Vision and Mission

Vision

A modern fire protection agency working towards a safe and progressive society.

Mission

To prevent and suppress destructive fires;investigate its causes;

provide emergency medical and rescue services;and enforce other fire-related laws

with active involvement of the community.

Legal Mandate

The BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION was created by virtue of R.A. 6975 primarily to perform the following functions:

1. Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on:

a. Buildings, houses and other structures;

b. Forest;

c. Land transportation vehicles and equipment;

d. Ships or vessels docked at piers or wharves or anchored in major

e. Petroleum industry installations;

f. Plane crashes; and

g. Other similar incidents

2. Be responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (P.D. 1185) and other related laws.

3. Shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and, if necessary, file the proper complaint with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case.

4. In time of national emergency, all elements of the BFP shall, upon direction of the President, assist the AFP in meeting national emergency, and

5. Shall establish at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities and equipment in every city subject to standards, rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Program Thrust

On Fire Prevention

Professionalization of fire safety inspection through trainings and tapping private profressionals as fire inspectors (PROSAFE Program).

Amendment of the Fire Code to include latest trends in fire safety technology and improvement of fire code fees collection.

Enhanaced fire safety information campaign through Ugnayan, tri-media campaign, fire olympics and similar activities.

On Fire Suppression

Improve organization and coordiantion with fire volunteer brigades. Enhanced linkages with NGOs and LGUs for donations and other assistance. Packing loan proposals for acquisition of equipment and facilities from local and foreign

financing agencies.

On Fire Investigation

Enhanced linkages with other law enforcement agencies for apprehending arsonists and for technical assistance.

Establishment of an arson laboratory unit and acquisition of fire investigation kits for arson investigators.

Trainings/scholarships for arson investigators.

On EMS and Rescue

Enhanced implementation of EARnet Project. Establishment of EMS and SRU in other urban centers nationwide Conduct of drug tests for organic personnel. Enhance civic action and related special projects. Accelarate training of EMTs and Rescuers.

On General Administration

Setting-up of vital computer based information systems. Refinement of performance mesurement system. Increase in Pay of uniformed personnel. Finedtuning of BFP Operations Manual.

Chemistry of Fire

WHAT IS FIRE?

    Fire is a chemical reaction between a flammable or combustible substance and oxygen. It is a rapid oxidation with the evolution of light and heat.

    Fire is the active principle of burning characterized by the heat and light of combustion.

    Fire is the product of oxygen, heat and fuel. Oxygen forms 21 percent of the air. The sun supplies heat naturally or artificially. It is also supplied by compact conditions of materials, friction, matches, lighters and others chemical reactions. Fuel constitutes a large percentage of the property and materials in the form of gas, liquid and solid. Only gas burns. Solid or liquid fuels must be converted to a gaseous state through heat before it burns.

    For a fire o exist, three basic components must be present. Fuel is any material, liquid or gas that has the property to burn. Oxygen (air) is in the form of gas that is present in the atmosphere and chemically supports the process of combustion. The burning process requires a balance between the fuel, the available oxygen and heat. Heat is a form of energy from sunlight, electric sparks, chemical processes that could increase the temperature to a level that will support ignition. Since the process of burning releases heat at temperature in the region of 800 degrees Centigrade, the fire will continue unless extinguished until the fuel or the oxygen runs out. The volume percentage of oxygen in the air is around 21 percent and 16 percent alone can support combustion. Fire can be depicted by the fire triangle. The three sides of the fire triangle represent the OXYGEN, the FUEL and the HEAT.

    To achieve self-sustaining burning, there must be enough heat to add back to the fuel to continue burning. The returning heat continues to vaporize the fuel making it a gas that can be burned.

Classes of Fire

Fires are classified according to the types of fuel they burn. The four types are:

Class A Fire. Involves ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber, plastic, etc.

Class B Fire. Involves flammable liquids such as gasoline, solvents, oil, paint, varnish and lacquer thinners, etc.

Class C Fire. Involves energized live electrical equipment, such as computers, electric stoves, electric flat irons, etc.

Class D Fire. This kind of fire involves combustible metals such as magnesium, potassium and other similar materials.

Most Common Causes of Fire

We can prevent destructive fires from happening if we know the most common causes, as follows:

Electrical. Faulty wiring is a misnomer. If there is actually faulty wiring, there would have been no electrical power from the very start when you switch on the circuit breaker or the main service protective equipment. What actually happens is that the wires or circuit becomes overloaded due to increase in the load the circuit carries without changing the size  of the wires. The subsequent effect will be weakening  of the insulation of the wires due to overheating in the circuit caused by the additional load.

Incendiarism (Arson).  It pertains to the malicious burning of property, using certain chemicals, bombs, etc, and causing fire start.

