8 - Notes on fire extinguishing

Summary

For a fire to occur we need oxygen, fuel and heat.

Oxygen is present in the atmosphere and in the compressed form contained in cylinders used for oxy-acetylene or oxy-propane cutting.

Fuel may be any combustible substance such as petrol, diesel oil, paper, cleaning materials, rubber or litter etc. – anything that will burn.

Heat may be supplied by discarded cigarette ends, match sticks and, in the welding shop, by sparks from the arc or bad connections such as those at the earth or return terminal to the set. The arc is an intense source of heat and, together with the sparking, will rapidly cause ignition of any combustible solids or liquids in the immediate vicinity.

If any one of these above causes is removed, the fire will be contained. For example the oxygen supply from the atmosphere may be contained by smothering the fire with a blanket or dry sand or by turning off the oxygen supply if it is from a cylinder. The heat can be controlled by ceasing to use the arc and switching off all power supplies to prevent further arcing at poor contacts.