In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week. According to the National Archives and Records Administrations Library Information Center, this is the longest running public health observance in history. This year’s observance is Sunday, October 8 through Saturday, October 14.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 358,500 home structure fires occurred from 2011 through 2015. On average, these fires caused:
- 2,510 civilian deaths;
- 12,300 civilian injuries; and
- $6.7 billion in damage.
The leading causes of home fires were:
- Cooking equipment;
- Heating equipment;
- Electrical;
- Intentional; and
- Smoking materials.
On a regular basis, we hear about the importance of keeping our smoke detectors in proper working order. However, we don’t hear a lot about other fire prevention methods. Therefore, I thought this would be a good opportunity to discuss choosing a fire extinguisher for your home.
Having a fire extinguisher available can be beneficial. However, there are some things to consider before purchasing one.
- Your main priority should be getting out of your home safely. From the time your smoke alarm sounds, experts say you have two minutes or less to get out.
- Don’t exit with your family, and then go back in to start extinguishing the fire.
- If a small fire starts in your presence, a fire extinguisher can help prevent it from spreading.
When choosing a fire extinguisher for your home, here’s what you need to know.
There are five types of fire extinguishers. They are A, B, C, D, and K. A, B, and C are often found in homes and businesses.
Type A extinguishers – Used on ordinary materials, such as cloth, paper, and wood.
Type B extinguishers – Used on combustible and flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, and oil-based paints.
Type C extinguishers – Used on electrical equipment, such as appliances, tools, and other items that are plugged in.
Type D extinguishers – Used with flammable metals and are found in factories.
Type K extinguishers – Can be used on vegetable oils, animal oils, and fats in cooking appliances. These extinguishers are used in commercial kitchens, such as restaurants and cafeterias.
For home use, you can select a multi-purpose (A, B, C) extinguisher.
The next thing to consider is weight. The size of the extinguisher needed depends on its use. Common extinguishers can weigh from two to ten pounds.
What size extinguisher is right for your family?
- A ten-pound extinguisher is more appropriate in places where fire can spread in size more quickly. This size extinguisher would be ideal for a garage or workshop.
- A five-pound extinguisher can be stored in your kitchen or laundry room. Since most home fires start in the kitchen, I would recommend storing it in a nearby pantry or cupboard.
- A two-pound extinguisher can be stored in your car.
How do you use a fire extinguisher?
The NFPA suggests remembering the acronym PASS.
P = Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher nozzle away from you.
A = Aim low by pointing at the base of the fire.
S = Squeeze the lever slowly and at a controlled pace.
S = Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
If you purchase a fire extinguisher for your home, please read the instructions. Instructions can provide additional usage tips, as well as directions for how to maintain your extinguisher. Also, contact your local fire department. They may offer classes that allow you to practice using one.
Sources:
http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/campaigns/fire-prevention-week/about-fire-prevention-week
http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-reports/fire-statistics/fires-by-property-type/residential/home-structure-fires
https://www.thisoldhouse.com/ideas/how-to-choose-and-use-fire-extinguishers
http://www.nfpa.org/Public-Education/By-topic/Fire-and-life-safety-equipment/Fire-extinguishers
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/prevention/outreach/extinguishers.html
West Bend, Scott Stueber on Oct 10, 2017 9:00:00 AM
I like how you say that you need to remember to use a fire extinguisher to help prevent the spread of small fires. It would be good to consider finding one that is large enough to help out as well. My brother wants a fire extinguisher for his home, so he’ll have to choose one that is the right size and type, as you mention.
I agree that you need to consider what types of things a fire extinguisher can be used on. It would be good to familiarize yourself with different classifications to know what you need. My husband wants a fire extinguisher for our house, so he’ll have to figure out which type is best for us.
After a recent fire scare in my kitchen, I’ve been worried about how unprepared we were to handle everything and how we don’t even own a fire extinguisher. I liked that you had mentioned that it could be very important to get a five-pound extinguisher to handle things because they’ll be most appropriate in that situation. We’ll have to start looking around at fire extinguishers and hopefully we’ll be able to find one that can do the job for us so that we don’t have to worry about future fires.
I loved how you used acronym PASS in order to remember better how to use a fire extinguisher. My husband and I are moving to the place with a fireplace, and he suggested buying it for our safety. I guess we will need a five-pound extinguisher which we will store in our kitchen or laundry room.
It’s good that you listed some tips on how to choose a home fire extinguisher. Now that the kitchen renovation is almost done, I’ve decided to put one in the pantry. I had no idea that I can find one that offers Types A, B, and C. With that said, I shall then find a five-pound extinguisher since you mentioned that this size is suitable for kitchen use.
Great, You included all important points regarding A FIRE EXTINGUISHER IN A SINGLE BLOG. aND THIS ACRONYM PASS IS REALLY GOOD AND EASY TO REMEMBER. tHANKS SCOTT FOR SHARING IT AS A BLOG.