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Fire Safety

• Fire Classes

The Importance of Fire Safety

On a farm or acreage, you are relatively isolated. The fire department will often have farther to travel to respond to a fire on your property. Many facilities common in cities, like fire hydrants, are not available in the country.

The modern farm is a complex operation, often resembling industrial complexes, requiring fire precautions similar to those used at industrial sites.

This part of Camelid Country, while not intended to address all possible fire issues on farms and acreages, should point you in the right direction. In planning and implementing your fire safety program, do not be afraid to talk to your local fire department for advice and assistance.

Fire Classes

There are four different classes of fire: class A, class B, class C, class D.

Class A

Class A fires are fires involving ordinary combustibles loke wood, paper, and textiles.

Class B

Class B fires are fires involving flammable liquids like gasoline, oil, fats, and paints.

Class C

Class C fires are those involving live electrical wiring, motors, or appliances.

Class D

Class D fires are fires involving combustible metals like potassium and magnesium. These fires do not normally occur on farms and acreages.

Fire Extinguishers

Selecting Fire Extinguishers

While carefully matching the fire extinguisher to the kind of fire fighting job it does best, there are some other considerations to keep in mind as well.

Consider these points when selecting the fire extinguishers you need. Also, select types and styles that operate in a like manner. (The more choices, the greater chance for error.)

• The ease of use of the extinguisher.

• The people available to operate the extinguisher (Consider their physical ability and emotional reactions as influenced by their training.)

• Any health and operational concerns (exposure of operators during the fire control efforts.)

• Any anticipated adverse chemical reactions between the extinguishing agent and the burning materials.

• The ambient temperature conditions and other special atmospheric conditions (wind, draft, presence of fumes.)

• Suitability of the extinguisher for its environment.

• Upkeep and maintainance requirements for the extinguisher.

• What is the nature of the comustibles which might be ignited?

• The potential severity of the resulting fire (size of the fire, intensity, and speed of travel.).

• The effectiveness of the extinguisher on the hazard.

Types of Fire Extinguisher

There are five different kinds of fire extinguisher available today.

No kind of fire extinguisher is equally suitable and desirable for use any all classes of fire.

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