Importance of public utility closing in building fires

Abstract

During the firefighter intervention it is important to close all public utilities. The intervention personnel’s safety and the reduction of the secondary damages justifies the closing of the public utilities. It is worth in almost every building fire to pay attention to close or switch off electricity, natural gas, district heating and all other public utilities. The electricity increases the risk of electric shock at fire extinguishing by water-based agents. The natural gas system could cause explosion. The water-based transfer medium of the district heating could cause scalding injury, or it could increase secondary water damages if the system leaks. The secondary water damage could be increased by the warm water heating system, the drinking water system and the sewage system if those damaging by the fire or during the firefighter intervention. In this publication I present what way is it expedient create the conditions of the public
utilities closing possibility, and how can the intervention personnel minimize the hazards of the public utilities.