What does the fire tetrahedron illustrate?

The fire tetrahedron illustrates the essential elements of combustion, which are heat, fuel, oxygen, and a chemical chain reaction. This concept is crucial in understanding how fires ignite and sustain themselves. Each element plays a vital role in the combustion process: heat is required to raise the materials to their ignition temperature, fuel provides the material that burns, oxygen supports the combustion, and the chain reaction represents the ongoing process of combustion that needs to be maintained.

By recognizing these four components, firefighters and fire safety professionals can develop effective strategies for fire suppression. For instance, removing any one of the elements can extinguish a fire—cooling it down, depriving it of fuel, displacing oxygen, or interrupting the chain reaction. This understanding is foundational for effectively combating and managing fire hazards in various environments.