SERVPRO Fernandina Beach/Yulee/North Jax Shares Tips on Using Fire Extinguishers

10/9/2017 (Permalink)

Our mascot Dewey shares tips on fire extinguishers. Fortunately, Dewey is an expert on Fires and all things Water.

Since it’s fire prevention week, we wanted to share a few helpful tips on using fire extinguishers. Using a fire extinguisher isn’t rocket science, but there are a few basics you should know. According to FEMA, the majority of Americans don’t know how to use an extinguisher, even if they have one in their home. This is an alarming knowledge gap. Fires double in size every 60 seconds, so you don’t want to be fumbling around in an emergency situation, reading over the instruction manual as a small flame on the stove grows into an inferno.

Most fire extinguishers for homes and public spaces are classified as Class ABC extinguishers, meaning they’re suitable for putting out wood and paper fires, flammable liquid fires, and electrical fires—not grease fires. (See below for grease fires).

Using a Fire Extinguisher: Remember PASS, which stands for:

P—Pull the pin. Hold the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism. 

A—Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire. Hitting the tops of the flames will not be effective.

S—Squeeze the trigger slowly and evenly to release the agent.

S—Sweep the nozzle from side to side. Most extinguishers will give you about 10-20 seconds of discharge time.

You can buy an ABC extinguisher for about $30 -$60 on Amazon or at your nearest hardware store. Get the biggest one you can comfortably handle to maximize its discharge pressure, time, and range.

Steps to put out a grease fire:

1. Turn off source of heat (burner / element).
2. Do NOT pour water on it.
3. Attempt to remove all oxygen from the flame. You can cover with another pot, or baking pan.
4. If you can't cover it, dump baking soda (lots of it) on it.

If you suffer a fire damage event, please call SERVPRO Fernandina Beach/Yulee/North Jacksonville at 904-729-2401. Refer to our Fire Damage Tips—Until Help Arrives Guide and follow these tips to protect yourself and your property.