Final answer:
Fire requires three conditions to occur: fuel, oxygen, and heat. These elements make up the 'fire triangle' and are essential for ignition and for sustaining a fire.
Step-by-step explanation:
The conditions a fire requires to occur are fuel, oxygen, and heat. These three elements make up the "fire triangle," which is a simple model for understanding the necessary ingredients for most fires. Let's break down each component:
- Fuel: Any combustible material serves as fuel—it can be wood, paper, gas, etc. The moisture content of the fuel influences how easily it will burn, with drier materials being more prone to ignition.
- Oxygen: Oxygen is needed to sustain combustion. Air contains about 21 percent oxygen, and fires typically need at least 16 percent oxygen content to burn. The process of fuel burning in the presence of oxygen is known as oxidation, releasing heat and generating combustion products.
- Heat: A source of heat is responsible for initial ignition and to maintain the fire. Heat preheats the fuel and the air, drying out the fuel and enabling the fire to spread.
Thus, the correct answer to your question is C) fuel, oxygen, and heat.