Fire

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Fire

The rapid oxidation of material in an exothermic chemical process of combustion that releases heat, light and various reaction products such as smoke. There are several dangers that accompany fires such as burning and smoke inhalation.

Wildfire

A fire over an area that usually spreads easily and is difficult to extinguish. Wildfires once started are difficult to extinguish, which is why the best way to fight wildfires is to prevent them. Ways to prevent a wildfire include checking weather and drought conditions, building campfires in an open location away from anything flammable, douse your campfire until it is cold when finished using it, keep vehicles off of dry grass, check your tires, bearing, and axles on your vehicle and pull along trailer,keep any sparks away from dry vegetation, check local conditions and regulations before you use fireworks or start a large fire such as a bonfire, and cautiously burn debris when conditions are not windy or restricted. You should always check your local burning conditions at the WV Department of Environmental Protection or the WV Division of Forestry before open burning. If you see a wildfire call 911 or one of the agencies listed above immediately, every second counts.

For more information, visit these links:

• FEMA National Risk Index Wildfire
  
• American Red Cross, Wildfire Safety
  
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Stay Safe During a Wildfire
  
• Ready.gov, Wildfires
  
• National Fire Protection Association, Wildfire Preparedness Tips
  
• National Weather Service, Wildfire Weather Safety
  
• U.S. Department of Interior, 10 Tips to Prevent Wildfiress
  
• WV Division of Forestry, About Wildfire Control
  
• WV Division of Forestry, Wildfire Danger Map

Structure Fire

A fire involving the structural components of various types of residential, commercial, or industrial buildings. Structural fires can happen fast, and though they are not always preventable, many of them are. Here are some tips to help prevent structural fires unplug items that you are not using, use a surge protector, never leave flames unattended, keep flammable items away from heat, don’t smoke indoors, put out fires in your fireplace when you are finished, cut down on clutter, remove lint from dryers, turn off heated appliances such as a spaced heater when you leave your home, check your outlets frequently, keep oil and gasses away from flames and sparks, and do not leave a cooking stove unattended. The last two tips are incredibly important as cooking fires are the most common cause of house fires in the United States. If a cooking fire is started using cooking oil or grease, do not use water! First turn off your stove and then cover the pot/pan with a lid to smother the flame. If you do not have a lid, a large amount of table salt or baking soda can be used to help smother the flame. You should always keep a fire extinguisher nearby in a kitchen incase of an emergency. If the fire becomes unruly and out of control, evacuate the house and call 911 immediately. If you have a family you should have a family fire escape plan mapped out and each member should be aware of the plan. If smoke is filling the house, get as low to the ground as you can, smoke rises and you can avoid much of it by staying low. If there is a fire and you come across a closed door, you should check to see if there is a fire on the other side of the door by placing the back of your hand near the doorknob, do not use the palm of your hand. If the doorknob is hot, you should find another avenue of evacuation as the opening of the door could create a backdraft and increase the intensity of the fire.

For more information, visit these links:

• American Red Cross, Home Fire Safety
  
• Ready.gov, Home Fires
  
• National Park Service, Prevention 52: Fire Safety
  
• U.S. Fire Administration, West Virginia Fire Loss and Fire Department Profile