INTRODUCTION

Fire is the third leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, yet most people ignore it. More than 150 workplace fires occur every day.

Do you know...

• How fires start?
• How to prevent fires?
• How to create an emergency action plan?
• How to evacuate a burning building?
• What to do if trapped in a burning building?
• What to do if someone catches on fire?

HOW FIRES START

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs three elements to occur:

FUEL - Fuel can be any combustible material - solid, liquid or gas. Most solids and liquids become a vapor or gas before they will burn.

OXYGEN - The air we breathe is about 21 percent oxygen. Fire only needs an atmosphere with at least 16 percent oxygen.

HEAT - Heat is the energy necessary to increase the temperature of the fuel to a point where sufficient vapors are given off for ignition to occur.

CHEMICAL REACTION - A chain reaction can occur when the three elements of fire are present in the proper conditions and proportions. Fire occurs when this rapid oxidation, or burning takes place.

Take any one of these factors away, and the fire cannot occur or will be extinguished if it was already burning.

HOW TO PREVENT FIRES FROM OCCURRING

Class A Ordinary combustibles:

Keep storage and working areas free of trash. Place oily rags in covered containers.

Class B - Flammable liquids or gases:

Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment in a confined space, especially in the presence of an open flame such as a furnace or water heater.

Don't refuel gasoline-powered equipment while it's hot.

Keep flammable liquids stored in tightly closed, self-closing, spill-proof containers. Pour from storage drums only what you'll need.

Store flammable liquids away from spark-producing sources.

Use flammable liquids only in well-ventilated areas.

Class C - Electrical equipment:

Look for old wiring, worn insulation and broken electrical fittings. Report any hazardous condition to your supervisor.

Prevent motors from overheating by keeping them clean and in good working order. A spark from a rough-running motor can ignite the oil and dust in it.

Utility lights should always have some type of wire guard over them. Heat from an uncovered light bulb can easily ignite ordinary combustibles.

Don't misuse fuses. Never install a fuse rated higher than specified for the circuit.

Investigate any appliance or electrical equipment that smells strange. Unusual odors can be the first sign of fire.

Don't overload wall outlets. Two outlets should have no more than two plugs.

Class D - Flammable metals:

Flammable metals such as magnesium and titanium generally take a very hot heat source to ignite; however, once ignited are difficult to extinguish as the burning reaction produces sufficient oxygen to support combustion, even under water.

In some cases, covering the burning metal with sand can help contain the heat and sparks from the reaction. Class D extinguishing agents are available (generally as a dry powder in a bucket or box) which can be quite effective, but these agents are rare on the campus.

If you are planning a research project using a large amount of flammable metals you should consider purchasing a five or ten pound container of Class-D extinguishing agent as a precaution.

Pure metals such as potassium and sodium react violently (even explosively) with water and some other chemicals, and must be handled with care. Generally these metals are stored in sealed containers in a non-reactive liquid to prevent decay (surface oxidation) from contact with moisture in the air.

White phosphorus is air-reactive and will burn/explode on contact with room air. It must be kept in a sealed container with a non-reactive solution to prevent contact with air.

All of these metals are not uncommon in labs on the Millikin campus, but are generally only found in small quantities and accidental fires/reactions can be controlled or avoided completely through knowledge of the properties of the metals and using good judgment and common sense.

Class K - Grease Fires:

Due to new and improved cooking appliances, higher heating rates and industry trends towards using more unsaturated oils causes more fires in restaurants.   Using grease in your own kitchen will catch fire.

DON'T FIGHT THE FIRE YOURSELF.

CALL FOR HELP.

The APPEARANCE of different types of extinguishers:

Generally, you can tell with a glance which type an extinguisher is hanging on the wall, or in the cabinet, just by looking at its shape. Check the labels of the extinguishers in your area and note the color and shape/size of the extinguisher. This may help if someone runs in to help you fight a fire with the WRONG extinguisher (i.e. water on an electrical fire) - you can STOP them before they are injured or make matters worse!

ABC-rated multipurpose dry powder extinguishers are the most common on campus, particularly in the corridors of academic buildings. They are almost always RED in color and have either a long narrow hose or no hose (just a short nozzle). These extinguishers are very light (5-25 lbs. total weight) Halon extinguishers look virtually identical to ABC multipurpose dry chemical extinguishers.

Water extinguishers are generally only found in the dormitories and are usually SILVER (chrome-metal) in color, have a flat bottom, have a long narrow hose, are quite large (2-1/2 gallons).

CO2 (carbon dioxide) extinguishers are generally red (often yellow around aircraft or on military sites), have a LARGE "tapered" nozzle (horn), are VERY HEAVY (15-85 lbs.) -some CO2 extinguishers for aircraft hangers or special industrial use are so large as to require roll-around carts to move them. These are all high-pressure cylinders.

Care should be used NOT TO DROP a CO2 cylinder; if it is damaged it can punch a hole through the nearest wall(s) and end up on the other side of campus! (The containers are quite sturdy, but don't abuse them.) CO2 cylinders do not have a pressure gauge - they must be weighed to determine the amount of contents.

