When To Use Fire Extinguishers

Fire extinguishers can be very effective tools for saving property and lives. However, owning fire extinguishers doesn’t mean that it is always in your best interest to use one. For many people, especially older children and teens, the idea that the fire extinguisher is in the house makes them feel as though they should be able to control the fire and not leave the structure. Sometimes, this is a decision that costs lives, rather than saves them. It is important that you and your family understand when to use fire extinguishers and when to leave the home instead.

Fire extinguishers are designed to contain very small fires. They are not designed to fight fires, blazes, or roaring house fires that are consuming material. Immediate action is required on a small fire to prevent it from becoming a large fire. If the fire extinguishers are not handy enough to grab and use, chances are by the time you fish one out and return with it the fire will have spread beyond normal extinguisher ranges. Extinguishers are generally only effective on fires that are about 1 square meter when extinguishing begins.

Any fire that has high flames should not be tempted. High flames are particular danger and extinguishers have little to no chance of containing them. What makes a high flame so destructive is that while the fire may be initially contained to one corner of the room, it creeps upward and sets the next floor or the roof on fire before you even have a chance to clear everyone out. As you stand there trying destroy the flames fire is burning on the floor above you and can very easily burn through the ceiling and trap you from your escape route. Fires that have high flames should be left for professional emergency services and the entire family should vacate the home.

Extinguishers that are marked for different types of fires should only be used on those types of fires. Organic fires, like paper or wood that has caught fire, can be spread with the use of a carbon dioxide extinguisher. Knowing which of the extinguishers that you should use is primarily one of the most important decisions you can make when deciding when and if to use the extinguishers.

Spraying the top of fires, standing above fires, and standing too close to fires can cause the fire to spread when using extinguishers. In order for fire containment to be effective, you must stand back from the flame and spray the bottom of the fire. Otherwise the blast from the extinguisher can actually cause the flame to billow and cause the fire to grab more oxygen. Oxygen intensifies a fire and helps it spread faster.

If you are trying to contain a fire be very cautious when it comes to planning your escape in the event that you are not able to be successful. Do not wait until you can feel the burning of the heat before you decide to exit. Generally speaking, if you are not able to notice fire containment within the first thirty seconds of spraying, containment will not occur. Never place property above your life and always err on the side of caution when trying to extinguish flames.

By: Brian Ayling

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Having specialized in the fire extinguishers trade for over 20 years, Brian now works tirelessly to promote affordable fire safety for home and for business.