What are the three elements of the fire triangle?

The three elements of the fire triangle are heat, fuel, and oxygen because they are essential components necessary for the combustion process to occur.

Heat is necessary to raise the material to its ignition temperature. Fuel refers to any combustible material that can burn, which can include solids, liquids, or gases. Oxygen supports combustion, generally present in the air at about 21% concentration, and is required for the chemical reaction that produces fire.

By removing any one of these three elements, a fire can be extinguished. For instance, cooling a fire (removing heat) with water or foam, smothering the flames (removing oxygen) with a blanket or a foam canister, or removing flammable materials (removing fuel) are all effective methods used in firefighting. Understanding the fire triangle is fundamental for firefighters in both fire prevention and extinguishing efforts.