Fire Tetrahedron


The burning process, often referred to as the fire tetrahedron, has four components: 
  • Fuel (e.g., wood, paper, coal, natural gas)
  • Oxygen
  • Heat (e.g., a spark, small flame, or high temperature)
  • Sustaining chemical reaction (i.e., combustion)

If we remove any of these items, the fire will stop. If we thoroughly douse our campfire with water, for example, we remove access to all the oxygen, we suffocate the fire, and the chemical reaction stops.

Watch the video on the fire tetrahedron.