Fire Extinguishers and your home

4/3/2019 (Permalink)

 Having access to a fire extinguisher in your White Plains or New Rochelle home at all times is important to home safety but do you know what type of extinguisher to have ? Did you know that there are different types of fire extinguishers for different types of fires? Fire extinguishers are sorted into  different categories based on the types of fire they are used on there is Class A,B, C and K fires and the fire extinguishers are labeled according to the type of fire the extinguish. Here are the types of extinguishers and the types of fires they extinguish:

Class A extinguishers are water extinguishers and are used on ordinary combustibles such as:

• Paper
• Cloth
• Wood
• Rubber
• And many plastics

*** Never use water extinguishers to extinguish flammable liquid fires.

*** Never use water extinguishers to extinguish an electrical fire.

Class B extinguishers are CO2 Extinguishers and are used on flammable liquids such as:

• Fires in oils
• Gasoline
• Some paints
• Lacquer
• Grease
• Solvents
• And other flammable liquids

*** Never use CO2 extinguishers in a confined space, it can create a breathing hazard if proper respiratory equipment is not being used.

Class C extinguishers are a Dry Chemical Extinguisher and are used on electrical equipment such as:

• Fires in wiring
• Fuse boxes
• Energized electrical equipment
• Computers
• Other electrical sources

Class K extinguishers are used for kitchen fires such as:

• Fires involving combustible cooking fluids such as oils and fats

Multipurpose extinguishers combine Class A,B,and C  is a multi-purpose dry chemical extinguisher and can be used on:

• Class A,B and C fires.

Now that we have gone over the types of fire extinguishers in your home, what do you do in the event of a fire at your home?

1. Call the Fire department immediately
2. Make sure you have a safe exit strategy before approaching the fire. Do not allow the fire to come between you or your exit.
3. Identify the proper fire extinguisher needed ( Having an A,B,C extinguisher would cover all possible scenarios)
4. Use the P.A.S.S. technique to extinguish the fire . P.A.S.S. stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep.
5. Back away from the extinguished fire in case of a flare up.
6. Evacuate immediately if the extinguisher is empty and /or the fire progresses past the initial stage.

If the fire is out of control or you doubt your ability to extinguish it ...EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY! The safety of you and your family is of the utmost importance, personal belongings and homes can be replaced, your life can not.

After the fire has been extinguished by you or the fire department give us a call here at SERVPRO of White Plains and New Rochelle . We have years of experience in fire and water damage. Our team of technicians is experienced and trained in dealing with fire and water clean up. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week , 365 days a year. Call us at 914-684-1560 or toll free at 800-967-6663.