Careless handling of fire - causes of fires

An unconditional leader in the list of reasons for causing domestic, industrial or forest fires has been and remains careless handling of fire. Examples of frivolous behavior of this kind meet with frightening regularity. Due to inaccurate smokers, forests and farm fields are burned out. Ignoring faults in gas columns leads to explosions in residential buildings. The games of children with sources of fire are the cause of death of the children themselves and their families.

Household fires

According to the annually updated statistics of the Ministry of Emergencies, the number of fires of this type is consistently about 80% of the total number of uncontrolled fires. Careless handling of fire in everyday life is a rather broad concept, including the following:

1. Unsafe smoking. It is the consumption of tobacco in strong alcoholic intoxication, in a state of sickness or severe fatigue, as well as near combustible substances or objects from flammable material. It can be paint, gas cylinders, aerosols, etc.
2. Failure to comply with safety rules when building fire on land near the house, burning grass or dead (for example, in windy weather), burning garbage.
3. Drying things over a gas stove, near a fireplace, on a heating stove and electrical appliances, using a hair dryer or a heat gun.

In addition, open fire, used to heat frozen pipes, preheat flammable substances on the stove, and also cleaning with alcohol-containing or other combustible liquids of clothing can lead to a fire.

Operation of faulty furnaces and electrical appliances

Careless handling of fire is often associated with a negligent attitude to damage in heating appliances. Similar in most cases is observed in socially unfavorable environment, as well as in settlements that do not have gas heating. So, among the reasons leading to fire, fire department employees are:

• Operation of furnaces with cracked masonry or a faulty chimney.
• Installation of self-made heating devices that do not meet the proper technical parameters.
• Uncontrolled burning furnace.
• Kindling it with combustible substances (gasoline, diesel fuel, etc.).

The causes of fires in residential buildings are often covered in the use of powerful electric heaters. As a rule, similar devices are connected to the electrical network of the old model. The wires of small cross section do not withstand the load and melt, leading to a short circuit. And as a result, there is a fire.

Fires for children's prank

One of the eternal problems in the field of fire safety are childish pranks and careless handling of fire, examples of which are quite extensive:

1. Games with matches and flammable substances. Quite often, the thirst for knowledge causes kids to carry out all sorts of experiments with little-known objects and devices, which can lead to irreparable consequences.
2. Use of electric heaters, gas and electric cookers. Often, children left without supervision of parents in a room where the sources of fire are easily accessible include them in their games. The result can be a flashed curtain, set fire to a notebook, an exploded can of condensed milk, etc.
3. Ignition of dry foliage and poplar fluff. They are, perhaps, one of the most popular seasonal entertainment for children. The presence in the baby's pocket of matches or lighters during the poplar discharge of their seeds can lead to a fire in an apartment building parked in cars, benches and other disastrous consequences. Ignition of grass in rural areas may well cause a fire with the death of people.

Fires in production

Most often, fires in workshops and factories occur because of total non-compliance with labor safety rules. This happens, as a rule, because of the pseudo-economy of time. Responsible for fire safety master does not want to spend time for proper instruction, and the employee agrees with him. Explicit violations of fire safety rules include:

• An old wiring condition.
• The lack of adequate response to open fires.
• Malfunctions in electrical equipment.
• Absence of adapters for voltage to imported devices.
• Leaks of explosive gases and media.
• Violation of the rules for electric and gas welding, as well as metal cutting.
• Wrong organization of the workspace and much more.

Most of the fires in production occur due to violation of the rules for the operation of electrical appliances. Careless handling of fire is the second factor in its prevalence.

Fires at the gas station

The fire of petroleum products vapor, as a rule, is accompanied by explosions and a bright flash. Despite the fact that diesel fuel burns slightly worse than gasoline, its destructive power by its characteristics is by no means less. The main cause of accidents at gas stations is a violation of safety rules, which is a careless handling of fire. So, in conditions of volatile vapors dispersed in the air, ignition can cause:

1. Open fire (match, cigarette lighter, cigarette butt, broken incandescent lamp).
2. A flashing spark (repair work near the storage facility, emissions from the exhaust pipe, the use of faulty electrical equipment, etc.).

However, it is worth remembering that the first stage of the absolute majority of fires at gas stations is the leakage of oil products, which occurs due to the depressurization of tanks for both natural causes and human fault.

Forest fires

According to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the root cause of this type of ignition is almost always a person. Forest fires (especially peat) are always a colossal disaster: huge areas of a wood massif are destroyed, unique ecosystems, animals, birds and insects perish. Together with the smoke, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide are released into the atmosphere, as well as nitrogen oxide. In the opinion of the absolute majority of specialists, in terms of the amount of harmful combustion products, a large forest fire may well compete with the activities of several large industrial enterprises.

A coniferous carpet with a dry admixture of foliage, covering the forest, has amazing flammability. It ignites with almost the same ease as gunpowder. The basis for the cause of forest fires since the times of finding cigarettes popularity is the thrown cigarette butt. However, quite often for a fire, a simple bottle glass is sufficient, which is able to focus the sunbeam, as the lens does.

Causes of fire in the home

Fires due to careless handling of fire are always connected with the frivolity and absent-mindedness of a person. Obviously, it will never be possible to completely avoid such incidents. However, it is quite possible to reduce the likelihood of fire in everyday life. All that is needed is a simple consciousness, as well as a clear understanding of how much depends on each individual person in this matter. In addition to the already mentioned above ignition factors , the cause of a fire in everyday life can be:

• Left unattended iron and other electrical appliances connected to the network.
• Ignoring the safety rules when using firecrackers, Bengal lights, garlands, etc., devices of the festive theme.
• Use of candles near curtains and other easily flammable decor elements.
• Storage in the house of paints, varnishes (especially in a well-heated room, especially in the immediate vicinity of the heat source).
• Careless use of gasoline and acetone for cleaning tissues.

The consequences of fires and their statistics

All kinds of fires in the first place entail the death or injury of people. In addition, the destruction from them causes significant damage to both the affected and the economy of the country. The annual damage is estimated in tens and even hundreds of millions of dollars. Analytical data categorically testify that the number of fires worldwide is steadily growing and entails great material losses and human casualties.

The statistics for today are as follows: more than half of the fires occur in residential premises (55%), about 10% in production, the incidence of fire in storage facilities is about 30%. As for the level of material damage, the greatest damage is accounted for by warehouses and storage facilities (about 45%). In residential buildings, it is 30%. And 25% - in all others. The greatest number of people die in domestic fires (80%).

Prevention

So, in order to prevent a fire, you should remember a few simple rules:

1. Do not leave open fire sources (heating devices, stoves, fireplaces, bonfires, burning braziers, etc.) without supervision.
2. The candle should be installed on a dense and absolutely incombustible base, the width of which exceeds the length of the candle.
3. Smoking in the house follows only one, specially selected for this place, equipping it with a glass or metal ashtray and clearing everything that can easily ignite.
4. In no event should you pour ashtray into the trash immediately after smoking.
5. If possible, a fire safety system should be installed in the house.

However, the most effective prevention of fires, the cause of which is the careless handling of fire, is a clear understanding of the danger posed by an uncontrolled flame. One unsuccessfully thrown cigarette butt, which fell on a balcony neighbor during the sowing of poplar fluff, is capable of killing several lives.