Science Learning Hub logo
TopicsConceptsCitizen scienceTeacher PLDGlossary
Sign in
Image

The fire triangle

The fire triangle: oxygen, fuel and heat.

Oxygen, fuel and heat are needed for fire to occur. This is known as the fire triangle.

Glossary

Rights: The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato
Published: 3 November 2009Updated: 5 September 2025Size: 538.91 KB
Referencing Hub media

Explore related content

Appears inRelated resources
Physical World – Heat

Teacher PLD

Physical World – Heat

Below are links to Science Learning Hub resources for primary teachers related to heat in the Physical World strand of ...

Read more
What is fire?

Article

What is fire?

Fire is the visible effect of the process of combustion – a special type of chemical reaction. It occurs between ...

Read more
Cover of 2020 Level 4 Connected article: Wildfire

Article

Wildfire

Using the huge 2019 Nelson wildfire as a starter, this Connected article explores wildfires, focussing on:

Read more
Heat energy

Article

Heat energy

Most of us use the word ‘heat’ to mean something that feels warm, but science defines heat as the flow ...

Read more
Alternative conceptions about fire

Article

Alternative conceptions about fire

These are some common misunderstandings about fire. They acknowledge that children have made reasonable sense of the ideas based on ...

Read more
Investigating fire – key terms

Article

Investigating fire – key terms

Learning to manage this chemical reaction

Read more

See our newsletters here.

NewsEventsAboutContact usPrivacyCopyrightHelp

The Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao is funded through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's Science in Society Initiative.

Science Learning Hub Pokapū Akoranga Pūtaiao © 2007-2025 The University of Waikato Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato