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FIRE EXTINGUISHERS In the fire service we have a saying: "Big fires start small." Many large destructive fires have started from small insignificant fires. A smoldering cigarette in a trash can can ignite the paper, or perhaps fall behind the cushions on the couch and start a fire. A frying pan of grease on the stove catches fire or an automobile carburetor backfires and ignites the surrounding flammable materials. These fires and many other similar types all have something in common. They are small and have the potential of growing to much greater proportions if left unchecked. If a person happened to be aware of the above small fires and had a good working fire extinguisher handy and knew how to use it, he or she might just be able to prevent a larger loss. We call this "First Aid Firefighting". This means that there are some measures the average person can take to handle a small problem. You wouldn't necessarily see a doctor for a cut on your finger. If you know what to do and had the right items, you could handle it yourself. Stop the bleeding with direct pressure, wash the cut with soap and water, put an antibiotic ointment on it and apply a bandage to protect it. If you didn't perform this simple first aid procedure, the cut could lead to an infection or worse, requiring more advanced help. The same principle applies to small fires. If the fire is still small, the fire extinguisher is operable, the person going to use it knows how To use it and has a route of escape, the amount of losses can be greatly reduced. Types of Fire Extinguishers There are many types and sizes of extinguishers on the market. They are designed for various uses. For the average homeowner, you should purchase an Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved multipurpose "ABC" dry chemical extinguisher, found in almost every hardware or department store. This type of extinguisher can be used on common combustible materials like paper, wood, cloth, etc. It can also be used on burning liquids and electrical fires. The extinguisher should have some sort of indicating device to let you know if the pressure has dropped inside the unit. It should have a seal or tamper device on the activation handle so that you can tell if the unit has been used. You can never "test" a dry chemical extinguisher. Once it has been flowed, even just a small amount, it must be refilled or replaced. If a tiny amount of powder flows through the valve, it will not seal tight and the pressure will leak out. Size of the unit is important. The most commonly available size contains 2-1/2 pounds of agent. This is enough for a small fire about the size of a trash can. The next size up is a five (5) pound unit. It will obviously put out approximately twice as much fire. These are the most practical sizes for use in the home. Larger units are available but not everyone is capable of handling them with ease. You should have several fire extinguishers around your home for a number of reasons. One, if they are located throughout the house - kitchen, basement, auto, garage, upstairs, etc., - you won't be very far from one if a fire should start. Another reason is that if one extinguisher doesn't work (perhaps it has lost pressure), there are others you can use. A third reason is that if you just about have the fire out and the extinguisher runs out of agent, you can get another unit. Maintenance Maintenance is a simple but vital step once you have installed extinguishers in your home. Each extinguisher comes with directions specific to their product. Generally speaking, the extinguishers should be mounted in a readily accessible location away from a potential source of fire. You do not want to put yourself in harm's way attempting to get to the extinguisher! Try to avoid "hiding" the extinguisher with storage of other materials; if you ever need it you will need quick access to it! Some items to check on a regular basis are: - Review the instructions. An extinguisher will be no good to you if you don't know how to use it.
- Check the pressure in the extinguisher. Most extinguishers have a gauge or other indicating device. If the pressure has leaked out it will not work.
- Check the nozzle for obstructions such as wasp nests, gum, spider nests, dust, etc. The nozzle should be free of powder too. If you see dry chemical residue, not dust, it means the unit may have been shot and may not be any good.
- Make sure the unit will come free from its storage bracket easily.
- Break the powder loose inside the unit by inverting the extinguisher and shaking it until the powder shakes freely inside.
Doing the above check on a monthly basis is recommended. Extinguisher Usage Getting the powder to flow from the extinguisher is easy; putting out a fire may not be so easy. REMEMBER: Your life and the lives of others is not worth the price of the property. If you have any doubts about your ability to use the extinguisher or the size of the fire, escape and call the fire department. If you choose to fight the fire, call the fire department first anyway. If you delay calling us and the fire gets out of control, it will be much worse because of the extra time lost during the attempt to fight it. If you choose to try to extinguish the fire: - Make sure all persons have left the area or building. .
- Make sure someone has called the fire department.
- Be certain you have a route of escape in case fire or smoke conditions worsen.
- Remove the extinguisher and glance at the pressure indicator to make sure the unit is good.
- Pull the pin or other sealing device.
- Point the nozzle at the fire from about eight (8) to ten (10) feet away.
- Press the handle to open the valve and discharge the agent.
- Sweep the agent at the base of the flames.
- Be certain the fire is out! There are numerous occasions where a fire extinguisher was used and they thought the fire was out. It wasn't and the fire rekindled.
- NEVER TURN YOUR BACK TO THE FIRE!
If you have any questions regarding types or uses of extinguishers, please contact us at 970-9700 during normal business hours. |
