What three things make up the 'fire triangle'?
AnswerHeat, fuel and oxygen
A fire needs heat, fuel and oxygen; remove any one and it goes out.
Society · Facts & stats
Fireman facts & stats
7 fact-checked facts about firefighters and fire safety, each with the reason behind it. 5 more are in today's round and join this page after it closes.
The basics
Which phone number calls emergency services in the United States?
Answer911
911 is the emergency number in the US and Canada.
Going deeper
Which American founding father helped start Philadelphia's Union Fire Company in 1736?
AnswerBenjamin Franklin
Franklin promoted volunteer fire companies and wrote that 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'.
Why did Dalmatians run alongside horse-drawn fire engines?
AnswerTo clear the way and guard the horses
Dalmatians bond well with horses and would run ahead and guard the team and equipment.
The 'fire tetrahedron' adds which fourth element to the fire triangle?
AnswerA chemical chain reaction
Fire keeps burning through a self-sustaining chain reaction, which some extinguishing agents interrupt.
Expert level
What was ancient Rome's firefighting and night-watch corps, organized under Augustus, called?
AnswerThe Vigiles
The Vigiles, set up in 6 AD, fought fires and patrolled Rome's streets at night.
Why should water never be thrown on a pan of burning oil?
AnswerThe water flashes to steam and sprays burning oil
Water sinks under hot oil and boils instantly, throwing burning oil into the air.
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