Fire safety

Prevent fires

Do not use damaged cables or devices. Do not cover equipment ventilation openings or leave combustible materials near heat sources. Use open flames only where permitted by the class rules. Access to fire extinguishers, alarm call points and exits must remain clear.

When you notice smoke or fire

• Warn people nearby and raise the alarm according to the building instructions if you can do so safely.
• Call emergency services on 112. Give the location, what is burning and whether anyone remains in danger.
• Start leaving the hazardous area. Do not wait for the fire to develop or to collect your belongings.

Evacuation step by step

• Follow a marked, safe route to the exit. Follow the instructions of those directing the evacuation.
• Use the stairs. Do not use an ordinary lift.
• Do not go back for your phone, bag or other belongings. Close doors behind you if this does not delay your escape; do not lock them.
• Do not enter a smoke-filled route. If the exit is cut off, remain behind closed doors in the safest available place and call 112 to report your exact location.
• After leaving, go to the designated assembly point. Tell the instructor that you are present and provide information about anyone who may still be inside.
• Do not return to the building without permission from the person in charge of the response. Do not carry out searches inside on your own.

When you may use a fire extinguisher

Only attempt to extinguish a small fire in its early stages if you know how to use the appropriate equipment and have a safe escape route. Do not risk entering smoke. If the fire grows, the extinguisher is ineffective or the exit route becomes threatened, stop the attempt and withdraw.

Choose equipment suited to the fire

Read the extinguisher label and follow its operating instructions. The markings indicate which materials the extinguishing agent is suitable for. Do not use water on live electrical equipment or burning oils and fats. Do not assume every extinguisher is suitable for every fire.

Assistance during evacuation

If someone needs support, notify the person directing the evacuation and follow the building's plan. Ask how you can help. Do not attempt improvised carrying that puts you both at risk of falling. Give emergency responders the exact location of people waiting for help.

Fire and the fire triangle

A fire is uncontrolled combustion that creates a hazard. Combustion requires fuel, an oxidiser — usually oxygen from the air — and sufficient heat energy. Extinguishing can cool the fire, cut off oxygen, remove fuel or inhibit the combustion reaction. This is why closing doors limits smoke spread and air supply, and a suitable blanket can isolate a small burning object. Do not open windows to 'air out' a room on fire.

Fire classes A, B, C, D and F

• A — solid materials, usually organic, that form glowing embers: wood, paper and textiles.
• B — liquids and materials that melt while burning: petrol, solvents and paraffin wax.
• C — gases: methane, propane and butane. Do not extinguish a flame from escaping gas unless the supply can be safely shut off; an uncontrolled leak risks an explosion.
• D — metals, such as magnesium: these require special extinguishing agents intended for the particular metal.
• F — oils and fats in cooking appliances: use an agent intended for class F. Water can violently scatter burning fat.
• Live electrical equipment does not constitute a separate modern fire class. Check the extinguisher's permitted voltage and minimum distance; do not guess based on the cylinder's colour alone.

Extinguishers: how the agents differ

• An ABC dry powder extinguisher is for the classes shown on its label. Powder reduces visibility, may cause irritation and contaminates equipment. A BC extinguisher is not the same as an ABC extinguisher; metal requires a special class D agent.
• A CO₂ extinguisher leaves no powder and is sometimes used on electrical equipment, according to its label. The gas and uninsulated discharge part become extremely cold, creating a risk of frostbite. In a small space, CO₂ can displace oxygen; do not direct it at a person.
• A foam or water-with-additives extinguisher cools and may form a layer separating fuel from air. Its uses, including approval for electrical equipment, depend on the specific device. Not every one is suitable for cooking fats.
• A class F extinguisher contains an agent intended for hot cooking fats. AF or ABF markings indicate additional uses. The label on the specific extinguisher determines its suitability.
• A wheeled fire extinguisher has a larger supply of extinguishing agent and usually a chassis; do not assume it operates exactly like a small extinguisher. A portable pump extinguisher uses water, while a fire beater is intended for certain small surface fires. Equipment must be used by people trained for its application.

Read the label and check the equipment's condition

Find the fire classes, operating instructions, electrical restrictions and agent designation. Check for visible damage or a missing pin or seal; if there is a pressure gauge, its needle should be within the operating range. CO₂ extinguishers usually have no such gauge. An inspection tag provides information about servicing but does not replace assessment of visible damage. Report faults; do not attempt to repair the cylinder.

Using an extinguisher: sequence of actions

• 1. Raise the alarm and ensure an escape route first. Only attempt to extinguish a small fire if you have suitable equipment and know how to use it.
• 2. Read the short instructions. On a typical extinguisher, remove the safety device, hold the proper handle on the hose or nozzle and aim the outlet at the base of the flames. Cartridge-operated models may require an additional action or a wait after piercing the cartridge.
• 3. Release the agent according to the label, usually by pressing the lever. Maintain the specified distance and operating position. Outdoors, do not direct the agent into the wind.
• 4. Sweep the stream across the burning surface. Do not scatter burning liquid with a forceful jet. If the fire grows or smoke threatens you, withdraw immediately.
• 5. After use, do not hang the extinguisher back as if ready for service. Report its use and the need for servicing; re-ignition is possible. Do not return to the area without permission from the person directing the response.

Water and an internal fire hydrant

Water cools; a solid jet has greater reach and force, while a spray breaks water into droplets. The wrong stream can scatter fuel and increase the hazard. A hydrant is a fixed water supply point with a hose and nozzle, not an extinguisher. Do not use it on live electrical equipment, burning fat or substances that react with water. A trained user unrolls the hose, prepares the nozzle and opens the valve according to the instructions; a lay-flat hose must be fully unrolled. Do not test a hydrant during evacuation or block access to its cabinet.

Fire blanket

A blanket restricts the air supply to a small fire. If it is safe, remove it by its handles, unfold it and protect your hands with its edge. Cover the burning object starting from your side, without throwing the blanket or leaning your face over the flames. Leave it covered until cool; uncovering it too soon may cause re-ignition. Do not move a burning container. An established fire, smoke or lack of an escape route means you must withdraw.

When a person's clothing catches fire

Do not run: movement feeds the flames. Stop, drop and roll, protecting your face. When helping, stop the person from running and call for help; if you can do so safely, smother the flames with a suitable blanket, protecting the face and airways. Do not direct a CO₂ extinguisher at a person. After extinguishing the flames, assess breathing and obtain medical help; do not pull off clothing stuck to the skin. Someone exposed to smoke may need urgent help even without visible burns. Cool burned skin under cool running water for about 20 minutes, without ice. Protect the rest of the body from becoming cold. Cooling must not delay calling for help or CPR.

Detectors, manual call points and voice alarm announcements

Detectors identify signs of fire and send a signal to the system. ROP is the Polish abbreviation for a manual fire alarm call point: when you notice a fire, use it according to the instructions if it is accessible without putting yourself at risk. DSO, the voice alarm system, broadcasts instructions on what to do next. Do not cover detectors, trigger an alarm as a joke or assume every alarm is a drill. The alarm itself does not remove the need to inform the emergency services about the hazard you have noticed.

Fire compartments and access to equipment

Walls and doors with the required fire resistance divide the building into compartments that limit fire spread. Moving into an adjacent compartment may be part of the evacuation plan, particularly for people who need assistance. Do not choose this option based on guesswork: follow the specific building's plan and instructions. Extinguishers, hydrants and manual call points must be visible, marked and accessible; do not obstruct them. Choosing the number and location of devices is the building manager's responsibility, not that of class participants.

Check your knowledge

Work through these short scenarios. Check each answer separately.