Fire extinguishers. Professional advice?

[LoboGunLeather]

For many years I have always kept a fire extinguisher handy in the kitchen and I also have one mounted in my garage. I always check these for proper charging and overall condition several times each year, usually every time I change the furnace filters, but I have never actually needed to discharge one or even point one at a flame or smoldering pile of rubbish.

Lately I have been having second thoughts. I have never had any professional training in handling fire extinguishers. I have worried about possible injuries that could be caused by some of the chemicals used in fire extinguishers. The locations of my fire extinguishers are easily accessible to anyone in the home, including children, and I wonder at times if I should either keep them under lock and key or just get rid of them.

There is a fire station only about a mile from my home, and the city fire department is a professional full-time organization.

For those of us who are not trained professional fire fighters is there really any reason to have fire extinguishers in our homes? Wouldn't we be better off to call the fire department and let the professionals deal with dangerous situations? Should retailers, or internet dealers, be allowed to sell fire extinguishers to anyone without proof of training or proficiency, no licensing or permit requirements, not even a waiting period?

For clarification, neither of my fire extinguishers are automatic or even semi-automatic. One is a 2-lb. capacity, but the other is a 5-lb., and that might make one of them a large-capacity fire extinguisher (even though there are bigger ones out there, and mine was manufactured specifically for that capacity). Mine are both equipped with manual safety devices, little pins with rings that even a child could disengage easily. Either one is capable of completely discharging its entire charge with a single squeeze of the trigger-like mechanism; as long as you hold the lever down it will keep on shooting those chemicals out, and it is possible to spray down a pretty large area before running out.

Perhaps it is time for an open and honest debate on this serious public safety issue.

 

[Tex1001]

I have a complete instruction/application sheet somewhere.

 

[CH4]

Fire extinguishers are like guns, they're your first line of defense, be it from fire or robber. They're there when seconds count and emergency services are minutes away. A fire can grow from a small, containable fire to a fully engulfed residence before the fire department can arrive - and that's under ideal conditions. What if the fire resources are involved with other emergencies? Nothing wrong having 1-2, properly rated 10 or 20 pounders in your house. Also, your insurance company probably requires it. You can find proper instruction on the use of fire extinguishers online.

 

[Tex1001]

I have a complete instruction/application sheet somewhere.

Found it.

 

[Fishinfool]

I believe statistics clearly show the average "non-professional" homeowner is 3 1/2 times as likely to make the fire worse by taking vigilante firefighter actions into their own hands, especially with a high capacity unit. Much safer just to not get involved (for the children), and let the pro's come and save the chimney. Or something like that...

Seriously, I have used one personally on 3 occasions - a boat fire, a stove top fire, and after managing to light a motorcycle on fire in my garage while working on it. Saved my bacon each time. I do like CO2 when applicable, as it leaves no mess, and does not have the corrosive effect on electronics dry chem does.

Larry

 

[Tex1001]

Fire extinguishers are like guns, they're your first line of defense, be it from fire or robber.

I've had people in self defense classes tell me "But we can't have weapons at work".
If you can't vacate the area, Clint Smith said it best, basically:
Grab extinguisher.
Hide in place.
When/if exposed, spray white stuff in bad guy's face to blind him.
Use extinguisher as a Kabonger on now blinded bad guy.

To a person, my students then said, "Wow. I never thought of that."

 

[swsig]

I'm not sure if you were intending your post to be a tongue-in-cheek satire on gun control, but I'm going to answer your post straight-up because everyone could use some info on extinguishers.

Yes, you should have fire extinguishers in your house, and big ones at that. While I was never a firefighter, I spent a few years as a consultant to a large suburban fire department. My job was to create their civil service promotion exams. These covered every rank within the department from entry level equipment operator to battalion chief. In order to write the exams, I had to read and understand what they had to read and understand. In all, I read about 20 books related to firefighting and prevention. I learned a lot, and I came away extremely impressed by how much firefighters have to know to do their jobs safely and professionally.

One of the things I learned that impressed me personally was the need for preparation to deal with fires. I have two hardwired and three battery powered smoke detectors in the house, along with two plug-in carbon monoxide detectors. I also have five large (2A 40BC) extinguishers in the house and two more in the garage, plus smaller ones one in each car, so I am a big believer in having fire extinguishers in the house. It may be overkill, but fires can get very large in a hurry. A quick response by the homeowner can prevent an enormous amount of damage. To paraphrase a saying we use on the Forum, "When seconds count, the fire department is minutes away." A well-placed blast from your extinguisher early in a fire's development can prevent your home from burning down. However, if a fire is well under way by the time you discover it, your best strategy is to get everyone out, and wait for the fire department.

