Effective Fire Prevention Measures in the Home 2
Although we can do our utmost to prevent fires from happening
by isolating the sources of heat from combustibles and oxygen,
it is often the unexpected event that catches us unawares.
Carelessness
Sometimes, forgetfulness can result in an accidental fire.
Putting a kettle to boil water on a gas stove and forgetting
about it can be disastrous. When all the water has evaporated,
the kettle becomes red hot, melt and spread the molten metal
around.
LP gas leaks are also dangerous. If the fuel-air mixture is in
just the right proportion, an explosion can occur when a heat
source is introduced in. Many accidents have occurred when a
light is switched on in an explosive environment. The correct
thing to do then is to free the room of any gas by shutting off
the source of the gas and letting in more fresh air into the
room.
Chemical reactions can also cause heat and fire. Mixing acids
and alkalis, mixing components of some household glue like epoxy
resins and hardeners can generate quite a substantial amount of
heat that can lead to fires. The containers used and the amount
of chemical used can have a great effect on the heat produced.
Plastic containers are known to melt and burn when large
quantities of thermosetting plastics like epoxies are mixed with
hardeners.
Fires are also known to be started by the careless smokers who
throw lighted cigarette butts indiscriminately. Many bush fires
are started this way. Some areas are especially vulnerable to
careless acts like these. People working in the garage at home
should be very careful not to cause a fire, especially with open
petrol cans and other volatile fuels around them. Sometimes,
smokers fall asleep while smoking, and their bed or sofa catches
fire. The rubber foam mattress used for bedding can catch fire
easily.
Although most electrical equipment is quite safe as far as fire
is concerned, the use of sub-standard and poorly designed
equipment may give rise to overheating and fires. Carelessness
in the area of electrical appliances can cause fires as well as
electrical shocks. Many households use multiple power points
because they have many electrical equipment that must be used at
the same time. Videos, television, fans, radios, and fancy
lights may occupy only one electrical socket. When a multiple
adapter is used, usually the connection pins cannot be fitted
very tightly. The loose power connections are a source of
sparking and deterioration of the insulation materials and can
lead to fires.
This will be worst if high powered appliances are used because
the electrical current drawn from these will be very much higher
and so the wires and connections gets hotter.
Preventive Measures
Since we know that all the three conditions of heat, fuel and
oxygen must be present in order for a fire to start; our basic
fire prevention strategy must be to keep them isolated from each
other. Heat sources must be kept away from combustible materials
and if possible, from oxygen.
We should take a critical look at all the sources of heat in the
home. They are the potential fire hazards. It is good to make an
audit of our own homes and make a list, or at least be aware of
all the heat sources in the home. Electrical wiring, appliances,
gas stoves, kerosene lamps, candles, electrical light bulbs,
ovens, electrical kettles, barbecue fires, burning garden
refuse, and so on, are some of them. Even spells of dry weather
should be looked at with vigilance.
The sources of heat are many. Below are some of the sources of
heat that we have to exercise caution, so that we can be
especially careful not to let them come into contact with
combustibles: