Buy The Right Fire Extinguisher For The Job
It’s important to keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. It's also important to buy the right kind for the type of fire it's likely to fight.
In fact, using the wrong kind of fire extinguisher can be worthless or even make the fire worse.
The most common extinguishers are suitable for fires started by a variety of materials and bear some combination of the letters A, B and C.
Class A extinguishers are for fires involving wood, paper, plastic, cardboard and some fuels. Class B extinguishers fight fires started by liquid fuels, such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. Use class C extinguishers on fires involving electrical equipment.
To operate a fire extinguisher, remember the acronym PASS:
- PULL out the pin.
- AIM at the base of the fire.
- SQUEEZE the handle.
- SWEEP from side to side.
Read the extinguisher's instruction manual as soon as you bring it home from the store. It's too late to learn how to operate the extinguisher when there's already a fire in the kitchen.
Buy metal‑not plastic‑fire extinguishers from National Association of Fire Equipment Distributors member dealers. Your local fire department can help you choose the right kind for your home.