BASICS OF FIRE EXTINGUISHING

Požar je nekontrolirano gorenje, koje nanosi materijalnu štetu ili ugrožava ljudske živote. S obzirom na raširenost iskorištavanja vatre, opasnost od požara postoji unatoč mjerama opreza i požari su česta pojava. Požar se pojavljuje i razvija pod različitim okolnostima, a najčešće su uzrokovani ljudskom nepažnjom. Posljedice požara mogu biti pogubne i odnijeti ljudske žrtve. Prilikom izbijanja požara od presudne je važnosti poznavati osnove gašenja požara te ponašanja u takvim izvanrednim uvjetima. Nužno je, u što kraćem roku, ako je ikako moguće, sredstvima iz okoline, dovesti požar pod kontrolu te alarmirati nadležne službe, koje potom izlaze na teren i suzbijaju požar. Gašenje požara podrazumijeva sve radnje koje je potrebno poduzeti kako bi se požar mogao uspješno obuzdati i svladati. Da bi vatra nastala, nužna je prisutnost tri uvjeta gorenja: goriva tvar, dovoljna količina kisika i određena temperatura. Ta tri elementa zajedno čine tzv. požarni trokut. Da bi gašenje bilo uspješno potrebno je ukloniti jedan od elemenata iz požarnog trokuta. Na tom načelu temelje se metode gašenja požara. Uobičajena sredstva za gašenje su voda, vatrogasni prah i pjena, CO2, haloni i priručna sredstva. Postoje požari A, B C, D i F klase. Požari A klase su požari krutih tvari. Požari B klase su požari zapaljivih tekućina, dok su požari C klase požari plinovitih tvari. Požari klase D predstavljaju požare lakih metala, a klase F požare ulja i masti životinjskog i biljnog podrijetla. Prilikom gašenja požara, osim na klasu požara prema kojoj je potrebno koristiti određena sredstva za gašenje, nužno je i obratiti pozornost na ostale okolnosti. Najviše pažnje je potrebno posvetiti kod gašenja požara vodom, jer je voda dobar vodič električne struje, pa stoga se ne smije koristiti za gašenje požara električnih instalacija ili u blizini električnih instalacija. Bitno je znati osnove gašenja požara, jer se poznavanjem tih osnova mogu spasiti ljudski životi, ali i očuvati materijalne vrijednosti.The fire is uncontrolled burning, which causes a damage or threatens human lives. Based on the widespread exploitation of a fire, a fire hazard exists in spite of precautions and fires are a common occurrence. Fire occurs and develops under different circumstances, but most commonly are caused by human negligence. The consequences of a fire can be devastating and take a human sacrifice. When we talk about fire, it is crucial to know the basics of fire extinguishing and how to behave in such extreme conditions. It is necessary, as soon as possible, if at all possible, to use resources from the environment, to bring the fire under control and alert the competent authorities, which will take action to the field and suppress the fire. Extinguishing means all actions to be taken, in order to successfully restrain and overcome the fire. To start a fire, there is necessary presence of three conditions of combustion: fuel substance, a sufficient amount of oxygen and a certain temperature. These three elements, grouped together, make a fire triangle. To extinguish fire successfully, it is necessary to remove one of the three elements of the fire triangle. On this principle is based fire-fighting measure. Common extinguishing materials are water, dust and fire foam, CO2, halon and nearby accessories. There are fires of A, B, C, D and F class. Class A fires are fires of solids. Class B fires are fires of flammable liquids, while Class C fires are fires of gaseous substances. Class D represents fires of light metals, and class F stands for fires of various oils and grease. During firefighting, except for the class of fire to which it is necessary to use certain extinguishing materials, it is necessary to pay attention to other circumstances. Most attention should be paid at the firefighting with water, because water is a good conductor of electricity, and therefore should not be used for fire extinguishing of electrical wiring or near electrical installations. It is important to know the basics of firefighting because that knowledge can save human lives, and also preserve material values