"WHERE can I find a fire extinguisher on campus?"

• In the corridors of academic, residential and office buildings, and inside very large rooms.
• In or immediately outside all laboratories where chemicals are stored and used.
• In or immediately outside mechanical spaces where motorized or other equipment is present which might reasonably cause a fire.
• In campus storage buildings, and mounted inside certain university vehicles.

If you can't find the fire extinguisher in your area, or feel you need a different type/size of extinguisher for your work area or research, contact the Security Office at 464-8888.

Wherever possible, ALL campus extinguishers are either mounted IN a marked cabinet or mounted under a RED fire extinguisher sticker to make their location easy to identify.

Frequently asked Questions:

"If I just use a little, do I have to report the extinguisher as USED?"

YES! We want FULL extinguishers at all campus locations.

While CO2 and halon extinguishers will generally hold their pressure after a slight discharge, BC and ABC rated DRY CHEMICAL extinguishers will usually NOT hold a charge after partial use. While the gauge may hold steady in the green immediately after a slight use, check it the next day and you'll find the gauge on EMPTY! This is because upon use the dry powder gets inside the seals and allows the nitrogen carrier to escape over a period of time. After ANY use a BC or ABC extinguisher MUST be serviced and recharged. This is very important for home extinguishers also; YOU MUST HAVE THE EXTINGUISHER REFILLED AFTER ANY USE.

You can't "test" an extinguisher and put it back in the cabinet!

If you want to try out an extinguisher and learn how it feels to use one, contact the Security office and we'll arrange for you to attend one of our fire extinguisher classes where you can actually put out a test fire!

Warning to thieves and vandals: Fire extinguishers and types of fire equipment on the MU campus are traceable and theft of or damage to emergency equipment is a serious crime.

HOW TO USE AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN

A written, up-to-date Emergency Action Plan for your dorm/workplace is essential in case of emergency. Make sure you read and understand your department's/dorm's Emergency Action Plan.

The plan should contain information about evacuation from the facility, including who is in charge of the evacuation.

Primary and secondary escape routes should be outlined for every area of the building. Since stairways are the primary escape route in multiple story buildings (elevators should NEVER be used in fire emergencies), they should not be used for any kind of storage.

Emergency Action Leaders should be assigned specific duties, such as verifying that all students/faculty/staff have evacuated.

Pre-fire planning must clearly show the locations of the workstations of the disabled workers.

Disabled workers and those with known medical problems such as heart disease or epilepsy, should EACH be assigned an Emergency Action Leader to guide them to safety.

All workers who might need assistance during a fire should be identified during planning.

Fire drills should be scheduled to test the Emergency Action Plan. Let the drill be used to find problems before a fire happens, then make the necessary changes.

If your department does not have an Emergency Action Plan, contact your department head and get one! If your department needs assistance in creating an Emergency Action Plan, contact the Security office (464-8888) for assistance.

HOW TO EVACUATE A BURNING BUILDING

• The last one out of the room should not lock the door, just close it. Locking the door hinders the fire department's search and rescue efforts.
• Proceed to the exit as outlined in the Emergency Action Plan.
• NEVER, NEVER use elevators under any circumstances.
• Stay low to avoid smoke and toxic gases. The best air is close to the floor, so crawl if necessary.
• If possible, cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth to help you breathe.
• If you work in a building with multiple stories, a stairway will be your primary escape route. Most enclosed stairwells in buildings over two stories are "rated" enclosures and will provide you a safe means of exit; don't panic descend stairs slowly and carefully.
• Once in the stairwell, proceed down to the first floor. Never go up.
• Once outside the building, report to a predetermined area so that a head count can be taken.

WHAT TO DO IF TRAPPED IN A BURNING BUILDING

If you're trying to escape a fire, never open a closed door without feeling it first. Use the back of your hand to prevent burning your palm. If the door is hot, try another exit. If none exists, seal the cracks around the doors and vents with anything available. If in a dorm room, use wet towels to seal the space under the door and prevent the entry of smoke. Cracks around the door can be sealed with masking tape if necessary.

If trapped, look for a nearby phone and call the fire department, giving them your exact location.

If breathing is difficult, try to ventilate the room, but don't wait for an emergency to discover that window can't be opened. If on an upper floor and your window is of a type that CANNOT be opened, DON'T break it out - you'll be raining glass down on rescuers and people exiting the building. If you can't contact the fire department by phone, wave for attention at the window. Don't panic.

WHAT TO DO IF SOMEONE CATCHES ON FIRE

If you should catch on fire:

STOP - where you are

DROP - to the floor

ROLL - around on the floor

This will smother the flames, possibly saving your life.

Just remember to STOP, DROP and ROLL.

If a co-worker catches on fire, smother flames by grabbing a blanket or rug and wrapping them up in it. That could save them from serious burns or even death.

SUMMARY

KNOWLEDGE - AWARENESS - PREPARATION

These are your keys to preventing and surviving fires wherever they occur.