Fire
Extinguishers
Remember that no
fire is inevitable. Home fires, apartment fires, and other
building fires can be prevented. There are several ways to prevent
your family from undergoing the potential destruction and
life-threatening hazards that fire can cause. Among the best way
to prevent potentially damaging and life threatening fires is by
installing smoke alarms. According to NFPA (National Fire
Protection Agency), properly installed and strategically placed
smoke alarms will cut your chances of being injured or killed in a
home fire nearly in half.
There are other
ways, however, of protecting your property and loved ones from
fire. Properly placed fire extinguishers are an excellent measure
of immediate action that you, as the homeowner, can take in the
event of a small fire. But always remember that fires do and will
re-ignite if not properly extinguished, so in the event of a fire,
of any size, be sure to contact us as a precautionary measure.
There are many
different types of fires, and in turn there are many different
types of fire extinguishers designated for use on each type of
fire. It is a common misconception that water is the universal
extinguisher. Often, however, if a untrained person uses water in
some fires it could result in injury or further destruction to
your home. The same is also true for many classes of fire
extinguishers. So before you install your own extinguisher(s) in
your home be sure you know their capabilities.
There are three
different classes of extinguishers that a homeowner needs to be
aware of when purchasing. All of these extinguishers are labeled
clearly and most of the new ones are labeled graphically.
"Class
A" fire extinguishers can be used on ordinary
combustibles such as wood or paper. One might use a "Class
A" extinguisher to put out a campfire or perhaps a mulch
fire. This type of extinguisher might not be as successful on a
stove fire that is being propelled by electricity or gas. A
"Class A" extinguisher is labeled with a Green
Triangle outlining an "A".
A "Class
B" extinguisher is suitable for putting out
flammable liquid fires such as gasoline, grease, oil, etc. A
"Class B" extinguisher is labeled with a red square
and a "B" inside of it.
The final type
of extinguisher that would concern a homeowner would be the "Class
C" extinguisher. This class extinguisher is
suitable for electrically energized fires. "Class C"
extinguishers can be identified with a blue circle and a
"C" on the inside of it.
All of these
different classes of extinguishers can be easily confused to
untrained persons. Today, however, many fire extinguishers can be
purchased with all three ratings. When you purchase your
extinguisher be sure that it is rated for all three types of fire,
by taking time to see if it has all three of the fire rating
images on it. Furthermore, most fire extinguishers sold presently
can be re-filled. If your fire extinguisher needs re-filled, stop
by the fire department, we will fill it for you free of charge.
In order to
quickly attack a small fire by yourself it is important that a
homeowner strategically places the extinguisher in places around
the home that can be reached in a split second. The NFPA
recommends that all households have at least one or perhaps two
extinguishers. The kitchen and garage would be suitable places for
your extinguisher, and pending on the layout of your house an
extinguisher on each floor would allow for much quicker reaction
time.
It is important
that extinguishers are kept high on a wall, near an exit and away
from heat sources. Heat could possibly make the extinguisher less
dependable in the time of emergency as well as cause it to lose
its charge earlier. Furthermore, you should annually check
the charge of the extinguisher in order to avoid
malfunction in emergencies, also to make sure that it is not
corroded in any way. If your fire extinguisher is corroded, be
sure to replace it or have it professionally serviced immediately.
It is also important that they are always kept away from
children's curious hands, only adults should use them.
Using a fire
extinguisher is not complex, but in an emergency there is no time
to read directions, so to avoid panic, make sure that you
are familiar with your extinguisher as well as the method
of attacking a fire. At the time of purchase, the vendor should be
able to offer sufficient direction. But if you are still unsure
about its use please don't hesitate to come to the fire department
for further instruction, any member of the fire department would
be more than happy to answer your questions.
In the event that
you should be forced to use your extinguisher and you are
confident that you can sufficiently knock down the fire with the
extinguisher, remember P.A.S.S. This is a method
with only four simple steps:
- P-
pull the pin on top of the fire
extinguisher that keeps the handle from being accidentally
pressed.
- A-
aim the nozzle toward the base of the
fire.
- S-
squeeze the handle to discharge the
contents of the extinguisher, while standing a safe distance
of around 8 feet away.
- S-
sweep the nozzle back and forth at the
base of the fire.
Make sure that
you immediately call the fire department, or have another person
call, to make sure that the fire has been safely extinguished. Be
aware that fires often re-ignite and that you should not just
assume that it's out. Make sure to stand at the ready with the
extinguisher while waiting for the fire department to respond. If
at any time you feel that the extinguisher cannot stop the blaze,
drop it, get out of the home and wait for the fire department.
Fire
extinguishers are a good way to attack small fires in the home,
and they are simple enough to learn, as well as use for any adult.
Remember that when purchasing an extinguisher for the home to make
sure that it is rated for Class A, B, and C fires. Be sure that
your extinguishers are quickly accessible, and in the unfortunate
event of a fire, remember P.A.S.S. to successfully knock down the
hazard. If these guidelines are followed, your own quick response
to a small house fire could save the precious minutes that would
otherwise be sacrificed by waiting for the fire department.
