Fire Facts

Garth Heckman is a pyromaniac like me, and in his book, Burn This Book, he gives some interesting fire facts:


What is fire made of? Fire is heat and light resulting from the rapid combination of oxygen, or in some cases gaseous chlorine, with other materials. The light is in the form of flame, which consists of volatile gases moving upward; the flame is the region in which a combustion reaction occurs. The gases in the flame move upward because hey are hotter—and therefore lighter—than the surrounding air. The conditions necessary for the existence of fire are the presence of a combustible substance, a temperature high enough to cause combustion, and the presence of enough oxygen or chlorine to enable rabid combustion to continue.


The temperature of a blue flame can reach 2,950° to 3,050°C. This can be achieved when acetylene is ignited in pure oxygen. A blue flame is typically the innermost part of a flame—even on an ordinary candle—and thus the area with the highest temperature.


The sun has many nuclear explosions. The fire and heat they create are what keep our earth warm and allows us to grow crops and stay out of the dark.


Why do kids play with matches? They know that in that little flame is an incredible power. There is something in us that seeks power because God created us for it—the right kind. The more God burns out of you, the more of his power you have.


When camping, fire can be used as a signal, to cook food, and to purify water. People don’t feel so lonely with a fire. It makes the night less frightening. And while there are relatively few animals dangerous to people in many North American campground areas, forests, and deserts, fire will almost always keep those that are out there at bay.


When a fire is under way, the upset electrons of agitated atoms release little pockets of energy, called photons, which then create light. The more you allow the Holy Spirit to burn out of you, the brighter your light will be for God.


How do you make fire? Fire has been produced by three principal methods: friction, percussion, and concentrating energy from the sun. In the first method, friction raises the temperature of a combustible material (kindling) to ignition temperature. The percussion method produces a spark to set kindling aflame. Fire also can be produced by using a lens or curved reflector to concentrate the rays of the sun on the combustible material, greatly raising the temperature of the kindling.


Fire is energy! If you apply enough fire to any object, it will change. The object’s color will change, as will its shape and molecular structure. Given enough exposure to the Refiner’s fire, you will change too. Don’t give up!


Was the 1910 fire in the western U.S. the largest forest fire in our country’s history? No one can say with certainty that the blaze of Aug. 20-21, 1910, was the largest forest fire ever. But here are some accepted facts: it burned three million acres of forest in western Montana and northern Idaho and was believed to have been started by lightning. Total lives lost: eighty-six. It was fanned by tornadic winds that whipped into full force what had been, by different estimates, form 1,700 to 3,000 separate fires just a day earlier, on Aug. 19. If size alone is the measure, it could be called the largest forest fire in U.S. history.


Many years ago, rangers though all forest fires should be put out right away. Now they understand that many forests depend on fires to stay healthy. Forest fires can be like good gardeners. They get rid of some of the dead branches, old pine needles, and leaves on the ground. The ashes from the fire also add minerals to the soil, helping plants grow.


Have you ever spent time at a bonfire? Before you know it, everything on you smells like smoke! The fire probably never touched you, but the smoke somehow penetrated every fiber of your clothing. Next thing you know, people are asking, “What smells like smoke?” You have to explain you were at a bonfire. In the same way our lives should have a distinct aroma to people—just as that smoky smell remains with someone after they leave a fire. People should be intrigued by the aroma produced when God burns things out of our lives.


“The state has the power to protect its citizenry from actual harm, and thus has the power to outlaw one yelling ‘fire!’ in a crowded theatre.” Colorado public defender Eric Vanatta, quoting from See, Schenk v. Unites States, 249 U.S. 47 (1919). If someone took a look at your spiritual life, could they yell “fire!”? Or is it all just smoke and mirrors?


At any given time around the world, there can be nearly 1,800 thunderstorms, scientists estimate. The storms can produce more than ten flashes of lightning a second, with each flash even hotter than the sun. The damage is undeniably spectacular. A typical thunderstorm is fifteen miles in diameter and last an average of thirty minutes. Every year, more people die from lightning strikes than tornadoes.


