Fire Extinguisher
Because many fire extinguishers discharge their entire contents in eight to 15 seconds, they are designed to fight small, contained fires like a wastebasket fire, and are useful only under the following conditions:
- The extinguisher must be charged and the proper type for the fire.
- The fire must be small enough for the extinguisher to be effective.
- The fire must be discovered by a person ready, willing and able to use the extinguisher.
Know your classes
Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire can make matters worse. Different extinguishing agents must be used on certain types of fires.
- Class A: wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics (remember: leaves an Ash).
- Class B: flammable liquids鈥攇asoline, oil, grease, acetone (remember: can Boil).
- Class C: electrical鈥攁s long as it鈥檚 鈥減lugged in鈥 (remember: carries a Circuit or Current).
- Class D: combustible or flammable metals including magnetism, titanium, zirconium, sodium, potassium, etc.
When using a fire extinguisher, remember pass:
P鈥擯ull the pin.
A鈥擜im the nozzle at the base of the fire.
S鈥擲queeze the handle.
S鈥擲weep from side to side at the base of the fire.