temperature reaches pre
set operating temperature. Thus fixed temperature detector will not activate alarm
immediately when a fire breaks out. Hence in most of the cases fixed temperature
detectors and rate of rise detectors are used together. Here alarm is activated when the
temperature rises at faster rate than a pre set rate. Both of them when used in combination
is more effective
Smoke detectors:
They are smoke sensitive and the change in density of smoke intiate them. They operate when
smoke density is in the range of 2% to 12 % per cubic meter in air. A smoke detector will detect
most fires much faster than a heat detector. It is also covers more area for detection of fire than
the heat detectors. There are two types of smoke detectors:
1. Ionization smoke detectors.
2. Photo electric smoke detectors.
Flame detectors:
The normal flame consists of three parts viz. infra red rays, visible light and ultra violet
rays. Infra red rays and ultra violet rays are invisible to naked eyes. Like light, flame also travels
in the form of electromagnetic waves known as electro radiation. The infra red rays radiation and
ultra violet rays radiation can also be used to detect fire. Visible light is not used for detection of
fire as the flame detector cannot differentiate between visible light of fire and from other sources.
These infra red radiation and ultra violet radiation have particular frequency of 25 hz. Infrared
flame detector lense/ filter unit allow only infrared rays to pass through goes to amplifier unit
and time delay unit before passing into alarm circuit. This is most useful in open space and very
quick in detection.

Automatic sprinkler system:

They are automatic fire detection, alarm and extinguishing system. The system consists
of pressurized pipes filled with a number of sprinkler heads, which are so arranged that every
part of each space requiring protection is adequately covered. Each head has glass or quartzoid
bulb which retains a diaphragm seal at the outlet if the water pipe. This bulb is partially filled
with a special fluid so arranged that rise in temperature in the concerned compartment will cause
the liquid to expand and when the liquid has expanded entirely and filled the space the bulb
unable to with stand further pressure, bursts the water pressure forces diaphragm out and water
flows from the sprinkler. The usual temperature at which bulb bursts in 68 C or 93 C and each
sprinkler cover an area of 12 square meter.

Working of automatic sprinkler system

Methods of Fire Fighting:
The selection of fire extinguisher is determined by what is burning, and the method of
attacking the fire is determined by location of fire. Plan for firefighting is worked out before a
fire actually occurs depending upon so many factors eg. Type of libraries, type of material
available and man power.
Fire fighting requires great team work, skills, which can only be developed through
constant drills, pre fire plans and developing coordination among personnel.
There are two acronyms popular regarding fire fighting method, they are FIRE and RACE
FIRE

Find find out where the fire occurred

Inform Inform the occurrence of fire by shouting Fire Fire Fire to attract others.
Restrict restrict the fire to spread.
Extinguish stop the fire by using proper and suitable extinguisher.

RACE

Rescue assist any one in immediate danger and help get them to a safe area as fast as
possible
Alarm alert others by activating any available alarm system.

Contain confine the fire as much as possible by closing doors and windows behind you
during evacuation.
Extinguish only attempt to put out the fire if it is small, you have proper equipment and
it is safe to do so yourself.

The initial attack for firefighting must be backed by a full onslaught in a determined manner.
Water should be very judiciously used for firefighting purpose. Fixed extinguishing systems
must be used as a last resort. The fire must be confined to the place of its origin, by restricting
the flow of air to and from the place of fire by cooling the adjacent places.
Principles of Fire Fighting:
The principles of firefighting rest on the removal of one of the sides of the fire triangle/ fire
tetrahedron. It has been shown by the fire triangle and fire tetrahedron that three of four factors
are essential to combustion. Namely fuel, oxygen and heat. Fire extinction, in principle, consist
in the limitation of one or more of these factors and the methods of extinguishing fire may
therefore be classified conveniently under the following headings:

Starvation Removal of fuel from the fire

Smothering - Removal of oxygen from the neighborhood of burning material. This can
be achieved by Blanketing, sanding, extinguishing with CO2 or Dry Chemical Powder
(DCP)
Cooling Removal of Heat/ reducing the temperature.

Basic and small fires can be extinguished by using sand, blanket or water. Water is the most
usable extinguisher for general fires. Chemical Extinguishers can be broadly divided into two
types i.e fixed fire extinguishers and portable fire extinguishers. Fixed fire extinguisher system is
most expensive and may not be suitable to our libraries. Portable fire extinguishers are for
immediate use in the early stages of a fire. They should not be expected to deal with large fires
since they have a limited duration of use and capacity. Portable extinguishers may be divided
into five categories according to the extinguishing agent they contain, namely:
Portable Fire Extinguishers:
1. Water Type This type of extinguishers are purely works with water for extinguishing
the fire where as co2 cartridge is used for compressing the water to send it forcefully.
This type of extinguishers are used for only class A type fires.
2. Foam Type in this type of extinguishers, foam concentrate (AFFF) is stores as a
solution in water and a co2 cartridge also used. These types of extinguishers are used for
Class A and Class B type fires.
3. Dry Chemical Powder These types of fire extinguishers are suitable for tackling Class
A, Class B, Class C and fires involved in electrical equipments (Class E) also. These
extinguishers are noted for their speedy action, are mainly used on low flash point liquid
fires and high pressure gas fires. The powders employed are usually sodium based and
when applied to a fire, undergo a chemical reaction. The free radicals which are
responsible for sustaining any fire are put out of action by the dry powders and the fire
dies out very fast.

4. Dry Special Powder special dry powders containing mixtures of sodium, potassium an
barium compounds have been found useful in extinguishing fire in metals (Class D) such
sodium and magnesium.
5. Co2 Gas - carbon dioxide is effective as an extinguishing agent because it reduces the
oxygen content of air to a point where combustion cannot continue. Co2 is non
combustible and does not react with most substances. Being a gas it penetrates and
spreads to all areas affected by air. These type of extinguishers are use for Class B and
Class E fires.
6. Wet Chemical - Wet Chemical Extinguishers are suitable for use on Class A & F Fires.
These ranges of extinguishers are specialists in regards to cooking fires caused by fat and
oils.
Suggestions to be followed in every library to prevent and control fire accidents:
For prevention of fire in libraries the following measure may be followed and strictly
implemented:
1. Fire plan should be prepared for all libraries and displayed at main entrance of
library, which shows the location of fire extinguishers and way guides for emergency
exit.
2. Contact details in bold letters should be pasted at all entrances to view clearly by
library users when they are entering the library. This will help to contact in case of
fire.
3. Library users and staff should be oriented about the fire extinguishers and emergency
exits at the time of library orientation class.
4. External stair cases should be constructed for all floors of library and these should be
free from blockage.
5. Cigarette smoking must be strictly prohibited inside the library. Smoking is a fire
hazard because of the temperature of a burning cigarette, which is 500 C.
6. Library users should be instructed not to bring any type of flammable material inside.
7. If possible libraries may restrict the mobile phones inside the library.
8. Library staff should be trained at least once in a year about the fire fighting methods
and use of portable fire extinguishers.
9. Use pattern of portable fire extinguishers should be displayed at every stand of fire
extinguisher. So that library user also can react immediately in case of fire occurs.
10. Ensure the doors and windows of library rooms for their tight closeness.
11. Ensure the proper ventilation provided in libraries.
12. Ensure the electrical fittings and wirings in libraries and in main server room for their
proper insulation.
13. Big libraries may fix the automatic sprinkler system, which is most advanced and
reduces the loss of library properties.
14. Libraries may fix the heat, smoke and flame detectors for a fast and immediate fire
fighting action.
15. Escape routes should be provided and proper guiding routes to be displayed in
libraries.
16. Power to unoccupied cabins should be put off.

CONCLUSION:
The focus of this paper is to emphasize prevention measures one should be following to
avoid the most prevalent threat faced by all libraries i.e. FIRE. No library is immune from
fire. Until the managements of libraries develop plans for dealing with the fire threat, they
place the building and its occupants, visitors, and collections at risk. The complexity of these
plans may vary from a simple evacuation plan, to a fire prevention program, to a more
complex plan that includes passive and automatic fire protection systems.
Damage from fire, however, is usually permanent and irreparable. Property damaged by
floods can often be dried out and restored. Structural damage from an earthquake might be
repaired. Stolen property always has a chance of being recovered. Historical buildings or
contents, once reduced to ash, can never be restored. Fire is more cunning and less
discriminating than a thief (Wilson, J Andrew). It can travel (spread) through very small
openings and concealed spaces to reach other parts of a building, deprive occupants of a life
supporting environment, and cause partial to total destruction of property. So, prevention is
better than cure in fire accidents. At the very least, every library should have an emergency
self-protection plan that spells out how to report a fire and safely evacuate the premises by
the incumbents. A thorough, objective, periodic inspection of the library by municipal fire
inspectors or by fire safety specialists, and the regular inspection, testing and maintenance of
fire detection and extinguishing installations by specialists is also very important for
maintaining the fire safety system in the library.
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Authors Biography:
First Author:
Rajasekhar Gopalasetti is a Junior Research Fellow in Deptt. of Library
and
Information Science, Andhra University, India. He received his
bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Andhra University and a
Master degree in Library and Information Science from Acharya
Nagarjuna University, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India. He has Qualified
UGC NET JRF in Dec-2015 and APSET in Sept-2016. His Interests of
Research include Information Technology in Libraries, usage of mobile
application for Library needs, Cloud Computing in Libraries

Second Author:
Prof. Sasikala Chagari is a Professor in Library and Information
Science, Deptt. of Library and Information Science, Andhra University.
She is presently serving as a Librarian in Dr. V S Krishna Library
(Main Library), Andhra University and Chairman, Board of Studies in
Deptt. Of Library and Information sicence. Her interests are
Information Technology in libraries, digital libraries, etc.