Not Too Hot to Handle (1952)

fire it cooks our food keeps us warm gives us light create power for transportation and industry but fire also destroys our factory ruins our home and takes our lives today thanks to fire education and scientific equipment most fires can be controlled here's a large fire being brought under control by a cadet carbon dioxide extinction this picture will show you how to combat small buyers to keep them from becoming serious fires like this fires different each has a personality all its own that's why you have to use the right extinguisher for each fire this can happen when you select the wrong extinguisher here an expert who makes his living demonstrating firefighting equipment will try to put out a gasoline fire with a water extinguisher notice how water spreads its fire water is heavier than gasoline so it can't blanket and smother the fire instead the gasoline floats on top and continues to burn know first aid water extinguisher we'll put out this fire now on the same type of fire let's use the right equipment a carbon dioxide foam or dry chemical extinguisher let's try carbon dioxide that's it the fire is smothered with a blanket of carbon dioxide the use of the right equipment is the first step in controlling fire but firefighting isn't always so simple you can get into trouble even when you're using the right equipment foam is an approved extinguishing agent for burning liquid yet incorrectly applied the form will fail to put out a fire the firefighter is much too close and the force of the extinguisher stream spreads the fire by splashing the flaming liquid out of the tub when fighting fires in deep liquids bank the stream against the wall of the container so that the foam can spread across the surface of the fire with foam it's important to blanket the burning surface whenever possible let the freeboard principle help you put out the fire freeboard is that part of any container above the level of the liquid whether the container is a tub quench tank or dip tank watch what happens when the stream from a vaporizing liquid extinguishers directed against the freeboard of the container the stream is broken up and the liquid vaporizes immediately the vapor quickly spreads across the fire and puts it out the freeboard also acts as a retaining wall to keep the smothering vapors over the fire the control fire man has had to learn its inner secret we know that three elements must be present to support fire heat fuel and oxygen if any one of these elements is removed the fire goes out when we fight fires we are simply trying to remove one or more of these elements water on a fire removes heat the heat is used up to turn the water to steam when the temperature falls below the burning temperature of the fuel the fire goes out when we turn off the gas on a stove we have removed the fuel from the fire without fuel the fire goes out a cover over a fire keeps air away the fire chokes to death from lack of ox to show the correct agent for extinguishing each type of fire the kid accompanied has prepared this chart based on the recommendations of recognized fire protection agency kidda also furnishes identification labels for each type of extinguisher to help prevent mistakes in use the underwriters laboratories classify fires under three distinct type a B and C a class a fire involving paper would cause Excelsior rubbish or any material that needs glowing embers is best extinguished by the quenching and cooling effect of water soda acid or foam a Class B fire involving burning liquids like gasoline oil paints or cooking fats requires the smothering action of extinguishers using carbon dioxide dry chemical foam or vaporizing liquid a class C fire involving electrical equipment like motors switches or appliances requires a non-conducting extinguishing agent such as carbon dioxide dry chemical or vaporizing liquid here's a class a fire this is the kind of lettuce used by the underwriters laboratories as a test for water and foam extinguishers it is the kind of fire you must fight in the walls of a wood frame bldg and here's a two and a half gallon water extinguisher one of the best answers to the class a fire problem water saturates burning material and prevents rekindling when you are within range of the fire and not before turn the extinguisher upside down and bump the top on the ground or floor the impact releases the propelling gas to force the water out start at the top and work down so that the dripping water will help to fight the fire whereas much of the surface as possible to knock down the flame then go back an attack specific flaming area in this way you make the most of the water supply when all of the flames are out go back over the charred areas and quench any smoldering embers to prevent rekindling use all of the water and be sure no one extinguishing agent is best for all types of fires foam also is excellent for a class a fire because it has both smothering and wetting action the form extinguisher is inverted just like the water extinguisher when it is turned upside down the form solutions mix to form a gas which forces the foam out of the container to fight a class a fire you use foam just the way you use water a soda acid extinguisher can be used the same way to all free water foam and soda acid come in similar containers and are applied in the same way on class a Fire's regardless of which extinguisher you use make sure the fire is out saturate each questionable spot to prevent a rekindled fire remember there is no way to save the