Frequently Asked Fire Extinguisher Questions.

If I have a fire extinguisher, do I still need smoke detectors?

           Yes, as fire extinguishers provide no warning of          a fire.

           Extinguishers when used with operating smoke           detectors, give           

           the residents of the home both a warning and a           weapon, which

           significantly decreases the chances of dying      in a residential fire.              

What type of fire extinguisher should be in your home?

           Home extinguishers should be rated as ABC. What that means

           is that they will be able to extinguish fires involving Class A   

           fuels such as wood, paper, furniture and clothing; Class B fuels,

           which are flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paints,

           paint thinners, lacquers and cooking grease and oils; and Class C

           fuels which is energized electrical equipment.

           If you are purchasing a model for an area that has a significant  

           load of flammable liquids, you may want to consider selecting a 

           BC rated extinguisher as that will provide you additional

           protection from re-ignition.

           This information will be listed on the box and the extinguisher in

           both letter form (“ABC” or “BC”) and in pictogram form.

What size fire extinguishers do you need in the home?

          We recommend no extinguisher smaller than 5 lbs. models. This

          gives you enough agent to extinguish a small fire and provide    

          enough agent to protect your escape should the fire rapidly and

          unexpectedly grow in size.

Where should fire extinguishers be located in the home?

          National statistics indicate 26% of all residential fires occur in

          the kitchen, making it the most dangerous room in the home. The

          extinguisher should be mounted on the wall near the exit.

          Other rooms that may require an extinguisher include the garage,

          especially if it contains a large quantity of flammable liquids such

          as gasoline (either in cans or in motorized vehicles and tools),

          fuels, paints and paint thinners or strippers or the laundry area, as

          a significant number of home fires originate in the dryer. Again,

          locate the  extinguisher on the wall near the exit, as this will give

          the occupants the opportunity to decide if they want to fight or

          flight.

                                         Using a Fire Extingusher

         When using a fire extinguisher, the primary concern is the

         personal safety of the user.

         If you have any doubt at all about how to use the extinguisher or

         doubt that you may be able to escape if you are not successful in

         extinguishing the fire, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO USE THE FIRE

         EXTINGHISHER AND LEAVE THE HOUSE IMMEDIATTLY.

What do I need to do before using a fire extinguisher?

         Make sure that everyone in the house knows there is a fire and

         they are in the process of evacuating. If you have small children,

         concentrate on getting them out of the house, NOT fighting the

         fire.

        Call 911 and let them know you have a fire. Tell them that it is  

        small and you are going to be using a fire extinguisher on it.

        Make sure the fire extinguisher is charged. To do this, look at the

        gauge mounted on the handle, and follow this simple rule:

                     If the needle is pointing to a green area – GO..

                     the extinguisher is safe to use.

                     If the needle is pointing to a red area – STOP ..

                     the extinguisher is not safe to use.

                        Remember …. Green is GO … Red is STOP

Where should I be positioned in the room to use the fire extinguisher?

       Take the extinguisher and position yourself no farther than 10’ from

       the exit (The 10’ Rule). This will assure that if the extinguisher fails

       to work or the fire grows rapidly you will be in a position to  

       immediately escape. A properly charged extinguisher has a range of

       20-25 feet, so you will still be able to hit the fire.

      Make sure that your back is also to the exit. This will assure that you

      will not be trapped in a corner and unable to get to the exit if the fire   

      rapidly accelerates.

How do I attack the fire?

      Remember the acronym PASS - Pull, Aim, Squeeze & Sweep

                PULL the pin located on the handle.

                Take the hose and AIM it at the base of the fire.

                SQUEEZE the handle.

                SWEEP from side to side until the extinguisher is empty.  

What should I do now?

     Back out of the room .. watching the fire for a re-ignition.

     Immediately leave the house and join your family outside.

     If there is smoke, you may have to crawl low to breathe.

    When the fire department arrives give them the location and details

    of the fire.

               If you have any questions on this topic or wish any

             additional information, feel free to call us at 949-9440.

                                “Prevention Through Education”

                                       BPFD1 Public Education