The Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (ARFFS) of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) recently conducted a fire simulation and prevention exercise for FAAN workers and other stakeholders operating at the Domestic Terminal 1 of the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Ikeja.
The aim of the programme was to acquaint airport workers with fire emergencies at the airport. The exercise, which was handled by the terminal's fire officer, Mrs. Dorothy Egwu, was also designed to ensure that fire safety standards are regularly maintained within the terminal.
Egwu said fire safety was based on the principle of keeping fuel sources and ignition sources separate. She explained that oxygen, heat and fuel, which are combustive materials, work together to produce the chemical reaction that result in fire and stressed that the three components must be removed for fire to be extinguished.
She further noted that the three common types of fire extinguishers were water, carbon dioxide and dry chemical powder extinguishers, adding that fire had four categories namely category A, which is for solids that are not metals e.g. paper and wood.
This category, she said can be extinguished with air pressurised water and dry chemical powder. She said category B fire is for flammable liquids, such as gasoline, while category C is for energised electrical equipment. These two groups, she can be extinguished with carbon dioxide and dry chemical powder. For category D fire, which is for metals such as potassium and aluminium, she said, it requires special extinguishing agent.
While demonstrating how to use the fire extinguishers, Egwu enjoined all participants to remember the acronym PASS, which means - Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the top handle, Sweep from side to side until the fire is completely out. Egwu advised that in the event of a fire, people should leave the building through the nearest exit and assist any person in immediate danger to safety without risking their own lives.
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