fluid in this type of extinguisher so use it all to make sure the fire is out since you must pump the water extinguisher to make it work it is a good idea to train yourself to pump all two and a half gallon extinguishers on the ground it's a rule that will overcome mistakes now let's see a Class B fire a fire involving burning liquid when flaming liquids are spilled on the ground or on a floor it's called a spill fire well this type of fire foam vaporizing liquid dry chemical or carbon dioxide maybe you let's watch a 20-pound dry chemical extinguisher in action on a typical outdoor spill fire be sure to pull the locking pin in using dry chemical the important thing to remember is to get the chemical into the fire so that it can do its work take your time make sure the fire is out as you go dry chemical absorbs heat and act as a heat shield for the firefighter here's another class C fire a burning paint marker will use a 15 pound carbon dioxide extinguisher on the fire because it leaves no residue and will not contaminate the st. when you are in range pull the safety pin and remove the horn from the holder on the extinguisher simply pull the trigger start at the base so that the lower flames will not reignite the flammable material above sweep slowly upward to be sure the flame is extinguished on each shelf and in each can before you go to the next show remember in most cases you have only one chance to fight a fire so put it out the first time don't try to economize use all the extinguishing agent available another kind of class b fire is called a running fire this kind of fire might be caused by a ruptured gasoline tank or drums of paint or lacquer thinner for demonstration purposes we use this perforated pale and drain board and a 15 pound carbon dioxide extinction in fighting a running fire it is important to start at the farthest edge of the flame and work back to the source of the fire kill the fire on the ground first when the ground fire is completely out sweep up into the running fire take your time and be thorough even after the fire is out play the carbon dioxide over the burned area until the extinguisher is exhausted this is a common type of running fire drums of flammable liquids often have leaky valves which allow enough fluid to escape to cause serious fires again the 15-pound carbon dioxide extinguisher is selected to stop this play make sure the ground fire is completely out then sweep up into the running fire use the rest of the extinguishing agent to cool the leaking valve so that you will be able to turn it off for a third kind of class b fire we will use a pan which is divided into compartments to show the kind of obstacle you might find in a ship's build or under a factory walkway because of the obstruction you must use an extinguishing agent which has three dimensional qualities such as carbon dioxide or dry chemical to see why let's first try phone even if the foam is delivered to the fire correctly but the obstructions prevent it from flowing over the surface of the fire each compartment must be treated as a separate fire and there isn't enough foam in the extinguisher to completely cover the burning surface the best agents to use against this type of fire are carbon dioxide or dry chemical unlike foam carbon dioxide flows over and around the barricade thus all the individual fires can be treated as one big fire in fighting a fire in compartments with carbon dioxide slowly sweep the fire ahead of you until you are sure all the fire is out this is a Class C fire one involving electrical equipment in this case a motor vaporizing liquid is an approved agent for extinguishing electrical fires it is a non conductor of electricity in this case we'll use the one portside fires and electric motors can be very difficult to fight since the motor may be almost entirely enclosed whenever possible direct the stream of vaporizing liquid into the opening when this liquid makes contact with the fire it forms a flame smothering vapor be careful not to breathe the fumes and ventilate well of the fire is in an enclosed space dry chemical is also an approved agent for use on electrical fires it too is a non conductor of electricity a 5-pound extinguisher will handle a small fire like this one it will be necessary to clean the motor after using dry chemical carbon dioxide is an excellent extinguishing agent for electrical fires this is a five-pound size carbon dioxide is a non conductor of electricity leaves no residue and will not damage equipment the smothering gasps completely enveloped the motor preventing oxygen from reaching the fire use all the gas remaining in the extinguisher to cool the hot motor housing you have seen examples of the three classes of fires and five different extinguishing agents recommended for these fires a class a fire involving paper wood cloth materials that leave glowing embers calls for a water soda acid or foam extinguishers a Class B fire involving burning liquids calls for carbon dioxide dry chemical foam or vaporizing liquid a classy fire involving electrical equipment calls for carbon dioxide dry chemical or vaporizing liquid remember it's important to select the right kind and size of extinguisher have plenty of extinguishing agent available and use it all be prepared when it's your turn to fight a fire it's as simple as ABC a always choose the right extinguisher the be deliberate go slowly see completely discharged the extinguisher to be sure the fire is out these simple ABT may save your life your property or your job [Music]