Fire is the rapid oxidation of a material in the exothermic
chemical process of combustion, releasing heat, light and various reaction
products. The flame is the visible portion of the
fire. If hot enough, the gases may
become ionized to produce plasma. Depending on the substances alight, and any
impurities outside, the color of the flame and the fire's intensity will be
different.
Fire has been used by humans
for cooking, generating heat, light, signaling and propulsion purposes. The ability to control fire was a dramatic
change in the habits of early humans.
Making fire to generate heat and light made it possible for people to
cook food, increasing the variety and availability of nutrients. The heat produced would also help people stay
warm in cold weather, enabling them to live in cooler climates. Fire also kept nocturnal predators at
bay. Evidence of cooked food is found
from 1.9 million years ago, although there is
a theory that fire could have been used in a controlled fashion about 1,000,000
years ago.
The
negative effects of fire include hazard to life and property, atmospheric
pollution and water contamination. Fire
has also been used for centuries as a method of torture and execution, as
evidenced by death by burning as well as torture devices such as the iron boot,
which could be filled with water, oil or even lead and then heated over an open
fire to the agony of the wearer.
Fire
has been an important part of all cultures and religions from pre-history to
modern day and was vital to the development of civilization. Fire is one of the four classical elements in
ancient Greek philosophy and science. It
was commonly associated with the qualities of energy, assertiveness and
passion. Fire is also sometimes
associated with deities of trickery and chaos - probably because while we may think we have domination over it,
ultimately it is the fire itself that is in control. Fire is often connected with Loki, the Norse
God of chaos, and the Greek Hephaestus (Roman Vulcan) the God of metalworking,
who demonstrates no small amount of deceit.
Fires start
when a flammable and/or a combustible material, in combination with a
sufficient quantity of an oxidizer such as oxygen gas or another oxygen-rich
compound (though non-oxygen oxidizers exist), is exposed to a source of heat or
ambient temperature above the flash point for the fuel/oxidizer mix, and is
able to sustain a rate of rapid oxidation that produces a chain reaction. Once ignited, a chain reaction must take
place whereby fires can sustain their own heat by the further release of heat
energy in the process of combustion and may propagate, provided there is a
continuous supply of an oxidizer and fuel.
National Fire
Prevention Week is observed in the United States and Canada, during the week
(from Sunday to Saturday) in which October 9 falls. In the United States, the first Presidential
proclamation of Fire Prevention Week was made in 1925 by President Calvin
Coolidge. The National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) continues to be the international sponsor of the week.
In
Canada, Fire Prevention Week is proclaimed annually by the Governor
General. The earliest known provincial
proclamation of Fire Prevention Day was by the Lieutenant-Governor-in-Council
of Ontario in 1916. The Saturday ending
the week is also proclaimed as Fire Service Recognition Day to express
appreciation for the many public services rendered by members of the Canadian
fire service.
The
Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, deciding to observe
the anniversary as a way to keep the public informed about the importance of
fire prevention. When President Calvin
Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week on October 4–10,
1925, he noted that in the previous year some 15,000 lives were lost to fire in
the United States. Calling the loss 'startling',
Coolidge's proclamation stated: "This waste results from the conditions
which justify a sense of shame and horror; for the greater part of it could and
ought to be prevented... It is highly desirable that every effort be made to
reform the conditions which have made possible so vast a destruction of the
national wealth".
Those who survived the Chicago fire never forgot
what they'd been through; the blaze produced countless tales of bravery and
heroism. Firefighters and equipment
from as far as St. Louis and New York City responded to the blaze. But the fire also changed the way that
firefighters and public officials thought about fire safety.
For
example, many bedroom fires are caused by misuse or poor maintenance of
electrical devices, careless use of candles, smoking in bed, and children
playing with matches and lighters. Most
potential hazards can be addressed with a little common sense. Be sure to keep flammable items like bedding,
clothes and curtains at least three feet away from portable heaters or lit
candles and never smoke in bed. Also,
items like appliances or electric blankets should not be operated if they have
frayed power cords and electrical outlets should never be overloaded.
Fire Safety Checklist:
- Install and maintain a working smoke alarm outside of every sleep area and remember to change the battery at least once a year.
- Designate two escape routes from each bedroom and practice them regularly.
- Teach everyone the 'Stop, Drop and Roll' technique in case clothing catches on fire.
- Avoid storing old mattresses in the home or garage.
- Teach kids that matches, lighters and candles are tools, not toys.
Conduct
a safety inspection in your home. Check
for frayed wires, minimize the use of extension cords and make sure combustible
items are at least three feet from all heat sources such as the water heater,
stove, furnace, space heaters and the fireplace. Gasoline should never be used or stored in
the home. Keep matches and lighters
where children cannot get to them.
Properly discard smoking material in the toilet to ensure it is
extinguished.
As Pagans, we often use bonfires and candles in
our rites and gatherings. In
rituals, fire is represented in the forms of burning objects, love spells,
baking and lighting candles or fires.
The manifestations of the element are found in the sun, candles, volcanoes,
ash, lava and all forms of light. But as
we use this element, keep in mind safety.
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