Fire Extinguisher Safety Tips

11/9/2020 (Permalink)

There are many preventative measures you can take to reduce the risk of fire damage in your home, such as smoke detectors, an evacuation plan, and a fire safety kit. If a large fire breaks out, you’ll need to call the fire department and wait for help. But certain small fires may not require outside assistance and can be put out with a fire extinguisher. But before you do, the following is information that you need to know.

Find Your Fire Extinguisher

It’s smart to know the location of your fire extinguisher before a fire breaks out and you’re stuck without it. Everyone who resides in your home, whether family members or roommates, also need to know where it is. Your fire extinguisher(s) should be hanging on the wall in plain sight so that no one has to go searching for it in an emergency. Kitchens, laundry rooms, and garages are the best places to store them because heat sources and flammable chemicals are most present in those rooms.

If you don’t own a fire extinguisher, buy one immediately. They come in a variety of sizes and prices and should be affordable by all. If your rent, some states and towns, including Springfield, state that landlords must provide a portable fire extinguisher and that they properly maintain it.

Inspect Your Fire Extinguisher

It is important to regularly inspect your fire extinguisher to make sure it’s in working order because the worst time to discover it isn’t is during a fire. Check the inspection tag for the date your fire extinguisher was last inspected to judge if it needs another one. To work correctly, the gauge’s needle should only point to the green “charged” zone. Otherwise, it needs to be recharged

If you find cracks in the hose, or if it’s too brittle to bend easily, get it replaced. Be sure the pin is securely tied to the extinguisher with a safety tether. Other damages, such as corrosion, dents, and leaking, will require replacement of the unit.

Use Your Fire Extinguisher

Everyone in your home or business needs to know how to use a fire extinguisher before an emergency. Go to a safe, isolated, outside area to practice. It is highly recommended that you use the P.A.S.S. technique to operate your fire extinguisher:

• PULL
• AIM
• SQUEEZE
• SWEEP

First, pull the pin and break the tamper seal on the fire extinguisher. Second, aim the extinguisher nozzle low at the base of the fire. Third, squeeze the handle to release the extinguishing agent. Finally, sweep back and forth until the fire is completely out.

(If you have any doubts in your ability to operate a fire extinguisher during a fire, evacuate the premises instead.)

Cleanup and Recharge Your Fire Extinguisher

Since the extinguishing material in most fire extinguishers is a dry chemical, you can use a vacuum cleaner to remove any remaining residue once the fire is out. The extinguishant is similar in texture to sand, so you should be able to remove most of it. Once the loose residue is picked up, use a damp rag to scrub up whatever is left. Be sure to keep your hands protected because the chemical can potentially damage your skin.

Even if you only discharged a little of the fire extinguisher, the cylinder still needs to be replaced or refilled. If you don’t, it won’t be able to help protect you if another fire breaks out. Call your landlord or a local, licensed fire protection company to recharge it.

Contact Us

If your Missouri home or building has sustained fire damage, contact SERVPRO of Springfield / Greene County immediately. Our trained fire damage restoration professionals use advanced equipment and cleaning products to clean and restore your property, ensuring that your home or business is returned to its original condition or better.