Picking And Using Fire Extinguishers

It has been said that you need to use the right tool for the job. Very true. As you can see from the previous blog, throwing water on every fire is not the right tool. If you have not seen the video on the previous entry, please go back and look it over. I of course got that video off You Tube. I thought it much better to do that than to demonstrate it myself. What I can demonstrate is the fire extinguisher I just bought for our kitchen. No I won't set a fire and blow all the contents out rendering it useless for our home. I will show it to you though. I do have a couple videos to show you that will demonstrate how to use a fire extinguisher and to also let you know there is a point where you just get out and let the professionals deal with the fire.

HERE IT IS!

It is the kitchen fire extinguisher by Kiddie. I picked it up at Lowe's for $18.97. That's not bad is it? Of course not. It stands only 13 3/4" tall with a canister width of 3 1/4" wide. It easily fits under the cabinet on the kitchen counter. We chose to place it on the opposite end of the kitchen counter, so that in case of fire on the stove, we can make the choice to use the extinguisher or run out the back door. Either way the choice is made while moving away from the fire.

Besides what I considered a good price for a worthwhile tool, I liked the fact that it has the gauge on the side like the one's I used at the Police Department. We had good sized extinguishers that could put out a pretty good fire. If you couldn't put it out, you could at least beat it back.

The gauge shows the readiness of the extinguisher and you can tell simply by taking a quick look that it is ready to use. If the gauge shows below the green (in the red for danger), you know it is time to replace the extinguisher or in the case of more expensive models, recharge it. If you look at the photo of the gauge on the fire extinguisher, you will see a yellow needle pointing at the green zone. In the green zone is the word "full". This one is ready for action!

To deploy a fire extinguisher, simply pick it up by the handle, pull the ring (red plastic) out of the handle (pull it right off), point it at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, and move the stream back and forth across the base of the fire. The fire, if not already out of control, will go out or have been beaten back considerably. This could buy valuable time for your family to get out.

Some fire extinguishers have a metal ring. This one has a hard plastic red ring. They operate the same way (most of them) and are deployed the same way. Always read the instructions that come with your extinguisher and be aware of the rating your extinguisher has. In other words, what type of fires your extinguisher was made to fight.

Even if you successfully put out the fire the fire department should still be called. The heat that has been generated could start the fire up again or smoulder for a considerable amount of time inside the wall or wherever it was burning and flare up again. Fire departments are also experts in the area of hazardous materials and can determine if there are other hazards relative to your particular circumstance.

Types of Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers are classed into basically five categories (A, B, C, D, and E):

A - Used on fires involving wood, cloth, paper, and plastics.

B - Used on fires involving flammable liquids like grease, oil, gasoline, & paint.
C - Used on fires involving electrical appliances.

D - Extinguishers for manufacturing where flammable metals are involved.

E - Extinguishers for large kitchens. Oil/Grease fires.

We chose a B/C extinguisher for our kitchen because B/C fires are what you usually see in the kitchen. According to statistics, most fires in the kitchen are started on the stove or with other appliances. We expect a lot from the little electric motors in our kitchens. When electric motors in mixers and other like devices fail, fire can result. The B/C rated extinguisher is perfect for these kinds of fires.

That's not to say an A/B/C extinguisher wouldn't work in the kitchen. Of course it would, but we will have other fire extinguishers available in the house. How many extinguishers should we have in our homes? Well, according to several fire associations, we should have an extinguisher in the kitchen, the garage, and all levels of the home. My home in other words should have five fire extinguishers. FIVE! That's a lot of money! Well, don't just rush out and buy five fire extinguishers all at once if you can't afford it. Pick one up every month or when the budget will allow, but get them.

Here is a little video put on the by the Glendale Fire Department that I think shares a lot of valuable information. It's great to have someone tell you how to do something, but much better to see.

Now let's not try to be heroes! If there is a little fire on the stove, put it out. If the fire gets large at all, GET OUT! The flames are not the only hazard. The smoke, heat, gasses, and the speed with which fire spreads are all deadly threats. We all have a great deal invested in our homes and the belongings we house there. None of us want to loose any part, much less all, we possess. That is what insurance is for. That is why we take precautions, like buying a fire extinguishers. It is why we are cautious about our cooking areas and garages. We want to prevent any fire hazard we can to protect our investments, but what is most important? Our loved ones. I can rebuild my home and do anything as long as I know my family is safe. That is what it is all about.

I have included a You Tube video here that demonstrates how fast a fire spreads in the home. Watch it a few times. There is much to be learned from it about how long you should take to fight a fire yourself. It might give you clues as to whether or not you should even move in the direction of the fire at all. I don't care how big a fire extinguisher you might have, if the smoke is thick, dark, and low, just get out of there. Notice the narrator's information about heat at the varying levels of the room. Could you survive the heat even though the flames are not particularly close to you? The answer is no.

From the video we just watched we saw how fast a fire can spread. We need a plan! Fire extinguishers are a valuable part of that plan, but not the total answer. If in two minutes a room can flash over, it is obvious we need to know how to get out of the house from any room without going back into the house. Our children need to know how to get out of the house and where to go. Our home has a fire hydrant out at the front corner of the property. Our children were taught to get out their windows and go to the fire hydrant. It things were to hot there, they were to go to the same spot across the street. We used to practice it from time to time.

There are many sources on the Internet that can help you in your search for the right information for home fire safety. I encourage you to do some research on the subject.

Thanks for looking in and stay safe in your sensible homes.

Dan