ABSTRACT
The control of the start and spread of fire is an important feature of the prevention of accidents and damage. Fire needs fuel, oxygen and a source of energy to ignite it; these are known as the ‘fire elements’. Examples of these are wood, air and heat in the right combination. The ratio of fuel to oxygen is crucial; too much or too little of either will not permit a fire to start. Also, the source of ignition must be above a certain energy level. The fire elements are often illustrated as the ‘fire triangle’; this offers the simple reminder that if one side of the triangle, or element, is removed or not present, the other two cannot support combustion.
