By Tim
So...... what exactly is fire?
Fire is the visible effect of a chemical reaction called combustion that occurs between oxygen in the atmosphere and some sort of fuel (wood, gasoline, etc).
However, this reaction cannot happen on its own. First, the fuel needs to be heated to its ignition temperature, or the tempertaure when it ignites.
Fuel can be heated with lightning, a match, focused light, or many other things. Also, the ignition temperature differs depending on the fuel you're using.
When the burning starts, some of the fuel is released as smoke, and the rest of it becomes ash.
But......what is fire used for?
We have used fire for thousands of years and it was extrememly useful in helping early humans survive. Fire has been used for cooking, generating heat and light, clearing land, smelting, signaling, and even as a weapon.
I still don't know anything about the types of fire. Can you tell me more about that?
Sure I can! Fire can be classified in many different ways but one of the most useful ways to classify it is by what fuel the fire burns. The first type of fire is called Class A.
It is fire that uses solid materials such as wood, paper, or textiles as fuel.
The second type of fire is called Class B. It is fire that involves flammable liquids such as oil and gas. Class C is fires that involve gasses and Class D involves metals.
Want to learn more about fire? Click here!