What combination correctly represents the three elements of the fire triangle?

The correct combination representing the three elements of the fire triangle is oxygen, heat, and fuel. Understanding these elements is crucial for fire prevention and safety.

Oxygen is essential for combustion; it supports the chemical reaction that creates fire. Heat acts as the energy required to initiate and sustain this reaction, while fuel provides the material that burns, sustaining the fire’s flames. If any one of these elements is removed, the fire cannot start or will be extinguished.

Other combinations presented do not accurately reflect the necessary elements for combustion. For example, water is used to extinguish fires rather than sustain them, and smoke is a byproduct of combustion, not a fundamental element needed to maintain a fire. Similarly, while air contains oxygen, the presence of nitrogen does not contribute to the fire directly, and combustion describes the process rather than being an element of the triangle itself.