Protection From Fire

Sources:
  1. Guide to Hazardous Products Around the Home. Second Edition. 1989. Missouri Household Hazardous Waste Project.
  2. Preventing Rural Childhood Injuries No. 3. Purdue University Extension Service & the Rural Indiana Safer Kids Project. 4H 839.

Every year, somewhere in the United States, a fire department responds to a fire nearly every 15 seconds, a fire injury occurs every 18 to 20 minutes, and a life is lost in a fire every 120 minutes. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the annual loss to fire in the United States is therefore about 4,600 fatalities, 30,400 injuries and approximately $8.5 billion in property damage.

Fire Triangle The most frequent causes of home and building fires are heating and cooking equipment, arson, faulty electrical systems, children playing with matches, smoking and matches, open flames and sparks, ignition of flammable liquids, chimneys and flues, and lightning.

A fire needs three ingredients: fuel, air and heat. All three ingredients must be present at the same time for a fire to start. If one is removed the fire will go out.

Fire extinguishers work by eliminating one of these essential ingredients. Since burning fuel is hard to move, most extinguishers eliminate either the heat source or the oxygen.


FIRE PREVENTION: Always read and follow the directions on the label. Do not mix products unless instructed to do so by the directions. To prevent fumes Phone List from escaping, keep all containers closed, even when working, and clean any solvent-covered rags or place them in a sealed container. If a product is flammable or explosive, use and store it away from sources of heat, flame, spark, or ignitions. For example, gas pilot lights, lit cigarettes, light switches, and garage door openers can all be sources of sparks. Always have two exits from the work area. Install smoke detectors in the house and in other areas where hazardous products are used. Post a list of emergency phone numbers (fire, medical assistance, regional poison center, etc.) by your phone and inform other home members about it.

Keep a working and appropriate fire extinguisher readily available in your home and work space.

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS: The appropriate fire extinguisher depends upon the source of fire. There are several types, or classes, of fire extinguisher:

Using the wrong type of extinguisher for a fire can be dangerous as it may spread the fire. Multi-class fire extinguishers may be used on more than one class of fire. Since most households contain potentially flammable sources from all three classes, a 10 lb ABC or Multipurpose Dry Chemical fire extinguisher is recommended for home and farm vehicles. A larger size should be kept near fuel storage areas.

Consult a salesperson from a local safety equipment store or hardware store to determine which type of extinguisher meets your needs. Note that some fire extinguishers can be refilled while others cannot. The type that cannot be refilled is generally much less expensive but will often have to be replace after a single use.

Guide to selecting the right fire extinguisher

Maintenance of Fire Extinguishers - check the pressure and contents of your fire extinguisher at intervals suggested by the manufacturer. Take your refillable extinguisher to be serviced and refilled each time it is discharged. A fire extinguisher that is empty or low on propellant cannot protect you, thus nonrefillable extinguishers are often good for only a single use and then must be replaced.


Return to Safe Use Menu Safe Use Menu © Copyright