45 things you need to know about fire

Fire’s a necessity for modern day society. But it’s also incredibly dangerous. So, to help clue you up on some of its facts, stats and regulatory requirements, we’ve pulled together a list of 45 quick-fire (no pun intended!) things you need to know about.

1. Fire requires oxygen, an ignition point and fuel to light – which is why the latter two should be stored far apart!
2. The three most common types of fuel that lead to fire are coal, oil and wood
3. Flames come in different colours – white, red, yellow, orange, green, blue, violet and peach, and each colour symbolises a different type of fire
4. Flames from a candle alone typically burn at 1,000 degrees Celsius
5. There are four different types of fire extinguishers – water, C02, foam and dry chemical, and different businesses may require different forms
6. If you starve a fire of oxygen it‘ll go out by itself
7. Alternatively, removing or exhausting the fuel source that caused the fire will put it out too
8. Throwing water over most fires will put it out – but not if it’s an electrical or fat fire
9. A typical house fire doubles in size every minute
10. The more oxygen, the hotter the fire

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10. The hottest fire you’re likely to encounter is that of a welding torch, which burns at 5,500 degrees Fahrenheit
11. If a fire has a low supply of oxygen it will be yellow
12. High oxygen fires are blue
13. If cotton’s attached to super glue, it’ll catch on fire
14. Forest fires travel faster uphill than downhill
15. Spontaneous combustion is a real thing, and it happens because some fuel sources create their own heat by rotting
16. Most uncontrolled fires are caused by cigarettes or candles
17. Flames don’t cast shadows
18. Christmas is one of the worst times of the year for fires because of all the lights, candles and decorations that’re about
19. It’s compulsory to have a means of alarm on every floor of your business
20. Every building/business must have a suitable and up-to-date fire risk assessment in place
21. Fire alarms should be tested every week to make sure they sound as they should
22. As well as weekly checks, fire alarms should be maintained every six months
23. Every single employee must receive fire safety training
24. If you’re expecting visitors, they should be told about fire safety before entering your premises
25. Fire drills should be conducted at least every six months
26. You should have a special procedure in place for evacuating disabled visitors and employees (otherwise known as PEEPs)
27. Some, but not all, incidents involving fire are reportable under RIDDOR
28. You should regularly check the condition of your fire doors, because some last longer than others
29. Fire alarms don’t always have to make a sound – some might have a light beacon, or it might be a vibrating pillow, for example
30. Businesses that hold certain types and amounts of hazardous substances must complete a DSEAR assessment (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres) as well as a fire risk assessment
31. In most cases, it takes less than 30 seconds for a fire to become difficult to control
32. More people die from smoke inhalation than contact with the fire itself
33. Most residential fires start in the kitchen
34. In commercially operated buildings, arson’s the main driver behind fire deaths and injuries
35. On average, one quarter of all household fire fatalities happen because people are trapped while asleep
36. There are at least 20 irritant substances found in smoke, and the effects of these on people’s eyes, nose and throat can severely impair their ability to escape
37. Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances
38. In 2017 alone, the fire response service attended 563,527 fire incidents
39. There were almost a quarter of a million (223,383) false alarms in 2017
40. The number of fire-related fatalities has been on a downward trend since 1981-82
41. In 2017, there were 321 fire-related fatalities – 71 of which were from Grenfell
42. 3,264 is the number of non-fatal fire casualties that required hospital treatment in 2017
43. The number of outdoor fires increased by 8% between 2016 and 2017
44. Conversely, building fires decreased by 3% between 2016 and 2017.

Help is at hand

When it comes to keeping fire-safe, we’ve got you covered from every angle. Our industry-leading Fire Risk Assessments, Fire Alarm Servicing, Fire Extinguisher Servicing and Emergency Lighting Testing will provide you with peace of mind that your business, employees and visitors are safe, and that you’re on the right side of the law.

To find out more about what we have to offer, get in touch with our dedicated Additional Services Team on 0345 241 5250 or contact them using the form on this page