What Makes ‘Fire’ Burn and How Can It Be Controlled?

Fire is like a hungry monster that eats fuel and breathes in oxygen to grow stronger. When you light a match, the matchstick becomes the fuel, and the oxygen from the air helps it burn. To stop fire, we can take away the food (fuel) or block its breathing (oxygen).

Fire happens when three things come together: fuel, heat, and oxygen. Think of a campfire, the wood is the fuel, the heat starts it burning, and the air around it gives more oxygen to make it grow bigger.

If we put out a fire, like when you pour water on it, the water takes away the heat and covers up the oxygen. That makes the fire stop growing, or even go out completely!