5 Fire Extinguisher Tips

Every home should have at least one portable fire extinguisher in their home that is easily accessible. In my home, we have 3 - one in the kitchen, computer room, and garage. The reason for that is once you've been in a fire; you know that having just one isn't good enough. Nevertheless, it is important that you realize a fire extinguisher is only good for about 5 to 15 years and you should have the pressure gauge inspected monthly and recharged if needed. You can go to your local fire Department for the inspection if necessary.

Tips for your Fire Extinguisher

Tip 1 - Fire Extinguishers are divided into four categories -

Class A which is for ordinary use such as paper, wood, and most plastics
Class B which is for flammable or combustible liquids like gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil
Class C which is for electrical equipment like with your appliances, outlets, circuit breakers
Class D which is for chemicals - this is typically found in chemistry labs

Tip 2 - Only use a fire extinguisher if the fire is considered small. Never try and fight a big fire with a fire extinguisher or a fire that appears to be spreading quickly. In fact, you should know what is even burning in order to recognize which type of fire extinguisher to use; otherwise you are putting yourself in danger.

Tip 3 - Check that the gauge of your fire extinguisher is in the "green zone." This means it is charged.

Tip 4 - Make sure you understand how to use the fire extinguisher before there might ever be a time to even use it. Click " here " for directions

Tip 5 - If you have a lot of smoke building up, get out quickly because carbon monoxide is the most deadly gas that is produced by a fire.

My husband and I know from first hand experience on how important it is to have plenty of fire extinguishers around the house. About 18 years ago, we were celebrating our 10 year anniversary on a friend's business 90 foot yacht. The plan was to have a wonderful romantic weekend stay in Tampa Bay and later on the Gulf of Mexico. Except for the ship's engineer who slept at the front of the yacht, we were all by ourselves. We had selected a deluxe room at the stern of the ship for privacy. Despite the air conditioner being on, we were having problems falling asleep due to the heavy diesel smell seeping through the windows. At one point, we were about to move to another room thinking this might be a better solution, but changed our minds. At around 2:30 A. M., we both woke up simultaneously to the smell of smoke in our room. There were no fire alarms in any of the rooms, only in the hall. We saw the fire within our room, inside a closet where cotton uniforms for the crew hung. My husband grabbed the fire extinguisher that was next to the bed and immediately started tackling the fire. I ran towards the engineer's room screaming for help from him, trying to open up side doors to the outside which were locked. The engineer comes running to our side of the yacht and helps me open the side doors. I went on top of the yacht to the outside. Smoke was coming out profusely and the guys had to take turns going up and down putting the fire out. My husband's quick action saved our friend's yacht business but mostly he saved our lives.

He's not typically a romantic person. Yet, ironically, he surprised me with this 10 year anniversary weekend - with first a limo taking us from our home in Orlando to Tampa, spending a romantic evening on our friend's 90 ft yacht, and the next day to spend it on the Gulf of Mexico on their 40 ft sailing boat. We postponed the sailing boat till a few weeks later. The reason for this fire was faulty wiring in the air conditioner unit which was in our room. The cotton clothes just added more fuel to the fire. In retrospect, if we did move to that other room to get away from that diesel smell, we would not have survived the fire; because without fire alarms in the rooms, that room's exit would have been blocked by the fire.

So, if you think it can't ever happen to you, think again. Complacency in life can be deadly. So, get your fire extinguishers and make sure you keep them charged. And also check those fire alarms.