Fire behaviour can be understood and predicted if you are familiar with the elements of fire. Fire is a chemical  reaction that requires three elements to be present for the reaction to take place and continue. The three elements are:

• Heat or an ignition source
• Fuel source
• Oxygen

The ignition source can include a material, equipment or operation that emits a flame, spark or radiates heat such as torches, grinding operations and kettles.

Fuel sources include combustible materials such as wood and paper; flammable liquids and gases such as solvents, and propane.

These elements must combine in a precise way for a fire to start and continue to burn. If one of these elements is not present, a fire will not start or if already burning will extinguish.