FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Who needs a fire extinguisher?
Every home should have at least one fire extinguisher and it is advisable to have a fire extinguisher in every room that may pose a fire danger (such as the kitchen or garage). The National Fire Protection Association recommends that you have at least one extinguisher for every 600 square feet of living area. The best place to mount a fire extinguisher is on a wall 36 - 44 inches off the floor away from any potential fire hazards and near an exit door or escape route from the room.

What type of fire extinguisher do I need for my home?
There are several types of fire extinguishers divided into three categories:

	Class A Extinguisher: for ordinary combustible fires such as wood, paper or fabric
	Class B Extinguisher: for flammable liquid fires such as grease, gasoline and oil
	Class C Extinguisher: for electrically energized fires (which uses a non-conductive extinguishing agent)

The number that precedes the A, B, or C rating on a fire extinguisher determines how large a fire the extinguisher is designed to put out. The larger the number the more capacity the fire extinguisher has to extinguish fires. A typical general purpose residential fire extinguisher would have a rating of "1-A: 10-BC."

The best fire extinguisher for the home is one rated for multiple purpose use. They usually contain a dry chemical that meets the requirements to extinguish A, B and C class fires.

How should I use a fire extinguisher?
The quick way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher is to use the acronym: PASS

	Pull - Pull the pin at the top of the extinguisher
	Aim - Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire
	Squeeze - Squeeze the handle to discharge the extinguisher
	Sweep - Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire staying approximately 8 feet away from the fire

For more information on Fire Extinguishers see:
www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/extingrs.htm