The very large heat of vaporization of water is the reason why water is particularly suitable for extinguishing a fire. When water is poured onto the fire site, the water is not only heated, but also vaporized. As explained, the water requires a great deal of heat specifically for vaporization. This energy is supplied by the fire site.
Water does not, in general, help extinguish a fire. Typical fires, however, can be successfully attacked using water alone, as it can cool the fuel at the base of the fire or generate a vapor barrier between atmospheric oxygen and the hot fuel. Water can accelerate liquid hydrocarbon fires by dispersing fuel.
Why And How Does Water Put Out Fire? Explained
The water molecule doesn’t become hot enough to separate into hydrogen and oxygen and instead, has two potential actions on the fire that can put it out. Firstly, it absorbs the heat from the fire. This is the main method by which water extinguishes fire. Room temperature water is about 77 degrees Fahrenheit and water won’t become steam until it hits 212 degrees …
Therefore to put out a fire you have to remove one of the three sides of the triangle fuel, air (oxygen) or heat and the fire stops. Water is fantastic for taking away the heat because it has what is known as a high heat capacity which means you can put water into a situation and it absorbs the heat and reduces the temperature to the point where the fire goes out.
People Also Ask why is water used to extinguish fires
Does water help extinguish a fire?
Water does not, in general, help extinguish a fire. Typical fires, however, can be successfully attacked using water alone, as it can cool the fuel at the base of the fire or generate a vapor barrier between atmospheric oxygen and the hot fuel.
Why does water put out a fire?
When water extinguishes a fire, it does so because it doesn’t break down into its constituent elements. The water molecule doesn’t become hot enough to separate into hydrogen and oxygen and instead, has two potential actions on the fire that can put it out.
Is it safe to put out a fire with water?
While ordinary fires of solid material are often easily extinguished with water, electrical fires, oil or liquid fires, and metal fires should never be tackled with water. You are at a high risk of harming yourself, property, and others if you do so.
How much does water expand in a fire?
It is at the base of the fire that most of the work is done. The water is heated up, granted, this takes up some heat, but most important of all, it turns into vapor. by the virtue of this process water expands by a factor of 300 (or maybe 3000?
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Why You Definitely Don't Want To Use Water To Extinguish a Grease Fire Video Answer
Reference:
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fire_extinguisher