Open flames. Unattended burning candles or kerosene lamps that are placed near flammable/ combustible material is a fire waiting to happen. Unattended cooking causes most fires in the homes that occur in the kitchen. Oil or fat starting to smoke is near the combustion point and can ignite violently.

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). LPG is liquid inside the container, but immediately transforms to the gaseous state when released. It is liquefied so it can be stored economically and transported easily. A gallon of liquid LPG in a bottle will expand about 270 times as much when suspended in a vapor form. Like any other liquid, LPG expands and contracts with changes in temperature. A gallon of liquid LPG expands at higher temperature and contracts at a lower temperature. This is why LPGas containers are never filled to their full capacity to give allowance for expansion of liquid. However, it is heavier than air in vapor form, it pushes out air inside the room causing a shortage of oxygen and this might suffocate any person in that room. LPGas is colorless, tasteless and odourless, but an odorizing agent called “ethyl mercaptan” is introduced to it so that leaks can easily be detected. LPGas in its vapour form is about half as light as water. This has its significance in case of gas leaks, so that the tendency of gas flow is to float at lower levels.

Fireworks. These are beautiful pyrotechnic displays resulting from the occurrence of certain oxidation, reduction, and reactions. The substances that produce fireworks are hazardous materials. These must be stored, transported, handled as oxidizers, and displayed by experienced, and knowledgeable professionals. Implementation of prohibitions in the manufacture, handling and use should be strictly complied with everyone as fire safety precaution.

Spontaneous Ignition. This occurs as a result of a chemical reaction within the material. It is a reaction independent of any outside source of heat. It begins with spontaneous heating which some of the common materials that may spontaneously heat and ignite are animal oils, mixed fish oils, coal, sawdust, hay, grain, and cotton.

Static electricity. It involves the movement of electrons between two objects in contact with each other. Electrical charges are produced on the objects when they are separated. If the charge builds up, it will develop enough energy to jump as a spark to a

nearby grounded or less highly charged object. This spark can ignite flammable vapors, flammable gases or finely dispersed combustible solid materials.

Smoking. Careless smoking especially in bed is a leading cause of fire in the homes. In the Philippines it is the fourth leading cause of fire.

About Portable Fire Extinguisher That You Must Know!

The function of the extinguisher is to cool off burning substance below its ignition temperature, to cut- off air supply, or to effect combination of both methods, and to inhibit the chemical chain reaction.

Portable Fire Extinguisher (First Aid Fire Protection). It is a portable fire fighting equipment in cylinders/ canisters of different capacities (3lbs.; 5lbs.; 10lbs.; etc.) that contain different extinguishing agents.

Portable Fire Extinguisher Ratings/Classes

Water.

Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher(Dry Powder). It is a multipurpose fire extinguisher suitable for class A, B and C fires. Smothers and breaks the chain reaction of fires and it includes an excellent fire protection for a multitude of hazards in homes, offices, farms, factories and vehicles.

Aqueous Film Forming Foam. (AFFF) Fire Extinguisher. It is suitable for class A and B fires only. It can be used for laboratories, hospitals, refineries, pipe lines, flammable liquid storage, transportation facilities, garments, and hazardous material vehicle. It is a highly effective foam type fire extinguisher for fires involving a wide variety of class B hazardous materials such as alcohols, polar solvents, hydrocarbons and combination like gasohol flammable liquids. It has the additional capability of preventing serious Class B fires by application of the agent to a “spill before” ignition. The cooling penetrating effect of the foam also makes it an excellent agent for deep seated class A fires. AFFF has the rapid knockdown and a film forming feature, burn back security fluroprotien and is highly effective on hydrocarbons, a water soluble flammable liquid. Its greater density prevents it from being quickly blown away in windy outdoor applications.

Carbon Dioxide. (CO2) Fire Extinguisher. This type of extinguisher is primarily intended for use on Class B and C fires. The carbon dioxide agent extinguishes  by diluting the surrounding atmosphere with an inert gas so that oxygen levels are kept below the percentage required for combustion. When this type of extinguisher is used in unventilated space such as small rooms, closet, or other confined area, prolonged occupancy of that space can result in the loss of consciousness due to oxygen deficiency

How to Operate Fire Extinguisher

P  -   PULL the pin

A -    AIM the nozzle at the base of the fire

S  -  SQUEEZE the lever

S  – SWEEP the nozzle from side to side

How to Inspect your Fire Extinguisher

1. Know the locations of fire extinguishers in your work area.2. Make sure the class of the extinguisher is safe to useon fires that are likely to occur in the

immediate area.3. Check the plastic seal holding the pin in the extinguisher in the handle if it is broken or

missing.4. Look at the gauge and feel the weight to see if it is fully charged or not.5. Check gauges indicating the pressure for water foam and dry chemical extinguishers. The

needle should be in the “green marker”.6. Make sure the pin, nozzle and nameplate are intact.