What does the tetrahedron of fire consist of?

The tetrahedron of fire is a fundamental concept in fire science that describes the four essential elements necessary for combustion to occur. The correct elements in this context are oxygen, heat, fuel, and a self-sustaining reaction.

Oxygen is crucial because it supports the chemical reaction required for a fire. Heat refers to the energy that raises the temperature of the material to its ignition point, effectively driving the combustion process. The fuel, which can be any combustible material, is the substance that burns. The self-sustaining reaction is a feature that allows the fire to continue as long as the first three components are present and interacting with one another.

This concept illustrates that if any one of these elements is removed or reduced significantly, the fire will be extinguished, highlighting the importance of each component in the fire dynamics. Thus, the tetrahedron of fire is a critical framework for understanding how fires can start and be controlled.