Fire is one of the most dangerous disasters. The causes of a fire largely depend on the negligence of a person, but there are cases when people's activities are not related to ignition. In order to understand why fires occur, let's look at them in more detail.
Classification of fires by place of origin
1. Fires in apartments, houses and other residential premises.
The main cause of a fire in a place where people live is negligence. May cause fire:
- Playing with fire. Often the culprits are children left unattended. To eliminate this cause, babies should be taught about the dangers of fire from early childhood. In addition, children should not be left unsupervised, and all flammable objects should be removed and hidden.
- Wiring failure. It may occur for various reasons. That is why it is necessary to carefully inspect all the wires, sockets, electrical appliances and connections in the house at least once a month.
- Illegal or negligent use of gas bottles, fireplaces,ovens. Residents must follow the law and take extra care when using these devices.
- Gas leak. It is required to check all gas appliances systematically.
2. Fires in offices, industrial enterprises.
Statistics have found that the main cause of fire in service and industrial enterprises is non-compliance with safety rules:
- The company is not equipped with fire extinguishing equipment: shields, fire extinguishers, fire cabinets.
- Gross violation of SNiPs and other norms.
- Faulty equipment is being used during operation.
- Incorrect storage of combustible or other flammable substances.
- Technologies are violated, especially during welding, electrical, etc. works.
It should be noted that each listed cause of a fire is also a consequence of the human factor.
3. Forest or steppe fires
Forest fires are often caused by people as well, although there are other factors as well. Forest or steppe may catch fire:
- As a result of a lightning strike.
- Due to natural underground peat fire.
These cases can cause wildfires, but not often. The most common cause of a fire in the steppe or forest is the same human factor:
- Starting fires.
- Stubble burning.
- Leaving unextinguished cigarette butts.
- Broken glass (refracting the sun's rays,glass may act as a lens and cause a fire).
- Intentional arson.
Despite the fact that extinguishing any fires is a very difficult task, extinguishing fires in the forest and steppe is especially difficult.
It's even harder to put out underground fires. Some fires of coal or peat can be natural, start without human intervention, but due to ongoing chemical reactions. Such fires are almost impossible to put out. Today, thousands of such underground fires are raging in America, India, China and other countries.
For example, a fire in the American town of Centralia has not been put out since 1962. The fire that broke out in the Chinese mine Liuhuanggou in 1874 was put out only in 2004.
