Fire scenarios in the home – recognizing types of fire and reacting correctly

Even in a country as high-tech as Germany, the statistics are threatening when you take a closer look at the number of fires. There is a fire in a household approximately every 2 minutes, sometimes due to self-inflicted and entirely avoidable actions, but also due to hidden causes such as short circuits or cable fires. Regardless of the cause, those involved usually panic in the first few seconds of the fire breaking out , as they have had little or no experience of such situations in their lives. Where panic arises, mistakes usually also arise. These mistakes can in turn make the already blazing danger even greater because people rely on the wrong approach to solving the problem. In the following article, WOLFGANGS explains and shows how to deal with various fire scenarios in the home in the best, safest and most effective way.

The effective extinguishing of a house fire

Even though all of the following fires can take place inside the home, the ignition of solid materials that are often found in the home is still referred to as a " house fire ". This includes wood, textiles and, of course, plastic. If you take a look around your home, you will quickly see that these materials are usually scattered throughout the home in large numbers.

All of these materials, which belong to fire class A, are designed in such a way that embers will form sooner or later if they catch fire. This in turn means that you cannot rely solely on a fire-fighting agent that extinguishes the flames . You also have to take the embers into account when making your choice, as they could otherwise rekindle the fire again and again.

The following are suitable for fighting the fire:

• Water
• powder extinguisher
• foam extinguisher

Choosing water as an extinguishing agent certainly doesn't require a lot of creativity, but given the number of incorrect behaviors during a fire, it's worth keeping this point in mind every now and then. Water cools, dissipates the heat of the flames and also reduces the oxygen supply. The water used then turns into hot steam and seals off the rest of the fire from the rest of the air.

Powder extinguishers contain an ingredient called " ABC powder ." This type of fire extinguisher is ideal for house fires, but you should be aware of the subsequent consequences. The main focus here is to put out the fire, but the materials being extinguished will most likely suffer major and sometimes irreparable damage from contact with the powder. But as we said, it's better to have broken furniture than a burning house that could pose a threat to human life.

Foam extinguishers are the higher quality and at the same time more expensive option when it comes to fighting fires in homes. Flames and oxygen are separated from each other effectively and quickly, preventing further spread. The sprayed foam also leaves less residue on the materials inside the home, so this fire extinguisher can be described as being noticeably more gentle.

Extinguishing a grease fire - high risk potential

Grease fires are among the most insidious of all the many different types of house fires, as the ignorance of those involved in this scenario can lead to a terrible situation particularly quickly. Grease, which begins to burn at temperatures as low as 280 degrees, can become a veritable sea of ​​flames when it comes into contact with water.

The incorrectly selected extinguishing water evaporates immediately after coming into contact with the fat, so that the fat particles mercilessly seek their way upwards. Once thrown upwards from the pan, they burn instantly. Because this type of fire usually takes place in a cooking pot or pan , an extractor hood is often switched on. This causes the burning particles to move to the side. Burns, burning parts of the apartment and many other terrible scenarios can result.

The motto is therefore : never extinguish grease fires with water! Fire extinguishers are also unsuitable for grease fires and pose dangers.

Instead, use the following approach and ensure that the critical situation is tackled in an orderly and thoughtful manner:

• First, set the stove to “ 0 ” or “off” to reduce the heat from the fire.
• Take the affected pan or pot off the stove
• Grab a metal lid and cover the pan or pot with it so that the fire can be deprived of oxygen in no time.

As you can see, not every firefighting operation has to involve fire extinguishers or water. Often it is the basic rules of conduct that have a decisive influence on the success of an operation.

Fire scenarios in the home - Extinguishing an electrical appliance fire

As already described in the case of grease fires, some types of fires require even greater caution than you already do. Electrical fires in the home also fall into this category, as there are a few things to be aware of. Since statistically this type of fire is one of the most common, you should always have the knowledge of how to put out such a fire anchored in your memory so that it is easily accessible.

Above all, these behaviors must be strictly followed:

• If possible, unplug the device or turn off all power to the apartment at the main circuit breaker.
• Never use water on burning electronic devices, as there is a risk of electric shock.
• Once the power connection is interrupted, you can use a Class A fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire.
• If the power cannot be safely switched off by any measure, then only a powder extinguisher corresponding to fire class C can be used.

Adhering to these rules of conduct can not only ensure effective and rapid control, but also protect the health of everyone involved. Since electricity is not always obvious at first glance, it is particularly important to focus on well-considered actions in such situations.

!!! Important : In general, in the event of a fire, you should always call the fire brigade as quickly as possible. The information provided here is for information purposes only and shows you how to react in the most serious emergency or how to take the first steps. However, there is no way around picking up the telephone, as only the trained specialists of the fire brigade are trained to assess and fight fire scenarios in the home !!!