Fire Extinguishers Are Important In Our Homes

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Fire Extinguishers Are Important In Our Homes

The generator was on but then it began to splutter. The lights in the house began to dim and flicker intermittently. “Maybe the fuel is finishing”, I said to myself but thought it was odd because that was not the sound of the generator if that was so. I went out to check and recoiled at the yellow and red flames that were shooting up at the corner where the cables ran. There was no time to think. I shouted for help and ran back into the house to grab the fire extinguisher and cautiously approached the fire though anxious and frightened about what was going on. Different thoughts ran through my head. “Remember what to do,” I said to myself. I pulled the pin in the fire extinguisher, aimed it at the fire and squeezed the lever. The fire was put out and I was left with all the adrenaline after the incident. The above scenario showed me in a fire emergency that was thankfully contained but would have been much worse if I didn’t have a fire extinguisher at home.

Make Sure Everyone Around You Knows How To Use A Fire Extinguisher

What Is A Fire Extinguisher?

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. A fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent which can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher can spread the fire and cause injuries! The five types are: A, B, C, D, and K. Combination A-B-C extinguishers are available for general use and generally work well throughout the home setting. Or you could keep a Type A extinguisher near the living areas and bedrooms, while placing an A-B-C combo extinguisher in/near the kitchen or garage where it’s more likely that you may have flammable liquids.  

Classes of Fire Extinguishers

• Class A: ordinary combustibles like cloth, wood, and paper
• Class B: flammable liquids like grease, gasoline, and oil
• Class C: electrical appliances and tools
• Class D: flammable metals (mostly in factories)
• Class K: vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances

Some home owners doubt if they really need one, because fire extinguishers are among the items in homes that hardly used, since it is useless without fire outbreak. They end up on the wall or at the corner of the room gathering dust but having this device in our homes is very important. Every household should have a home safety plan that focuses on both preventing fires and responding to a fire should one occur. Fire extinguishers are an important part of this plan. Place at least one multipurpose (type A-B-C) fire extinguisher on every floor of your home, one of which should be located in or near the kitchen. An additional extinguisher can be placed in or near the garage.  

What to do in a Fire Emergency

If there is a fire, your natural instincts may be to put it out immediately. For very small fires that can easily be put out without a fire extinguisher, your natural instincts may be right to put it out. Due to the fact that fires can spread so rapidly, make sure of the following before using a fire extinguisher:

1. Alert everyone else in the home.
2. Have someone call the fire department.
3. Have a clear exit path in case you need to get out of your home quickly.
4. If the fire is spreading, if there is too much smoke or if you instincts tell you it is not safe, get out.

Fire Extinguishers Are Important In Our Homes

If you do use a fire extinguisher, stand back about 6 to 8 feet and remember the acronym P.A.S.S. which involves these four steps: P = Pull the pin out of the top of the device. A = Aim the nozzle at the fuel source. S = Squeeze the lever to release the contents of the device. S = Make a sweeping motion as you squeeze the lever.   Always remember that your safety and that of your family is the number one priority in a fire. Things can be replaced but lives are lost forever.