Does fire
need oxygen
to burn?
What is fire?
Fire
is the rapid decay of a
material in the chemical process
of combustion. It releases heat
and light.
When a material is combusting,
fire is created.
What is oxygen?
 Oxygen
is an odorless, colorless gas.
 It is not flammable but it is used to support
flames and keep them active. Without
oxygen a flame not survive.
What happens when oxygen is
introduced to heat and fuel?
 The
three key ingredients in creating fire is
fuel, oxygen and heat.
 When oxygen is introduced to heat and
fuel a fire is formed because of atoms
combining.
 Therefore, without all three ingredients
(including oxygen) a fire will not form.
Does fire need oxygen to
burn?
Yes, fire does need oxygen to burn. Without
it, the fire cannot be supported and will go
out. It is impossible to start a fire without
oxygen because the three key ingredients in
combustion are oxygen, heat and fuel.
Sources
 http://eo.ucar.edu/kids/sky/air1.htm
 http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/how_it_
works/fire.html