How do accidental fires start?

Answer 1

A fire is a combustion reaction, where oxygen reacts with a fuel. This is known as oxidation. For a fire to start and be sustained, four different components are needed, Heat, Fuel, Oxygen and a chemical chain reaction.

Heat is needed to take a material or fuel past its ignition point. The ignition point of a material is the point at which it will undergo a combustion reaction. The fuel is what will undergo the oxidation reaction. For the fuel to be able to oxidize, it needs a constant supply of oxygen. The last component needed is a chemical chain reaction. When burning Methane, the chemical reaction is

CH4 + 2O2 = CO2 + 2H2O

The breaking of CH4 and 2O2 bonds liberates enough heat to break surrounding CH4 and 2O2 bonds. This is known as a chemical chain reaction, as one bond breaking leads to other bonds breaking and so on.

If for whatever reason, any one of these components is removed, a fire cannot be started and sustained.

To take a fuel past its ignition point, a source of ignition is needed. A source of ignition is simply something that can take a material above a critical value (ignition point) to allow the material to combust.

Answer 2

Fires begin when the elements necessary for the chemistry of fire come together. It takes fuel, air (oxygen) and heat (an ignition source) to begin a fire, and we'd do well to look at the situation a bit further to see what's going on.

In the case of fires that we want to start, we ignite something flammable by some means. It might be a match lighting the newspaper under a pile of sticks in a fireplace, or it could be the electronic ignition (an electric arc) lighting the gas in our kitchen range. There are many other different scenarios, and an investigator might list a dozen in a few minutes with just a bit of thought.

Accidental fires begin in many ways, but they always involve flammable material and an ignition source. Explosive mixtures of gases and of vapors from fuels, solvents or other chemicals only need a tiny spark to set them off. The results are invariably catastrophic, and can be fatal. In nature, lightning starts many fires around the world every year. Let's take a closer look at "accidents" that cause fires.

In addition to explosions, uncontrolled heat sources can start fires in places where we are not careful. Carelessly discarded cigarettes are often blamed for starting many blazes. (See the link below to view a short vid on a massive explosion that followed a blaze set by careless smokers.) Lots of folks are not as careful with fire as they should be. This is particularly true in the workplace.

We know welders can touch of many a blaze if they are not careful. Electrical fires begin when failure of electrical equipment happens and flammable materials are nearby. This might be due to a lack of oversight with storage or the proximity of flammable fluids or vapors. Many industrial processes use heat, and any flammable materials near heat sources might be set ablaze. There are lots of chances for fires to begin in a residential setting, too.

House fires are too common, and cooking or hot oil fires lead the list of causes. Matches and/or lighters around children as well as careless smoking are the second and third most common causes. The placement of electric heaters too near combustables is fourth, and the failure of electrical wiring and electrical appliances are the fifth. All of these causes of fire suggest a lack of thought or oversight on the part of residents. Sadly, most of these fires are preventable, and some of these fires cause fatalities.

Consider that the fire triangle is often used to talk about how fire works. Combine fuel, heat or an ignition source and air (oxygen) and you'll get a fire. These "triangles" exist in many areas where we work or live, and it is important to "manage" these areas well to avoid fires. Less loss of life and damage to property are good things, but they come at a price. Awareness and preplanning (preparedness) are the best defense agains fire. Doing what is necessary to prevent fires, and knowing what to do if a fire occurs at work or at home save lives and limit property damage. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Answer 3

Fires can be started by:

1. Friction (e.g. rubbing peaces of wood together)

2. Pouring some petrol and setting it a light

3. Burning (e.g. Food)

4. Over plugged socket

And loads more...

Answer 4

Spilling flammable liquids such as: turps(paint remover), forgetting to turn off electrical appliances, cooking something for too long or too high temperature and smoking in bed in the dark, or even smoking at all.

Answer 5

fires can start because of different things like candles, cigrettes

Answer 6

knock two stones together for sparks on twigs until a fire starts

Answer 7

it is usually caused by somebody leaving a cigarette or something flam able outside or a certain place.... some are arson... some are just brush fires meaning they are caused by plants