discusses about types of fire and how to extinguish it

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2. Highly inflammable materials are used and stored at BAF
Bases/Units as a matter of daily routine. There is, therefore, a
great risk of outbreak of fire if factors responsible for the
occurrence are not clearly understood and preventive measure
rigidly enforced.
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3. AIM
To apprise the Fire Hazard and Its Precaution at Daily Routine
and Operational Activities In BAF.
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4. Causes of Fire
Fire is generally caused due to ignorance and carelessness of accidents.
 In majority of cases, however, the outbreak of fire is attributable to
carelessness of non-observance of preventive measures by personnel.
 Some of the common causes which lead to an outbreak of fire are
enumerated below:
a. Loading of not ashes into MT vehicles.
b. Hot exhaust pipes coming into contact with the wood work of a
vehicle or other combustible materials.
c. Careless disposal of cigarettes or lighted marches on dry grass or
in wastepaper baskets etc.
d. Combustion due to bulk storage of jute sacks, wood work and
other such materials.
e. Leaking acids form containers coming into contact with other
elements.
f. Improper storage of dangerous chemicals.
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5. g. Defective electric cables, overloading of circuits, temporary wiring
and bad workmanship etc.
h. Portable heaters of all kinds.
j. The placing of radio and television sets in recesses which do not
allow the heat to dissipate.
k. Spilt petrol or oil on floors.
l. Use of petrol and other cleaning solvents in the vicinity of a naked
flame.
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6. Preventive Measure
 Cleanliness: Cleanliness is very essential to prevent outbreak of fires.
Waste, especially if oil-soaked is liable to spontaneous combustion and if
allowed to accumulate, may ignite and a use of fire.
General Maintenance: Proper maintenance will contribute to the
prevention of fire. Particular attention is to be given to the state of roofs,
windows, door etc. A burning cigarette end may be blown under a badly
fitted door and ignite stores or wood shavings.
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7.  Smoking:
 Smoking is not to be permitted in
areas where it is considered dangerous or
where serious fire risks exist.
Notices prohibiting smoking are to be exhibited
in all places where smoking is not permitted.
Oil Stoves.
The use of stoves in a building/shed is to be allowed only after it has been
ascertained that no unnecessary heard from fire is incurred by their use.
They are to be classes and filled at a place outside the building and only
during the day light, Oil stoves etc are not to be filled while they are light.
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8. Portable Heaters :
 Portable heaters in general are considered as dangerous for risk, as they
are liable to be placed near combustible materials such as easy chairs,
clothing etc and left unattended.
 All electrical apparatus is to be switched off and the plug removed when
not in use.
Electricity:
 The following points are therefore, to be noted:
a. Wiring is only to be installed by a competent electrician authorized
by the MES (Air).
b. If fuse blows at frequent intervals, a fault in the installations is
indicated and the matter is to be reported immediately to the MES
representative.
c. Unauthorized additional and temporary wiring overload the system
and cause overheating.
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9. Cook House:
The fires in kitchens have occurred due to over-heating of fats or misuse
of inflammable liquids in fire places/stoves.
Personnel working in cook house are to be fully trained in operation and
use of first aid fire appliance available.
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10. Precautions
 The following additional precautions will help in preventing injury to
persons and spread in the event of an outbreak of fire:
a. Turn off the supply of fuel or electricity.
b. If boiling fat is alight, make sure that the container does not
overturn.
c. Ascertain before
hand the position and type of
extinguisher available and
their method of use.
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11. d. Use only CO2 extinguishers on small electrical fires.
e. Use “Dry chemical Powder/Foam Extinguishers” on fat or oil fires
but do not direct the jet of foam extinguisher directly into the.
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12.  Battery Charging Room:
 Battery charging rooms are to be well lit, cool, have ample ventilation,
especially at ceiling level, and if possible an exhaust fan be provide.
 Notices to this effect are to be placed at the entrance door and also inside
the room.
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13.  Engine Rooms.
In engine rooms, power and pump houses where petrol engines are in
use, care is to be taken to ensure that no leakage occurs from any tank or
supply feeding system.
 Buildings are to be well ventilated, particularly at floor level.
 Ground Radar Equipment.
Fire has been caused by components which become overheated during
operation even after they have been switched off.
 Workshops and MT Garages.
 A high standard of cleanliness is to be maintained in workshops and MT
Garages.
Only waste is not to be allowed to accumulate but is to be placed in a
suitable incombustible containers with lid covers. The container is to be
emptied before closing the premises.
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14.  Parking of MT Vehicles.
The following instructions are to be complied with while parking:
a. Not more than one vehicle is to be parked in a closed garage.
b. Not more than two vehicles are to be parked and the parking is to
be so arranged that vehicles are positioned tail to tail.
c. Vehicles parked in the open area are to be provided with a gap of 3
feet between each vehicle in line and not less than 10 feet between each
row of vehicles.
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15. MT Refuellers.
These vehicles are not to be parked along with other MT vehicles, unless
their main tanks are completely drained of fuel and aired for a period of not
less than 48 hours.
 Base/Unit Commanders are to arrange for the refuellers to be parked in a
separate place which is to be 150 yards away from any other
building/structure.
When refuellers are parked they are to be earthen to the ground by means
of the earth pin/place.
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16. Storage of Cylinders of Compressed Gases.
General safety precautions are outlined below are to be adhered to:
a. Building used for storing cylinders is to be dry and cool.
b. Naked lights are not to be permitted in any building containing
oxygen, nitrous oxide, acetylene or any other inflammable gases.
c. Oil or grease is to be prevented from coming into contact with any
part of the valve group of these cylinders.
d. Oxygen and compressed air cylinders are to be stored away from
other in flammable gases.
e. An inflammable gas is not to be stored in a building with any other
gas unless separated from it by a suitable partition.
f. Cylinders of dissolved acetylene are to be stored in an upright
position with their valves facing one way and away from any source of heat.
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17. Aircraft Refueling
a. As refueling creates static electricity it is essential that the aircraft
and the aircraft refueled have the same electrical potential to prevent
sparking.
b. Before removing the filler cap of the aircraft fuel tank to
commence fuelling operation the bonding plug of fuel nozzle is to be in
position.
c. CO2 trolleys are to be kept available during the refueling of an
aircraft.
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18. Bulk Petrol Installations
a. Open fires, naked lights, open electric heated elements and
stoves are not to be permitted.
b. Welding, cutting or use of naked flame or spark is to be
forbidden.
c. Smoking or carrying of non safety matches or spring loaded
lighters is not to be permitted.
d. Foot wear having ferrous metal studs or tips are not to be worn
unless covered by over shoes of approved pattern.
e. Electrical installations and temporary lighting such as torches
are to of flame proof pattern.
f. Electrically driven tools are not to be used.
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19. g. Base fire officers are to visit the bulk installations once a week
with a view to ensuring that safety precautions are rigidly complied with and
that no fire hazards exist. l. Grass in the vicinity is to be kept short.
h. Warning notices indicating “DANGER”, “NO SMOKING”,
“HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE” etc are to be displayed all around the
installations.
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20. General Precautions.
a. Flammable materials are not to be used for disinfecting bedding
etc.
b. The airing of line or wearing apparel in front of open fire is not to
be permitted.
c. Cotton wool being highly inflammable is not to be stored/placed
near a naked flame of electric heaters.
d. All electrical installations are to be inspected regularly. Defects, if
any, are to be reported and remedied immediately.
e. Naked light is not to be permitted in any stored containing ether
or other volatile substance as the vapour from ether and similar spirits can
cause a flash back of the flame.
f. Patients are not to be permitted to smoke while in beds.
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