I. Overview

　　The greatest enemy of a data center is dust, and more critically, data center fires are closely related to it. Once a fire occurs in the data center, the losses can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions.

　　II. Causes of Data Center Fires

　　1. UPS battery fire: When a battery catches fire, smoke quickly spreads throughout the data center (strictly speaking, UPS batteries should not be stored in the same room as data center equipment, but many organizations place them together due to budget and space constraints). Even if they are not in the same room, the smoke will quickly spread to the data center through connected pathways.

　　2. Overloaded circuits: When the equipment in the data center cannot meet user demands, adding more equipment to the data center is easy, but the load capacity of the cables is not so easily upgraded. This results in overloaded cables, overheating, and potential fires.

　　3. Dust accumulation on equipment without timely cleaning: Due to prolonged equipment operation and harsh environments, dust and grease accumulate. If not cleaned promptly, this can lead to short circuits, high-temperature alarms, and fires.

　　4. Old equipment not replaced or cleaned in time: Especially for cables operating under high loads for extended periods. If cables are not replaced or cleaned in time, the insulation layer may melt due to high temperatures, leading to fires.

　　III. Fire Emergency Plans

　　1. Quickly cut off the power supply to the data center.

　　2. Trigger the fire alarm.

　　3. Activate the data center fire suppression system (if not in automatic mode).

　　4. Before the arrival of firefighters, ensure safety and attempt to extinguish the fire if possible. All unrelated personnel should evacuate immediately.

　　5. Be cautious when using water to extinguish equipment fires; foam extinguishers are preferred.

　　IV. Post-Fire Equipment Handling and Recovery

　　After a fire, the most challenging issue is restoring the operation of data center equipment. Before restarting equipment, it is best to perform a thorough cleaning (for equipment extinguished with water, initiate recovery mechanisms immediately. Water entering the equipment can corrode internal components if not addressed promptly, causing greater losses. Therefore, water should be removed quickly). After cleaning, it is best to run the equipment in a new data center to avoid secondary contamination from the old site. It is also recommended to use gas-based fire suppression systems in data centers to minimize economic losses compared to water-based systems. The recovery rate of equipment after gas-based suppression is higher than with water-based suppression. Post-fire recovery procedures include cleaning the data center and equipment, removing dust, removing water and moisture, and eliminating static electricity.

　　V. Prevention First: Keep the Data Center and Equipment Clean

　　Modern data centers can be considered the core value area of an organization. Waiting for accidents to happen before addressing them can lead to significant losses, often with unimaginable consequences. Therefore, it is essential to identify the causes of fire accidents and implement preventive measures. Strictly follow data center equipment management regulations, perform regular cleaning and maintenance, and always keep the data center and equipment clean and tidy to reduce fire risks.