Fire, a form of combustion, is the most spectacular chemical phenomenon. Linguistically, the word fire refers to the combination of the brilliant glow and large amount of heat released during a rapid, self-sustaining burning of combustible fuel. Technically, fire is not a state of matter; it is an exothermic oxidation process by which heat and light energy are given out. Fire starts when a fuel with adequate supply of oxygen or other oxidizer is subjected to enough heat, and it is sustained by the further release of heat energy ...

Including:

• Fire - Controlling fire
• Fire - Fire and religion
• Fire - Fire as a power source
• Fire - Uncontrolled fire
• Fire - Science of fire

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Controlling fire for the purposes of providing heat and light was one of humankind's first great achievements. The ability of fire to generate heat and light made possible migration to colder climates and enabled people to cook food — a decisive step in the perennial fight against disease. Smoke signals were an early use of fire for communication, and fire soon enabled advancements in metallurgy such as smelting and forging. Archaeology indicates that ancestors of modern humans such as Homo erectus seem to have been using controlled fire as early as some 790,000 years ago. The Cradle of Humankind site has evidence ...

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Fire, Fire - Controlling fire, Fire - Fire and religion, Fire - Fire as a power source, Fire - Uncontrolled fire, Fire - Science of fire

Read more here: » Fire: Encyclopedia II - Fire - Controlling fire

See also: Fire ecology A flame is a self-sustaining oxidizing chemical reaction producing energy and ionized gas (plasma). It consists of reacting gases emitting visible and infrared light, the frequency spectrum of which is dependent on the chemical composition of the burning elements and intermediate reaction products. In many cases such as burning organic matter like wood or incomplete combustion of gas, incandescent solid particles (soot) produce the familiar red-orange 'fire' color light. This light has a continuous spectr ...

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Fire, Fire - Controlling fire, Fire - Fire and religion, Fire - Fire as a power source, Fire - Uncontrolled fire, Fire - Science of fire

Read more here: » Fire: Encyclopedia II - Fire - Science of fire

Fire has supplied much of the energy which has helped humans since ancient times, from the wood fires which served many prehistoric purposes to the oil, gas and coal power stations of today which supplies the vast majority of the world's electricity (nearly 80%1). Mexico is typical with thermal energy providing 76% of all energy2. The burning of wood is often the first association to the word "fire". It is common in a developing country for wood to be the primary energy source as well. For instance, in Africa, 65 ...

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Fire, Fire - Controlling fire, Fire - Fire and religion, Fire - Fire as a power source, Fire - Uncontrolled fire, Fire - Science of fire

Read more here: » Fire: Encyclopedia II - Fire - Fire as a power source

The self-sustaining nature of fire makes it extremely dangerous if uncontrolled. Fire can consume structures and forests and can severely injure or kill living things through burns or smoke inhalation. Structure fires can be started by cooking accidents, electrical faults, fuel leaks, children playing with lighters and/or matches, and accidents involving candles and cigarettes. Fire can propagate rapidly to other structures, especially where proper building standards are not met. Purposefully starting destructive fires constitutes arson and ...

See also:

Fire, Fire - Controlling fire, Fire - Fire and religion, Fire - Fire as a power source, Fire - Uncontrolled fire, Fire - Science of fire

Read more here: » Fire: Encyclopedia II - Fire - Uncontrolled fire