What is a fundamental principle of fire fighting?

Breaking the fire triangle of oxygen, heat, and fuel is indeed a fundamental principle of firefighting. This principle highlights that fire requires three elements to ignite and sustain combustion: fuel, heat, and an oxidizing agent (typically oxygen). By eliminating or disrupting one of these components, firefighters can extinguish or prevent fires.

For instance, removing the heat can be achieved through the application of water or other extinguishing agents, which cools the materials involved. Cutting off the fuel supply can involve removing combustible materials from the vicinity of the fire. Reducing the oxygen concentration can be accomplished by using foam or other agents that smother the fire. Understanding how to manipulate these elements is crucial for effective firefighting and is foundational to the techniques and strategies firefighters use in emergency situations.

This principle stands at the core of firefighting tactics, guiding actions taken during both fire prevention and firefighting efforts.