The Components of Fire

8/29/2022 (Permalink)

Starting a fire requires three components - oxygen, heat and fuel

We often talk about fire damage and the aftermath in our industry, but the elements to start a fire go overlooked. Fire requires 3 different components to “live” - oxygen, heat and fuel. Knowing how these 3 components work, can give you some insight on how to decrease your chances of a fire loss. Let's break it down:

• OXYGEN

A fire will not survive very long without oxygen. Oxygen helps produce an expanding series of chemical reactions. During this process, smoke and carbon monoxide are produced.

• HEAT

There needs to be enough combustible heat present to ignite. The heat necessary for igniting is different for each substance. For example, a large piece of wood is more difficult to light than a pile of dry leaves.

• FUEL

The type of fuel necessary to ignite a fire can be either organic or inorganic material. Wood or plastic can be the perfect “fuel” for a fire, especially on a property.

Fire can be extremely destructive. Make sure that you are doing the most to decrease your chances of home or property fire. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you need fire restoration services, let us help you get your life back - give us a call at (320) 219-6505!