Various Types of Fire Extinguishers

Description: Best used for solids such as wood, cloth, paper, plastics, etc.

Do not use on grease fires (burning fat or oil). Do not use on electrical fires (such as electrical appliances on fire).

Facts: Water extinguishes flame by cooling the fuel surfaces. This reduces the amount of combustible gases that are released by the fuel.

How to use: Point the water jet at the base of the flames and sweep across the entire area of the fire until all the flames are out.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!

Also known as: Dry chemical fire extinguisher

Description: Best used on liquids such as grease, fats, oil, and petroleum-based liquids as well as electrical equipment.

Facts: Powder from dry chemical extinguishers will damage electronic and electrical equipment. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher may be a better choice for locations with a lot of electrical equipment.

How to use: Take the extinguisher to where you will use it. Pull out the pin. (This will usually break a seal or a plastic tag.) Point the hose or nozzle at the base of the flames. Pull the trigger. Use a quick back and forth sweeping motion to start at the near edge of the fire and push the fire to the far edge, until all the flames are out.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!

Description: Best used on liquids such as grease, fats, oil, and petroleum-based liquids.

How to use: Take the extinguisher to where you will use it. Pull out the pin. (This will usually break a seal or a plastic tag.) Aim the hose or nozzle at the base of the fire. Pull the trigger. Keep the jet moving across the area of the fire.

Warnings: The carbon dioxide stream becomes very cold while the fire extinguisher is being discharged. The horn on the end of the hose of of the extinguisher should not be touched during discharge.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!

Also known as: Aqueous film-forming foam fire extinguisher

Description: Best used for solids such as wood, cloth, paper, plastics, etc. and liquids such as grease, fats, oil, and petroleum-based liquids.

How to use: Take the extinguisher to where you will use it. Pull out the pin. (This will usually break a seal or a plastic tag.) Aim the hose or nozzle as follows before pulling the trigger: For fires involving liquids, never aim the jet straight into the liquid! This could spread the fire. If the liquid on fire is in a container, point the jet at the inside edge of the container or on a nearby surface above the burning liquid from which the foam can drip onto the fire. Allow the foam to build up and flow across the liquid.

For fires involving solids, point the jet at the base of the flames and sweep it across the area of the fire.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!

Also known as: Wet chemical fire extinguisher, Class K fire extinguisher

Description: This specialized type of fire extinguisher is used ONLY for cooking fats such as animal fats and vegetable oil. The extinguishing agent is sprayed out as a fine mist, which helps to prevent splashing burning oil.

Facts: Most class K fire extinguishers contain potassium acetate.

How to use: Take the extinguisher to where you will use it. Pull out the pin. (This will usually break a seal or a plastic tag.) Point the wand at the base of the flames. Pull the trigger. Use a back and forth sweeping motion and allow a layer of foam to build up on the surface of the burning liquid.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!

Description: A fire blanket is a specially designed blanket that can be placed on top of a fire in order to smother the flames.

How to use: Carefully place the fire blanket over the fire.

Warnings:

• Never throw a fire blanket onto a fire. Place it carefully!
• If blanket does not completely cover the fire, it will not extinguish the fire.
• Be careful to not waft the fire towards you.

This entry should not be taken as definitive advice for all fire extinguishers or all situations in which a fire extinguisher may be used. For example, some fire extinguishers do not use a pin and trigger. Be sure to get proper fire safety training from an expert at your facility and to learn how your particular fire extinguishers are used and what they may be used for. Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a given situation can worsen the danger!