FIRE!
According to the U.S. Fire Administration there were more than 1.6 million fires reported in 2005. Those fires either injured or killed over 20,000 people, and caused more than $10 billion in damages.
What is fire?
Fire is a chemical reaction which needs oxygen, fuel, and heat to sustain itself. Given the right proportions of each will cause rapid oxidation to take place resulting in heat, smoke, and light. Take away just one and the fire will cease to exist.
How hot is fire?
Fire ranges in temperature from 750 °F - 3645 °F. A cigarette burns at the lower end of the extreme while mixture of hydrogen and oxygen burns at the upper end of the scale.
7 Reasons to Run for your life:
1. If the fire is being fueled by a solvent (alcohol or gas)
2. If the fire is larger than 60 sq. ft. (8ft X 8ft)
3. If the fire is coming out of the wall or ceiling
4. If you can't reach the fire from a standing position
5. If you can't can't breathe because of the smoke
6. If you have to crawl on the floor to breath
and most importantly
7. If you're going to fight the fire make sure you leave your exit behind you in case things get out of hand.
Now I don't know about you but if I saw a room with even a 4' X 4' fire roaring, I would have to think I'm gonna bail. It's probably more of a common sense thing when you're in the heat of the moment (no pun intended).
If any of you out there have been in this type of situation, I would love to hear about the experience.
Hmm, never been in a situation like the ones you listed. Although I’m pretty sure the fire was bigger than 60 square feet when we burned our old pool table…
I love how you answered the question of “What is fire?” I’ve never really thoguht of WHAT it is before, just that you can burn things with it.
Also, thanks for the comment you left on my site. Unfortunately, I had to delete it. I ended up compeltely revising the post you commented on, which mean that your note about it being “very well written” was no longer necessarily true.
Make sure you have a smoke detector in your house. If you’re asleep when a fire starts the smoke will get you first and the fire will finish you off. I’ve never been in an experience with a house fire but I know I feel safer with a smoke detector installed.