I use large extinguishers because of another saying that's used in the fire service, "You don't want to pull a hose that's too small." Well, I don't want an extinguisher that's too small. Whatever extinguisher is closest better be big enough to do the job. It's like another saying we see here when discussing incidents of self-defense, "I wish I'd had fewer rounds in my gun, said no one ever." You don't want too little powder in your extinguisher.

Extinguishers are rated on their ability to put out particular types of fires. "A" is for wood and paper fires. "B" is for flammable liquids. "C" is for electrical fires. The numbers alongside the letters indicate the size of the fire the extinguisher is capable of handling. The larger the number, the bigger the fire it can put out. Here is a website that gives more detail: What do the A B C ratings mean on Fire Extinguishers?

I like to have my extinguishers rated at least 1A 40BC. I also purchase only all-metal extinguishers. Ones with plastic (tupperware?) valves can crack and leak. Do we need training to use them? It would be nice if there were fire suppression ranges we could go to and use rental extinguishers to practice putting out actual fires, but in the absence of those, we'll just have to rely on the instructions on the extinguishers, and whatever instructional videos can be found on the web.

That's all for now. I have to go study for my Concealed Extinguisher Permit.

 

[Onomea]

You can buy one-time use, aerosol spray cans, of foam fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen in a cupboard by the stove. I keep a larger fire extinguisher under the kitchen sink, but the aerosol can is what I would reach for first if the fire was just getting going.

 

[JcMack]

I live in a place built in '43. It has a stairwell with 12 steps to the upstairs bedrooms that is 3/4's enclosed. I'll wager there's 18-20 coats of oil based paint under the current water based stuff all over the place. I had a fire in my stove about 15 yrs ago that was due to my stupidity. Used an extinguisher on it and it refused to go out. I used the whole contents on it, finally putting it out. Pretty much scared me. Smoke is bad news. I have extinguishers all over the place now. It's cheaper to buy new ones than have them tested and recharged. IMO anyway.

 

[JH1951]

As a firefighter, there is a lot I could say, but let me say this:
Re-read what swsig wrote above. I'm also not sure if Lobo had a tongue-in-cheek while writing this, but it does bring up a serious issue. Firefighters are like cops, we can, and will, be there in minutes when you need us in seconds. Your first line of defense is a portable extinguisher (better yet, several of them) in your home. Grab it while you are getting other occupants out. If your extinguishers are getting old, have them refreshed or replaced. There is a reason most commercial establishments have this done annually by professionals. Read your extinguisher instructions now (on the can itself are quick-start instructions) and refresh yourself when you need to use it. The tool is very effective if you have the proper type and a bit of knowledge on how to use it. Ask at your local firehouse about training. Most areas provide opportunities to learn about fire safety, perhaps at an open house event.
In short, every dwelling should have at least one good, properly maintained fire extinguisher (as well as a smoke alarm or several). These things can truly save your life or that of loved ones. I have seen some very sad situations, including fatalities, that could have been prevented by having a functional extinguisher available. It's not a joke when you have smoke and flames in your living quarters....

 

[FredBart]

Seriously, follow the recommendations of "JH1951" and "swsig" listed above. I am not a trained fire fighter, but rather served as an American Red Cross disaster action team leader who has been in a number of fire damaged homes after a fire.

I have also had the opportunity to have been present when a city fire fighting team demonstrated the proper use of fire extinguishers in a controlled environment.

Fires happen rapidly. In a home or small business, you have a good chance to put out a fire with a handheld extinguisher. By the time the fire truck arrives, your home may be fully involved in a devastating fire. The water damage alone that the pros will inflict causes unbelievable destruction.

For less than $ 200, you can have several full size steel valve fire extinguishers available. Give yourself a fighting chance.

 

[rwsmith]

I've had training...

...and have had several reasons to use fire extinguishers at work and at home. I wouldn't be without one. Nobody should be standing around watching you. And you have to decide when to get out yourself.

One thing that I've noticed people doing several times is GRAB the fire extinguisher by the handle and in their panic, SQUEEZE the handle so hard that they can't get the pin out. This is made even worse by plastic pins that bend when they are clamped in the handle, then it's not coming out. The metal pins will come out if you let up the squeezing of the handle.

PS: I worked in a research lab using high temperatures and flammable materials from oils to carbon and had several occasions to fight small fires before they got big.
I missed one time, though. Seeing a welder with a cutting torch cut steel joists TOWARD a building with the sparks going in to a gap at the roof line, I got the foreman to stop him. That was a Friday. I kinda forgot about it but deep in my subconscious, it bothered me. I went to church on Sunday and after I felt like I had to check on it. When I got there the interior of the lab was on fire because the sparks had gotten down into the wall. It took me a long time to realize that seeing those sparks flying in stuck in the back of my mind.

