Natural disasters are natural phenomena.

The best way to manage hazard impacts is

to be aware of how it occurs and its accompanying consequences, mitigate against, and plan
for actions to be taken before, during and after a phenomenon.

VII. FIRE HAZARD

Prevent Fire through Good Housekeeping
2013 edition, Bureau of Fire Protection. (2013), retrieved form
http://www.preventionweb.net/educational/view/43269

Fire Safety is Everyone’s Concern

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Did you know?

Majority of fire incidents LPG explosions due

occur in family dwellings to poorly maintained

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and mostly caused by tanks and hoses also
electrical short circuits caused 98 fire
and connections. In the accidents in the
first quarter of 2013,
C homes in 2012.
23% of fire incidents are
of this nature.
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Unattended cooking is Lighted cigarette

among the most
frequent caused of fire. It
climbed up to 533 fires in
2012 destroying hard
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butts caused 271 fire
incidents in the first
quarter of 2013.

earned investments.
Lighted matches and
In 2012, open flames due lighters consumed
to unattended torch several homes
(gasera) and lighted resulting to 124 fire
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candles caused 455 fire incidents in the first

accidents destroying quarter of 2013
several homes all over
the country.

Understanding Fire!
Fire is a chemical reaction. It is the rapid oxidation of fuel producing heat and light. For fire
to occur, all other must be present: Heat, Fuel, Oxygen.

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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.
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Safety Measures: What you should have in your home
1. Smoke Alarm
Install smoke alarms in rooms, kitchens and other
living areas. It ALERTS you when the fire is still in a
controllable state.

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2. Fire Extinguisher
Have an ABC or ABCD type of fire extinguisher in the
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kitchen and workshop areas. Know how to use a fire
extinguisher.

3. Emergency Exit Plan

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An emergency exit plan is highly recommended for a family dwelling. Be sure

that your kids know and understand the exit route and the meeting place
outside your house. An exit drill is also a fun way of getting your children
involved.
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INFO: Know the types of fire!

Not all kinds of fire can be extinguished with water, so things are classified into types.

A B C D K
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Light Flammable Energized Combustible Cooking

materials liquids Electrical Metals Fuels & Oils
Equipment
Paper, Plastic, Kerosene, Plugged Sodium, zinc, Frying oil,
Wood, Leaves paint, solvents, appliances and potassium LPG
adhesives tools

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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.
INFO: How to use a Fire extinguisher

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Fire Hazards: What you should watch out for
A. Kitchen Area
 NEVER leave your kitchen while cooking!
 Matches and lighters should be in proper

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storage and away from children’s reach.
 Keep your stove clean and grease-free, and
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check your LPG for leaks with soapy water.
 When frying and your pan bursts into flame,
DO NOT douse it with WATER. Put the lid on or
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get a wet damp cloth to cover the pan.

 Idle electrical appliances must be unplugged.
 Avoid overloading of outlets and use of worn
cords.
 Do not store items above the stove top.
 Keep flammable liquids and other combustible
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items away from the stove when cooking.

 Ensure that your smoke alarms are working
well and replace batteries at least every six Courtesy: www.k12.hi.us
months.
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B. Living Rooms and Bathrooms

 Do not use extension cords as permanent
outlets. Make sure that extension cords are
not looped on sharp objects that could cause
it to fray.
 Make sure that curtains are away from electric
fan blades
 DO NOT leave an electric fan switched on when it is not rotating!
Clean and oil them regularly.
 Defective appliances must be fixed immediately.

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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.
  Take extra care when using a clothes iron or rice cooker.
Unplug them promptly after use.
 NEVER SMOKE IN BED!
 Put out candle lights before going to bed.
 Place a lit candle in a holder. If you have none, place it in the
middle of a basin partly filled with water.
 Keep your place clean at all times. Remove dried leaves,
cobwebs, loose paper, and other easy-burning debris.

