What are the three components identified in the fire triangle?

The fire triangle consists of three essential components: oxygen, fuel, and heat. Each of these elements is vital to the creation and sustenance of fire.

Oxygen is necessary for combustion; it reacts with the fuel to produce fire. Fuel is any combustible material—such as wood, paper, or gasoline—that can ignite and burn. Heat is the energy source that elevates the temperature of the fuel to its ignition point. When these three components are present in the right conditions, they can create and maintain a fire.

The absence of any one of these components will result in extinguishing the fire. For example, removing fuel from the equation will starve the fire, while applying water can cool the heat below the ignition temperature. Understanding the fire triangle is fundamental in both fire prevention and firefighting strategies.