Fire prevention and management deals with the avoidance, detection and extinguishing of fires, as well as less important activities such as studies on the sources of fire, education of employees about fire hazards, and the preservation and development of fire-fighting equipment. The answer to fire safety is basically to avoid fire starting in the first place, but an understanding of what makes fire is also necessary for fire prevention.

Fuel, heat and oxygen are all required to start a fire, and together they comprise the “fire triangle.” Fires can be categorised depending on the materials that are involved:

Class A - fires involving materials such as wood, paper and textiles.
Class B - fires involving combustible liquids or solids that can liquefy, such as candle wax.
Class C - fires involving gas.
Class D - fires involving flammable metals.
Class F - fires involving cooking oils or fats.

The first "rule" of fire prevention is to avoid placing things that could catch fire close to the things that could ignite the fire or remove the ignition source completely. Follow the manufacturer’s safety precautions when using appliances. Look after all your equipment and keep the building in a good state of repair.

Have you ever parked a vehicle in front of a fire hydrant or in a fire lane? If you answered “yes” you are perhaps typical of most people. “I need this space now and the fire brigade does not,” seems to be the thinking. As citizens concerned about fire prevention, we need to be aware of the threat to life safety when a hydrant is blocked or a fire lane is obstructed. After all, no one can tell when or where a fire will break out.

Developing a Fire Escape Plan