No other action of nature must be harnessed as well as the action of combustion has to be contained. Over the last two hundred years , the science of fire fighting has progressed twenty fold, but the principles have remained the same, keep fire under total control at all times.
The equipment that a fire truck is equipped with is all meant to expedite the extinguishment of a fire as rapidly and safely as is situational. Not all fires use the same material to extinguish the combustion. That is the reason every home and business must have enough ABC rated dry powder, three pound fire extinguishers to provide immediate knock down capability for any type of normal residential or automobile fire. Keeping one at each entry dorgard door and one at each end of a hallway will give some immediate chance of extinguishment when entering the building.
If you are faced with a car fire the battery must be disconnected immediately, live electricity in the dash and engine compartment create havoc in a fire scenario. Along with a good three pound ABC fire extinguisher an inexpensive pair of medium size bolt cutters, under the edge of the spare or in a fire safe in the trunk, can cut the battery cable. Always cut the black wire. It is the ground in most cases, and will kill the circuitry instantly.
Fire fighting equipment is designed and manufactured to meet very demanding use. The first responder’s best friend is his fire truck. With water and a couple of fifty foot lengths of fire hose and a quality nozzle, all hooked to a pump that will produce as high as six hundred and fifty pounds per square inch of water pressure to produce as much as twelve hundred gallons per minute, and that often isn’t enough water, delivered fast enough to put out the fire!
The normal citizen and the experienced fire warden will call for back up and let everyone close know that a life threatening condition exists and everyone needs to keep their head and respond with the correct plan of attack. Call 911 first, then and only then do you assess the situation and ether fight fire or run. Not many residents own a self contained breathing unit, fire retardant clothing, special boots and gloves. If you want to learn more, stop by local fire house, they will be more than glad to answer any of your questions.