Howard
J. Doss
Michigan State University Extension
Armed
with the right type of fire extinguisher, a property owner
can often extinguish or contain a fire before it becomes a
major blaze. But to effectively fight a fire, an individual
must be prepared with the right type of extinguisher, have
it readily available, and know how to use it properly. Failure
to be properly prepared to extinguish a fire not only reduces
the chances of containing the blaze, but may also place the
individual in a extremely hazardous situation.
If
you lack the tools or the skills to fight a fire, no matter
how small, get out of the building, call your local fire department
and wait for them to arrive.
There
are several types of fire extinguishers available, but the best
type for home and farm use is a multipurpose "ABC" type extinguisher.
ABC type extinguishers generally use ammonium phosphate as the
active chemical to extinguish a fire and are capable of putting
out most common fires.
Extinguishers
are rated for the type of fire they are made to extinguish.
- A
- Ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, hay,
etc.
- B
- Flammable liquids such as gas, oil, grease and other petroleum
products.
- C
- Electrical fires.
As this
listing shows, an ABC type extinguisher is capable of extinguishing
most fires.
Multipurpose
extinguishers are available in 2«, 5 and 10 pound sizes. The
larger the extinguisher the longer it takes to completely
discharge. Because the discharge time for these sizes ranges
from 8 to 25 seconds, a five-pound extinguisher is the minimum
size that should be purchased.
When
purchasing an extinguisher, make sure it is U.L. (Underwriters
Laboratories) or F.M. (Factory Mutual Laboratories) approved.
Extinguishers with these labels are manufactured to meet recognized
safety and performance standards. Contact your local fire
department for additional information about purchasing an
extinguisher to meet your specific needs.
The
main reasons for having fire extinguishers readily available
are to:
- Suppress
a fire along an escape route so trapped persons can exit
a burning structure.
- To
extinguish or contain a fire from the time it is discovered
until the arrival of fire department personnel.
A
homeowner can determine where extinguishers should be located
by looking at statistical data of the most common times for
home fires.
Historically,
most home fires occur between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m., a time when
most individuals are either relaxing or sleeping. Extinguishers
stored in the bedroom or bedroom closet will be readily available.
Extinguishers should be placed along all escape routes from
the house. Areas that are prone to fires, such as the kitchen,
furnace area, garage and workshop, should also have a fire
extinguisher readily available. The best policy is to have
several fire extinguishers located throughout t e home where
they are readily available.
Since
many home fires occur during the night or in out of the way
areas such as a furnace room or garage, smoke detectors are
essential to alerting the family of a fire. Smoke detectors
should be placed on all levels of the house and should be
tested frequently. Batteries should be replaced at least once
a year. A standard practice is to replace the batteries in
the fall, when clocks are adjusted for daylight savings time.
Farm
buildings and farm equipment should also be equipped with fire
extinguishers.
The
farm shop is a particularly fire prone area due to the types
of equipment used. Welders and cutting torches can quickly
ignite any combustionable material not properly stored. At
least one 10-pound ABC extinguisher should be wall mounted
in the shop for easy accessibility.
It is
a good practice to have at least one ABC type extinguisher
in all farm buildings and in other areas where there is a
risk of a fire, such as around grain drying and processing
equipment.
Fire
extinguishers should also be mounted on tractors, combines,
trucks and other equipment. Because most fires associated with
these types of equipment are from petroleum products or electrical
fires, a five-pound ABC or a BC type extinguisher will be adequate.
To cut down the cost of purchasing several extinguishers, mounting
brackets can be attached to equipment and the extinguisher can
be transferred from seasonal equipment when it is to be stored
for several months.
When
a fire occurs, follow these general rules:
- Make
sure everyone gets out of the building.
- Call
the fire department immediately. Fires can spread quickly
-- if you are unsuccessful in putting out a fire, the time
you spent trying to extinguish a blaze may allow it to spread
to other buildings. If your farm is difficult to find or
off a main road, keep a complete set of directions posted
by the telephone to instruct fire department personnel to
your location. Precious seconds can be lost if you are required
to stop and think about the quickest route to the farm.
Most individuals can be easily confused during a stressful
situation.
- After
calling the fire department, if the fire is still small,
decide if you or someone else should risk trying to control
the fire. Smoke and gases released from a fire can be toxic,
so never attempt to put out a fire if you have any doubts
about your ability to extinguish it. Wait for fire department
personnel who have the proper equipment and are trained
in fire fighting procedures. If you elect to put out a fire
and it grows too large to control, back out of the building.
Never turn your back on a fire. Close the door behind you
to limit oxygen in the building and wait until help arrives.
To Operate
a Fire Extinguisher:
- Take
extinguisher from mounting bracket.
- Remove
locking pin, ring, clip, level, etc. Get into a crouching
position on the upwind side of the fire.
- Point
extinguisher nozzle at base of fire and squeeze the lever
or handle.
- Discharge
using a sweeping motion from side to side at the base of
the fire.
Purchase
only U.L. or F.M. approved fire extinguishers and maintain them
according to manufacturer:s instructions. Contact your fire
department to request any fire safety information, including
training in fire extinguisher operation.
Families,
especially those with young children, should have a fire escape
routine and practice it regularly. Make sure everyone has
planned escape routes out of the building and knows to meet
in a defined meeting area such as a tree, fence corner, etc.
Never reenter a burning house.
Having
fire extinguishers in your home and on the farm does not relieve
you and family members from the responsibilities of taking
precautions to prevent fires, nor do fire extinguishers take
the place of trained fire department personnel.
A fire
extinguisher is designed to reduce the chances of injury and
death to you and family members during the time it takes to
leave the structure and for trained help to arrive in the
event of an accidental fire.
Smoke
detectors are essential to early detection of a fire. Install
and maintain them according to manufacturer:s instructions.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not represent
NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears by permission
of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document is part of the Safety News Series, Agricultural Engineering
Department, Michigan State University Extension, East Lansing,
Michigan, 48824-1323. Publication date: October 1994.
Howard
J. Doss, Safety Leader, Agricultural Engineering Department,
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1323.
This
information is for educational purposes only. Reference to
commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement
by the MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.
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