How Hot is Fire – Primarily, fire is hot because of the thermal energy released when a chemical bond is broken during combustion. During the reaction, both heat and light are produced as energy. A fire flame emits light from ionized gases, and is hot because of the sudden release of the energy in the fuel. The energy required to start a combustion reaction for fire is much less than the energy released.
How hot is fire then? There is no specific temperature for fire. This is because the thermal energy released from a combustion reaction depends on various factors. These factors include the availability of oxygen, the portion of fire being considered, and the chemical composition of the fuel being used. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.
For instance, wood may produce fire with a temperature of over 1100 degrees Celsius. However, various types of wood will produce different fire temperatures because of their different chemical composition.
Fire Temperature Range
While fire does not have a specific temperature, different types of flames have different temperature ranges. We have outlined several temperature ranges for certain types of flames.
• Red flames. Weaker red flames can range from 525 degrees Celsius to 1000 degrees Celsius. The fainter the red color, the lower the temperature. A vibrant red flame will have temperatures of close to 1000 degrees Celsius.
• Orange flames. Generally, an orange flame is hotter than the red flame. Its temperature ranges from 1100 degrees Celsius to 1200 degrees Celsius. The brighter the orange color, the hotter the temperature.
• White flames. White flames are hotter than both red and orange flames, measuring 1300 degrees Celsius to about 1500 degrees Celsius. The brighter the white color, the hotter the flame.
• Blue flames. A blue flame is the hottest. Temperatures for blue flames can rise dramatically from 2500 degrees Celsius up to 3000 degrees Celsius. A bunsen burner is a glaring example of a source with a blue flame.
Different fire sources also have different fire temperatures. Depending on what you want, you need to choose your fire source wisely to get the results you are looking for. We have outlined various fire sources and their temperatures range.
• A candle flame. The hottest part of a flame produced by a candle is around 1400 degrees Celsius, while the average temperature of the other parts is 1000 degrees Celsius.
• A bonfire. The temperature of a bonfire heats up slowly to around 600 degrees Celsius, but it can reach up to 1000 degrees Celsius.
• Wood fire. A wood fire temperature depends on the type of wood that is being used. A household wood fire will burn at around 600 degrees Celsius.
• A Bunsen burner. A Bunsen burner is mainly used in laboratory experiments since it is adjustable. Safety flames measure around 300 degrees Celsius, while fully open flames can go up to 1500 degrees Celsius with a piercing blue flame.
• A match stick. A household match has a small flame of a temperature ranging between 600 to 800 degrees Celsius.
General Fire Safety
It is essential to be aware that fire may quickly become a hazard, and you have to exercise caution always when using it. Many conditions can cause a fire emergency and endanger multiple lives. The major causes of fire include overloaded electrical sockets, mishandling of flammables, misuse of space heaters, and negligence. Therefore, you should implement preventative measures to ensure your safety, and that of others is not compromised.
Use the following tips to prevent your property and family from fire injury and losses.
• Install fire alarms correctly. While it seems like an easy thing to do, installing a fire alarm system can be tricky, and you should make sure it is done the right way. Ensure that the right number of detectors are installed and are in the correct positions to ensure they work efficiently. Also, ensure that all the levels of the building have a smoke detector as well
• Plan an escape route. Don’t assume your building is safe from fire, but strive to ensure that you can quickly get to safety during a fire outbreak. The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you have at least two possible ways out of every room in your home. Moreover, it would be helpful if you practice getting out through those escape routes.
• Have a functional fire extinguisher. Ensure that you have an accessible and fully functional fire extinguisher in your home. You should also ensure that you know how to properly use one because, in case of a fire emergency, there will not be enough time to read the instructions manual. Also, remember that a fire extinguisher can only be used where the fire is small, or contained in a small area. In case of a more significant fire emergency, you should not use a fire extinguisher, call professional firefighters for help.
• Have enough knowledge about fire dangers. Knowledge about a fire is an essential part of preventing fire outbreaks. Primarily, the more you know, the more likely you are to handle a fire situation calmly, preventing a significant outbreak.
• Act immediately. When you see a small flame starting, ensure that you put it out immediately. Within 5 minutes, a small fire can spread through an entire room. Therefore, you should ensure that your fire extinguisher is easily accessible when it is needed.
• Know that heat is more dangerous than a flame. In a fire, heat is more threatening than the flame. Therefore, during a fire, ensure that you stay close to the ground as possible.
• Avoid smoke. During a fire emergency, ensure that you stay away from the smoke because toxic air is deadly. Smoke can make you feel disoriented, drowsy, and experience shortness of breath. In most fire disasters, many people don’t die of burns but asphyxiation.
Ensure that you put these measures into practice during any fire outbreak. Also, it would help if you told your children the dangers of fire, and why they should stay as far as possible. The essential thing to remember is that for a fire to occur, fuel source, oxygen, and an ignition source are the main components that come together. Therefore, the primary way of preventing a fire from occurring is keeping those three elements apart. Click here for the Best-Selling Fire Safety Products.