Safety, Fire & Survival · Fire — Triangle vs Tetrahedron

The fire tetrahedron adds which element to the classic fire triangle of fuel, heat, and oxygen?

Explanation

The fire triangle is fuel, heat, and oxygen; the tetrahedron adds the self-sustaining chemical chain reaction. Removing any one side extinguishes the fire — cooling (heat), smothering (oxygen), starving (fuel), or chemically inhibiting the chain reaction (e.g., dry chemical or clean agents).

Authority: Fire science; firefighting references

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