Fire: Friend and Foe

Early humans saw lightning and volcanoes and feared fire's power before learning to use it.

Long before humans controlled fire they witnessed its damage in lightning and volcanoes. Fire was powerful and dangerous.

People probably discovered fire by rubbing flint stones or from burning lava. Later they kept fire in pots and stoves.

Fire may have been discovered accidentally from flint sparks or natural flames. Over time humans learnt to keep fire in stoves, lamps and hearths.

Fire is the result of a chemical reaction among oxygen, heat and fuel. Without any one of the three there is no fire.

The text explains the 'fire triangle': oxygen from air, fuel (wood, coal, gas), and heat together produce fire. Remove one element and the fire dies.

Controlled fire cooks food, gives warmth and power. Uncontrolled fire destroys homes, forests and lives.

Fire is a good servant in kitchens, factories and engines, but a bad master when it spreads through buildings or forests.

Fire spreads by heat transfer - conduction, convection and radiation - jumping to nearby fuel.

Heat moves to neighbouring materials by conduction, convection currents in air, and radiation, allowing flames to leap from roof to roof.

We must not let fire go out of control. Water, sand, blankets or fire extinguishers cut off oxygen or heat. Call fire brigade in emergencies.

Safety means keeping fuel away from heat, never leaving stoves unattended, and knowing that water works on ordinary fires while oil fires need sand or blankets to smother oxygen.