Page 10 - Dainfern Precinct Living 5 2021

PRECINCT LIVING

and switch the power off at the takes a lot of heat before these
Switch off DB Board. Smother the fire with a metals will ignite, once they are
appliances during fire-proof blanket to remove access burning, this type of fire is incredibly
load-shedding to oxygen. Only use a Class C fire dangerous. This is categorised as
extinguisher that states it is suitable a Class D fire and the advice is to
for putting out electrical fires. DO only use a fire extinguisher suited to
NOT TRY TO EXTINGUISH THE Class D fires to extinguish this type
FIRE WITH WATER. Always make of fire. Yet again, the advice is to
sure that your appliances are REFRAIN FROM USING WATER.
unplugged when you’re not using 5. LPG gas fire. Do NOT
them – this also helps to save on extinguish the flame. If the gas
electricity if your appliances have is supplied by a gas cylinder, a
always-on stand-by modes. mature person should remove the
2. A grease or cooking oil fire. cylinder from the building, keeping
If this fire is in a pan on a stove the flame away from them. If the
top, cover the pan with a metal lid flame is extinguished and the
to seal off the oxygen. Turn off the valve does not seal, a gas cloud
heat source. AGAIN, YOU SHOULD will develop which will be far more
NEVER TRY TO EXTINGUISH serious than the single flame – this
THIS TYPE OF FIRE WITH WATER is why it’s recommended that an
– WATER WILL JUST MAKE THE LPG fire should be dealt with only
SITUATION A LOT WORSE. If by professionals.
There’s a huge outcry because outdoors, you can throw sand on 6. Wood, paper, most fabrics
the Wi-Fi is off and they were the fire to starve it of oxygen. A and some plastics. These are
busy playing a game online with Class B fire extinguisher is best classified as Class A fires and they
their friends. You offer to take suited for dealing with this type actually can be put out with water,
them out to get takeaways, but of fire, or you can use salt or although you can also use a Class A
they decide they would prefer bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) fire extinguisher if you have one.
to sit in the restaurant and use – which is not stored above the Advice from the Fire Ops
their free Wi-Fi to resume their stove!! SA team: The most important
games on their phones. You’re 3. A petrol, paint, solvent or response to a fire incident is
gone longer than planned. When paraffin fire. As with a grease or – even if you can control and
you get home, you find the house cooking oil fire, you should use completely extinguish the fire –
engulfed in flames. Why? a Class B fire extinguisher and leave the building immediately and
A. Did someone leave a candle NEVER TRY TO EXTINGUISH call your local fire rescue service.
burning somewhere and it fell THIS TYPE OF FIRE WITH
over? WATER. Watch this space for a discussion
B. Did you leave a fire burning in the 4. Combustible metals such as
fireplace to keep your living room titanium, magnesium, lithium and on safety in thatch roof structures
warm while you were out? aluminium. Although it normally in the next edition.
C. Did you remember to remove
the pot of oil from the stove plate Do not attempt to
and turn off the stove? [In other extinguish a gas
words, was load-shedding over cylinder fire
by the time you got home?]
The chances are it was the
extremely hot oil that burst into
flames. Even if you were able to
extinguish the fire, the soot and
smoke damage to the rest of the
kitchen and adjacent rooms may
well involve a costly renovation.

HOW TO EXTINGUISH
DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIRE
1. An electrical fire. The first step
for an electrical fire is to disconnect
the appliance from the power source

The emergency number for the Fire Ops SA Sources:
watch room is: https://fireopssa.co.za
083 622 6026 www.firesafe.co.za/2019/04/17/which-fire-extinguisher

Commercial and general inquiries: email www.afrox-gas.co.za
Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the
info@fireopssa.co.za and discuss your accuracy of this information, readers should seek
requirements with Wynand Engelbrecht (Fire Ops professional advice when sourcing firefighting
SA CEO). equipment or employing fire prevention methods.

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DPL