Which component is NOT part of the fire triangle?

The fire triangle consists of three essential components that must be present for fire to occur: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Each of these elements plays a crucial role in the combustion process. Fuel acts as a combustible material that burns, oxygen supports the chemical reaction, and heat is the energy that initiates and sustains the reaction.

Smoke, on the other hand, is a byproduct of combustion and is not one of the fundamental components necessary to start or maintain a fire. Its presence indicates that a fire is happening but does not contribute to the conditions required for burning. Therefore, smoke is not part of the fire triangle. Understanding this distinction is essential for fire prevention and control, as it emphasizes the importance of targeting the correct components to extinguish or prevent fires effectively.