C. Storage and Garage Areas

 Keep areas clean and tidy with items properly placed for

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storage.
 Do not store large quantities of flammable liquids in
the house and basement areas.
 Gas/kerosene

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 Paints and solvents
 Motor lubricants
 Floor wax/ liquid polishes
 Adhesives (Rugby)
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 Alcohol products
 Oily rags, newspaper and other trash must be disposed
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in a sage waste bag or container.

 Clean up spilled oil and grease from vehicles promptly.
 Plug your power tools straight to the wall socket. Use only
heavy-duty extensions when needed.
 Keep your garage well-ventilated to avoid build-up of fumes
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and heat from tools.

INFO: Why should you unplug idle appliances?

Can you guess how many appliances are plugged in your house at the
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moment?
Many of the electronic devices in your home are quietly drawing
electricity all the time, whether you are using them or not. As much as ten
(10%) more energy is drawn by an appliance on standby mode. Imagine how
much you can save when you unplug them after use.

Despite all the safety features of modern appliances, a risk of overheat is always
present, which could also lead to household fires.

There are new smart power strips/extension cords that you could purchase at
specialty hardware stores. They automatically monitor your power usage and shuts off
power supply so you could avoid the inconvenience of removing your plugs every time.

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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.
The House is Burning!
What to do when a fire breaks out
 It takes just two (2) minutes for your house to be filled with toxic fumes from a
fire. These fumes are deadly when inhaled, and may have long-term effects in
your body. Majority of deaths from fire are caused by suffocation rather than
the fire itself.
 A well-rehearsed emergency exit plan will greatly alleviate the panic you may
feel during the fire.
 Try to close the door of the burning room and close all doors behind you as you
leave. This will help delay the fire and smoke.
 Before you open a door, feel it with the back of your hand to determine if the

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room behind it is burning.
 Fumes and hot air usually settle at the ceiling. When the smoke is dense, the
best air that you can breathe is usually one to two feet from the floor. Crawl to
the exit with a wet piece of cloth to cover your mouth.
 Fire spreads at a very fast rate, doubling its volume every thirty seconds. Get

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everyone out first. Have a bug-out pack with all your essentials. Saving your
possessions may weigh you down and get you trapped.
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 Never go back to your house unless a fire fighter declares it is safe to do so. You
could run into a potential roof collapse, stumble on live wires, or could trigger a
dreaded backdraft*
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*backdraft is an explosion occurring when oxygen suddenly meets very hot temperatures
and fuel. It is deadly on close proximity.

Worst-Case Scenario
What to do if you are trapped in the fire
 Try to position yourself in a room with windows leading outside. That way, your
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rescue becomes easier.

 Alert the people outside that you are still in the burning building. Shout for help
or get a light-colored cloth and wave it outside the window. It is more visible
through thick smoke.
 Seal your room. Close the door/s and patch any gaps with towels or sheets to
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prevent smoke from coming in.

 When you are trapped in the upper floors of your house, try to collect bed
sheets and foam. These could help you when escaping through the window.
 Do not run
when your
clothes catch
fire. Instead,
stop moving
drop to the
ground and
roll.

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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.
  Clear flammable debris from the window. Rip off the curtains and anything else
that could burn. Don’t break the glass. You may need to close it against smoke
entering from outside. But, as long as the air outside is fresh, open the window
a bit and breathe it in.

Trivia time!!!
The average 1000-gallon fire truck can empty its
contents in less than 5 minutes

Fire fighters us a special kind of foam, called

AFFF (A-triple F) to combat oil fires.

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Rescue ropes are made of nylon filaments
braided into a super strong kern mantle, which
can handle about 800 kilos in weight.

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The fire fighter’s bunker coat can withstand temperatures
of 260 degrees Celsius (as hot as glowing charcoal) for five
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minutes.
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Arson investigations use a

special machine called a Gas
Chromatograph to determine
what kind of chemical sparked
the fire.
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electronic or mechanical including photocopying – without written permission from the DepEd Central Office.