Fire is one of the most dangerous situations you can encounter in your home. Fires cause billions of dollars in property damage and kill thousands of people each year in the United States. Here are the fire statistics from 2008:
• 3,320 civilians that lost their lives as the result of fire.
• There were 16,705 civilian injuries that occurred as the result of fire.
• There were 118 firefighters killed while on duty.
• Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined.
• 84 percent of all civilian fire deaths occurred in residences.
• There were an estimated 1.5 million fires in 2008.
• Direct property loss due to fires was estimated at $15.5 billion. This figure includes the 2008 California Wildfires with an estimated loss of $1.4 billion.
• An estimated 32,500 intentionally-set structure fires resulted in 315 civilian deaths.
• Intentionally-set structure fires resulted in an estimated $866 million in property damage.
Source: National Fire Protection Association Fire Loss in the U.S. 2008 and USFA’s Firefighter Fatalities in the United States in 2008.
Everyone should have properly functioning smoke detectors in their homes, but with the addition of a fire extinguisher, you can prevent enormous damage to your home and potentially save lives too.
Many adults have not had fire extinguisher training and may not know how and when to use them. Fire extinguisher use requires good decision making skills and training on their proper use and maintenance.
Before fighting a fire you should always call the fire department and notify other people in the building or home.
There are three important questions you need to answer before using a fire extinguisher. They are 1) What type of fire extinguisher should I use? 2) Is the fire small enough that it can be controlled with a fire extinguisher? 3) Can I physically use the fire extinguisher? You must quickly answer these questions prior to attempting to extinguish a fire. If you don’t know the answer to any one of them, get out immediately.
Fire and Extinguisher Types
Most people know of the three common types of fire extinguishers, but there are actually 5 official classifications; A, B, C, D, and K. Class A extinguishers put out fires of combustible materials such as cloth, wood, rubber, paper, and many plastics. Class B extinguishers are used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints. Class C extinguishers are used on fires involving appliances, tools, or other equipment that is electrically energized or plugged in. Less common extinguishers are Classes D and K. Class D extinguishers are designed for use on flammable metals and are often specific for the type of metal in question. These are typically found in factories and laboratories working with these metals. Some flammable metals in this type are lithium, zirconium, and titanium. They contain various salts, powdered metal like copper, and sands depending on the type of metal. Class K fire extinguishers are intended for use on fires that involve cooking oils or fats in cooking appliances. These extinguishers are generally found in commercial kitchens, such as those found in restaurants, cafeterias, and caterers. Class K extinguishers are now finding their way into the residential market for use in kitchens.
Most residential fire extinguishers will be of the ABC type which will fight the three most common types of fires. They consist of dry chemicals, primarily sodium bicarbonate, and Carbon Dioxide under pressure to starve the fire of oxygen.
Can the Fire be Controlled with the Extinguisher?
Most residential fire extinguishers contain only enough material for 6 to 10 seconds of use. This is due to their size, but also because they are not meant to fight a fire for long durations, just a quick attempt to put out the fire before leaving the area.
Use a fire extinguisher only if you have alerted other occupants and someone has called the fire department; the fire is small and contained to a single object, such as a wastebasket; you are not inhaling the toxic smoke produced by the fire; you have an escape route and the fire is not between you and the escape route; and you feel that it is safe to use an extinguisher. If any of these factors are not true, leave immediately.
Physical Condition
People with disabilities, older adults, or children may find that an extinguisher is too heavy to handle or it may be too difficult for them to squeeze the handle to operate the extinguisher. If you have asthma, or some other respiratory ailment, you should not attempt to extinguish a fire. Also if you are using oxygen you should never be anywhere near an uncontrolled fire.
Fire Extinguisher Operation and Maintenance
The acronym, P-A-S-S stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. This is the simplified process for using a fire extinguisher. Pull the pin on the extinguisher, Aim the nozzle of the extinguisher at the base of the flame from about 8 feet away, Squeeze the handle, Sweep the nozzle from side to side at the base of the fire. If the fire is in a wastebasket or similar container, don’t shoot the extinguisher directly inside the container, this will cause the combustible material to fly out and possibly spread to nearby items. Instead, sweep the nozzle over the top and slightly into the basket until the fire dies down.
Maintenance
Make sure that you have ready access to the fire extinguisher and that it is not blocked by furniture, doorways, or any thing that might limit access in an emergency.
Check the pressure gauge on your extinguishers. It should be inside the green band at all times. If the pressure is too high or too low, replace it or have it serviced.
The extinguisher should not be damaged or altered in any way. Hoses and nozzles must be free of debris. There should not be any dents or rust on the extinguisher.
Do not paint the fire extinguisher. Also, do not apply any cleaners that can make the tank slippery or difficult to hold.
Tap the bottom and sides of the extinguisher with a rubber mallet once a year or shake dry chemical extinguishers (ABC) once a month to prevent the powder from settling or packing.
All extinguishers require a pressure test, known as hydrostatic testing, after 5 years to ensure that the cylinder is safe to use. Find out from the owner’s manual, the label, or the manufacturer when an extinguisher may need this type of testing. The manufacture date is stamped on the bottom of the tank.
Immediately replace the extinguisher after use, if the pressure is too low or high, or is damaged in any way.
Resources
U.S. Fire Administration - Publications
https://www.usfa.dhs.gov/applications/publications/
