Lecture on Firefighting Power Point Presentation

Lecture on Firefighting

1. FIREFIGHTING IN EARLY YEARS During the early part of the Roman empire, firefighting forces were composed of slaves. They were organized in the year 22 B.C. to protect its people against fire. Rome was burned in July 65 A.D. resulting in the destruction of the city and, consequently, the fall of the Roman Empire.    The renaissance period in the mid 15th century saw the rebirth of art, geography and exploration, as well as the science of firefighting. History tells that the progress subsequently happened in the succeeding four centuries.      Fire brigades were established in the 16th century by the insurance companies in England to protect their policy holders. By the late 16th century, a more complete firefighting organization was established in Boston composed of men paid from the city funds and supplied with fire extinguishing equipment.  

2. By the mid 17th century, volunteer fire companies were organized to perform firefightingands salvaging works. However, during the 18th century, fire science became the main function of the government. In mid 1900's public water system was built. This provided firefighters with a ready source of water supply. Horse drawn steam engines and chemical engines were also developed at that time.      Great incidents of fires and conflagrations all over the globe gave the world an overwhelming concern for sound fire protection and safety. In the 19th century, significant changes were noted such as the advent coming of automotive equipment that replaced the horse drawn pumpers. Chemical engines were replaced by lightweight water tanks. This period also saw the use of radio communication equipment, gas masks and breathing apparatus, as well as the double jacketed fire hose and pistol grip nozzle.      Today, fire service, is still a branch of service of the government. The first fire protection agency in the Philippines was established in Manila by the Americans in 1901 and was known as the Manila Fire Department which eventually became the model of all fire departments established later throughout the country.

3. Manila Fire Department San Nicolas Fire Station is a fire station in San Nicolas, Manila, the Philippines. It is among one of the first fire stations built in the country, having been established under the tenure of first Manila Fire Department chief Hugh Bonner during the American colonial era.

4. Presidential Decree (P.D.) 1185 Presidential Decree (P.D.)   1185  is the Fire Code of the Philippines enacted in 1977 to establish standards and prescribed practices for the prevention of accidental and intentional fires. P.D. 1185 aims to lessen the occurrence and spread of fire though fire prevention.

5. The Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 , officially codified as  Republic Act No. 9514 , is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 2553 and House Bill No. 4115, enacted and passed the  Senate  and the  House of Representatives  on October 6, 2008 and October 8, 2008, respectively. It was signed into law by  President   Gloria Macapagal Arroyo  on December 19, 2008.

6. STAGES OF FIRE

7. INCIPIENT - "Incipient" infers a fire that has just begun and is of such size that poor visibility, smoke inhalation, and high temperatures have not reached the degree to require the use of breathing apparatus. FLASHOVER - It is between the growth and the fully developed stages of fire when a flashover occurs. A flashover is defined as “the near-simultaneous ignition of most of the directly exposed combustible material in an enclosed area.” FULLY DEVELOPED - The fully developed stage occurs when the maximum amount of fuel and oxidizers are consumed, and the highest heat release rate is produced. The temperature decreases and intensity is reduced during the decay stage, which happens when the available fuel has been consumed. DECAY - Decay. During the final stages of fire, a flame will enter the decay phase. This stage occurs after the fully developed flame starts to run out of fuel or oxygen. Fires can be forced into the decay stage by reducing oxygen supply with firefighting equipment.