Did you know that grain can explode and burst into flames? This is more common than we think, with an average of more than a dozen incidents every year in the U.S. alone. Grain is a raw carbohydrate, and in dust form can be extremely flammable. All it needs is a spark or an open flame to burst into an inferno.


In 2004, there were 3,900 civilians who lost their lives in a fire. More Americans lost their lives in fires than all other natural disasters combined. While 1.6 million fires were reported, many others went unreported, causing additional injuries and property loss. (U.S. Fire Administration)


An explosion is really just a fire that, technically, burns very fast.


In 2005, 106 firefighters lost their lives while battling fires; four other died that year from injuries suffered before 2005. At four fires, more than one firefighter suffered injuries leading to his or her death. In addition, forty-eight firefighters died from heart attacks while on duty. Twenty-six firefighters died in on-duty vehicle crashes. (U.S. Fire Administration)


In 2002, cooking-related fires caused an estimated 185,600 structure fires, eighty civilian deaths, 3,875 injuries, and $481 million in property damage. “Each year cooking fires in structures generally result in the highest number of injuries. Simply being more attentive to the use of cooking materials and equipment would greatly reduce these types of fires and injuries.” (U.S. Fire Administration)


The number of fires increases during and around four holiday periods: Independence Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the winter holiday period that includes Christmas and New Year. More fires are reported on the Fourth of July than any other day of the year. Brush and outside fires increase substantially due to family outings and the misuse of fireworks. (U.S. Fire Administration)


In 2004, 320 people were killed by an estimated 36,500 intentionally set structure fires in the United States. Property damage from such fires was $714 million. Among all fires, direct property loss was an estimated $9.8 billion. (U.S. Fire Administration)


The piston in a car provides power because of how it works. There is immense pressure in the piston, along with a mixture of gas and air. When the spark plug fires, POW! IT sparks and drives the piston back. If you find yourself in a place of immense pressure, do not waste the opportunity. Ask God, through the Holy Spirit, to send his spark, and watch how fast the fire comes. And with it is incredible power.


A fire cannot get very big, very hot, or go very far without oxygen. God is the air we breathe. We must seek Him continually to keep the fire burning!


Different ways to start a campfire: 1. Use pine cones covered in wax. 2. Pack charcoal in paper egg cartons and tie shut. When ready to use, just light the carton. 3. Put a piece of charcoal in each section of a paper egg carton. Cover with melted wax. Tear apart and use as needed. 4. You can even use sawdust, dryer lint, or pistachio shells instead of the charcoal. 5. Take 100 percent cotton balls and thoroughly rub petroleum jelly into them. Keep in a sealed plastic baggie until ready for use. 6. cut newspaper into strips, 3 to 4 inches wide. Roll them up and tie with string. Cover with melted wax.


Children under the age of five are twice as likely to die in a fire than everybody else. In fact, toddlers ages three and four actually cause a large number of home fires by playing with lighters and matches. Senior citizens are the other age demographic most at risk from residential fires. Every year college students experience a growing number of fire-related emergencies. There are several causes for the blazes, but the most come from a general lack of knowledge about fire safety and prevention. (U.S. Fire Administration)


The oldest known continually burning fire is an underground coal fire in New South Wales, Australia. The fire apparently started sometime in the last two thousand to six thousand years when lightning struck a large coal seam at a point where it reached the surface of the earth. Today the fire is more than 500 feet underground and still slowly eating away at the coal.


When you hear of a raging forest fire, you rarely hear the experts talk of battling to put it out. Typically, you hear them say they’re trying to “contain” the fire. They know that if they can do so, eventually it will go out on its own. You must not let your friends or other outside forces contain your fire for God. That’s all it takes to burn out!


Taken from: Burn This Book by Garth Heckman.