 

[Farmer17]

My insurance agent says to keep several around the house and garage but definitely one under your bed. When smoke or alarms wake you up in the middle of the night it will be handy for whatever little fire needs to be put out or if the house is burning down it might help you fight your way out.

 

[loknload]

Being in the Fire Department for 20 years and also being the Fire Prevention officer I will say yes it is important for you to have an extinguisher and know how to use it, its not rocket science. A small fire can expand rapidly, if right there with an extinguisher you have a good chance of knocking it down.
To what Kenny Rodgers use to sing about knowing when to hold'em and when to fold'em. You have to make the decision when to fight the fire or run.The very first thing to do though is call 911, get the FD on the road, make sure everyone is out of the house. You must decide if it got to big for you to handle with what you have in hand.
If you use an extinguisher you want to spray the contents at the base of the fire.
I maintain 4 5lb. ABC extinguishers around my house and all are at locations of exit. I also keep a Halogen extinguisher in the kitchen but the 5lb. is right outside the door.
One thing as the Fire Prevention officer we always gave classes of extinguisher use during FP week or office visits when requested.
We would even teach children at school when we went to visit.
Now of course each and every child couldn't do it but they would see how it was done by one of their classmates.
That was always the highlight to my career in the fire service, was teaching the kids!

 

[Turq]

I was driving a 24' rental truck one night. I came upon a traffic jam. Almost immediately after stopping I noticed a man was running down the road and stopping at every truck. He came upon me and told me there was a car on fire ahead, and people were trapped. To grab the extinguisher and get up there....which I did. The fire was in the engine compartment and two older people were trapped in the front seat. I may have been the fourth or fifth trucker to show up and quickly emptied my extinguisher on the fire....which continued anyway. But more truckers showed up and we kept the fire at bay and thankfully soon a fire truck showed up. None of knew what we were doing, but we bought the people a few minutes until the professionals showed up. I have no doubt that the man who ran up to all the trucks, saved those people lives.

I have since gone through CERT training and a portion of that training is hands on use of different extinguishers on real fires.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I was in charge of Maintenance for 6 group homes spread out over Columbus. They were required to have TWO (2) fire extinguishers. I wanted them to have THREE (3) One in kitchen, one in bedroom area hall, and one by the care giver's desk.

When I took over, the homes had 6 to 15 extinguishers! Residents were setting them off all the time, For Fear, for curiosity, and mostly for fun!
never for fires. In the 5 year I did this job, there was one small kitchen grease fire. The Care Giver put it out by putting the lid on the pan!

Ivan

 

[Mercury]

At my job, we use the acronym PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the flames, Squeeze and Sweep back and forth.

 

[ladder13]

Best to have as many safeguards as you can, that firehouse down the street may be empty as they may be on another call. Seconds count.
Have extinguishers and learn to use them, it's not rocket science.
OTOH
Having hydrants, apparatus and people to use them also lowers your insurance costs.
I've always chosen to live where fire coverage is with a fully staffed professional dept.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

I believe statistics clearly show the average "non-professional" homeowner is 3 1/2 times as likely to make the fire worse by taking vigilante firefighter actions into their own hands, especially with a high capacity unit. Much safer just to not get involved (for the children), and let the pro's come and save the chimney. Or something like that...

Seriously, I have used one personally on 3 occasions - a boat fire, a stove top fire, and after managing to light a motorcycle on fire in my garage while working on it. Saved my bacon each time. I do like CO2 when applicable, as it leaves no mess, and does not have the corrosive effect on electronics dry chem does.

Larry

Good come-back!

What started out as a tongue-in-cheek post turned into a pretty good discussion of fire safety issues. Lots of good information that may be of value to others.

I think I should have a royalty claim on fire extinguisher sales in the future.

 

[Kevin G]

I spent 35 years working on merchant ships, So a few fires, some sizable and many handled with an extinguisher.Often my duty included safety officer. We were our own fire and emergency department and had serious fire and boat drills weekly and I did a monthly inspection of all the gear.
Generally we had upwards of 100 extinguishers around the ship. Dry chemical extinguishers need to be inverted and shaken periodically to fluff up the powder which settles and compacts. This is especially relevant for extinguishers in a vehicle or boat as the vibration causes the chemical to compact severely. Compacted dry chem will not discharge properly.
When things calm down a bit I'd strongly recommend stopping by the local fire house and talking to the firefighters. Educating you is in their best interest and they know it.
Kevin G