For a fire to start or develop, three factors must be present: oxygen, temperature and flammable material. A fire always spreads upwards in seconds, sideways in minutes and downwards in hours. If one or more of these elements are changed or removed, the fire will die out.
In practice, this means:
- Remove the oxygen (for a fire in a small room): Close doors and windows and make sure no oxygen is introduced (e.g. via an open window).
- Lower the temperature (in case of fire in electrical installations or flammable liquids): Use a carbon dioxide extinguisher to cool the fire to a temperature where the fire dies out.
- Remove the flammable material (in case of a fire in a rubbish bin or similar): If possible, grab the object and throw it out the window.
- Once alerting and evacuation is initiated in the actual area where the fire is burning, alerting and evacuating neighbours starts first upstairs, then to the side and finally downstairs.
Follow the alarm instructions and only attempt to stop the fire if you feel safe and qualified to do so.