What is the first component of the fire tetrahedron?

The fire tetrahedron is a model used to understand the necessary components that sustain a fire. It is an expansion of the earlier fire triangle, adding a fourth element – the chain reaction – that shows how fire can propagate.

The foundational component of the fire tetrahedron is fuel. Without fuel, there would be no fire; it is the substance that burns and provides energy. Fuel can be in various forms, such as solids, liquids, or gases. Its presence is essential because it is what ignites and consumes, forming the basis for initiating combustion.

Understanding this, fuel is the starting point of any fire. It reacts with oxygen, gets heated to its ignition point, and, under the right conditions, ignites, creating a fire. This knowledge is crucial for fire safety and investigation, as identifying the presence and source of fuel is critical in determining how a fire started and how it can be controlled or extinguished.