Fire Extinguisher Tips / Know your ABCs'

There are basically different types of fire that extinguishers can put out. Various fire extinguishers fight different types of fires and to varying degrees. Listed on the side of the box and the front label of the unit will be all or some of these letter which will let you know which type of fire that particular unit will fight. The 3 types of fires are:

1. Wood, paper, cloth, rubber and most plastics, including drapes, bedding, upholstery and trash

2. Flammable liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, oil and grease

3. Electrical appliances and equipment, such as home wiring, televisions…

In an emergency remember the PASS technique:

P Pull the pin of the fire extinguisher
A Aim the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire
S Squeeze the handle of the fire extinguisher
S Sweep the fire extinguisher back and forth repeatedly to cover the base of the fire

How many fire extinguishers you need and where to locate them:

You should have at least one fire extinguisher for each level of your house (no more than 15-23 meter apart). If you only have one fire extinguisher, mount it in a centrally located area. Somewhere that will be easily accessible from most parts of the home in case of emergency. The extinguisher should be mounted on the wall, out of reach of small children.