Fire Extinguisher Safety

What is the fire tetrahedron?
The four elements necessary to form a fire – heat, fuel, oxygen, and an unrestricted chemical chain reaction.

What is the fundamental aspect of all fire prevention?
Keeping the different elements of the fire tetrahedron separate – most notably, fuel and/or heat, since oxygen is in our air.

What are effective and recommended methods of preventing fires, reducing fire damage, and avoiding loss of life due to fires?
The use of fire sprinklers, fire detectors, alarms, and evacuating in the event of a fire.

When should a fire extinguisher be used?
When the fire is small, and only by those trained to use the extinguisher.

What is the key fire extinguisher training method taught?
Use the PASS method – pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, and sweep the extinguisher.

What are the five types of fires?
Type A fires involve wood, paper, cloth, rubber, and many plastics; type B fires involve flammable liquids such as oil and gas; type C fires involve electrical equipment; type D fires involve rare metals, such as magnesium; and type K fires involve cooking oils and fats often used in commercial kitchens.

Can you use any fire extinguisher to put our any fire?
No, always use a fire extinguisher that’s rated for the type of fire (A, B, C, D, or K) that you’re trying to put out.

What should you do if you or someone you know catches on fire?
Stop, drop to the ground, cover your face with your hands and roll around on the ground, and try to use something like a blanket to extinguish the flames.