Do You Know Your Fire Extinguisher Types?
January 19, 2010 – 6:43 pmWhat would you do if your toaster started shooting off sparks? What if the circuit breaker in your basement started on fire? You’d probably attack the problem with a fire extinguisher. The problem is, if you use the wrong fire extinguisher, you can not only make a fire worse, you can also put yourself in extra danger. That’s why knowing the basic fire extinguisher types is so important.
In the above example, you could give yourself a serious electrical shock if you used a Class-A fire extinguisher on a fire that started from a faulty toaster or damaged circuit breaker box. That’s because Class-A fire extinguisher types shoot water, and are designed to fight fires that start when wood, paper, drapes or other common household materials inflame.
For an electric fire, though, one sprouting from damaged wires or malfunctioning electrical appliances, you should use a Class-C fire extinguisher. These fire extinguisher types are designed specifically to douse electrical fires.
If you’re working in your basement or home workshop and a pile of oily rags burst into flame, you should grab a Class-B fire extinguisher. These fire extinguisher types are designed to stamp out fires caused when flammable liquids such as kerosene, oil and gasoline start go ablaze.
In each of these examples, using the wrong type of fire extinguisher will not only have little to no effect on the fire, it might put yourself or your family members in harm’s way.
The key is to first education yourself about the many fire extinguisher types on the market. You should then make sure that each area of your home is equipped with the right type of fire extinguisher.
You won’t be thinking clearly if a fire does break out in your home. Your first instinct will be to panic. That’s why it’s important to learn the differences in fire extinguisher types before a fire begins. You want to know exactly which extinguisher to grab when an emergency breaks out.
Related posts:
- Idaho Falls Fire Restoration
- Easy Fire Prevention
- Bond Newcastle Propane Fire Pit
- Journeyman Electricians and Their Daily Duties
- Airline Seat Belt Extenders for Police and Fire Fighters
Tags: fire extinguisher, fire extinguisher types, fire extinguishers, types of fire extinguishers