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Fire Safety

Fire Division Mission:

The Fire Division, a division of the Department of Public Safety, is committed to providing a fire safe environment for the Park University community.

How does fire start?

Fire only needs three elements to occur: fuel, oxygen and heat.  Fuel is anything that will burn. Oxygen is in the air that we breathe.  The air contains about 21 percent oxygen, fire only needs 18 percent.  Heat is the point where a sufficient amount of  vapor has been created for combustion can take place.  The model of all three elements needed to create fire is call the fire triangle.  When all three elements are present fire can be produced.  Removes any one of these elements and fire can not have fire.

Fire Triangle                             Fire Tetrahedron

 

Fighting a Fire

Flight or fight...The most important decision to make is whether to fight the fire of escape.  This is a critically important decision, and may literally mean the difference between life and death.

First, before fighting any fire, you should should know how to use a fire extinguisher BEFORE facing the fire.  This is not a time for "on the job" training.

You should also size up the fire and determine if it is small enough to be put out with a fire extinguisher.  This is something that you can only learn through experience...and that experience comes with fire extinguisher training.

What type of fire is it?...It is important that you be able to determine what is on fire so that you can use the proper type of fire extinguisher to put it out.  There are four classes of fuel:

  • Class A - Combustible Materials (ie: wood, paper, cloth...)

  • Class B - Flammable Liquids - (ie: gasoline, paint, paint thinner, acetone...)

  • Class C - Electrical (ie: any electrical equipment)

  • Class D - Metals (ie: potassium, magnesium, sodium...)

  • Class K - Commercial Cooking Appliances

Types of Portable Extinguishers at Park University Class A Class B Class C Class D Class K
ABC - Dry Chemical          
Wet Chemical        
 
CO2 - Carbon Dioxide          
Water
 
        
Halon          

How to use a portable fire extinguisher

When using a portable fire extinguisher one should always remember the acronym P.A.S.S.  This stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep. 

P - Pull the pin

A - Aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire

S - Squeeze the trigger

S - Sweep side to side

Report any use of fire extinguishers immediately upon discovery.  Report any extinguishers that are under or over charged.  All properly charged extinguishers will register in the green.

If a fire should occur...

  • Close the door to stop the spread of the fire

  • Sound the alarm, alert others to the danger

  • GET OUT of the building

  • Notify Public Safety at 584-6444

DO NOT go back into the building or try to save your stuff

Clothes, books and paper can be replaced-

YOU CAN'T!

Fire Links

Missouri Fire Departments