Fire Extinguisher Safety
2/10/2023 (Permalink)
If you ever find yourself in a situation where there is a fire in your home, it's important to know what to do. Fires can be dangerous and life-threatening. They also have the potential to damage everything in their path. If you know how to use a fire extinguisher correctly, though, it's possible that you will be able to stop a small blaze before it gets out of control or causes serious damage. Here are some tips on how best to fight an emergency fire.
Six Feet Away.
Do not stand closer than six feet from the fire. The heat, smoke and flames can injure or kill you if you are too close. If your clothing catches on fire, stop what you're doing and drop to the ground immediately! Roll around in a blanket or rug until the flames are out. Do NOT run away from it because that will only fan the flames!
Be careful when dealing with hot embers after extinguishing an outdoor fire as they may still be burning inside their casings and could start another blaze if handled improperly (or even just touched).
Never use water on a grease fire.
If you think you have a grease fire, don't use water to put it out. Water causes the oil in the pan to spread and can make the flames larger. Instead, get yourself a dry powder fire extinguisher and aim for the base of the flame. Having a fire extinguisher in your kitchen incase of an emergency is always a good idea.
Call a Professional.
If you are in doubt about how to use a fire extinguisher, or if you feel unsafe near the fire, call the fire department. If that's not possible, or if it takes too long for them to arrive and put out your blaze, then here are some other ways that you can handle it yourself. Call a professional fire extinguisher service. There are many companies that offer this kind of service, they'll come out with their own equipment and take care of everything!
Call a professional fire damage restoration company. They can help clean up any messes left behind by extinguished flames before they cause any more damage than necessary. Give SERVPRO a call for remediation after a fire loss to your property.
As you can see, there are many ways to extinguish a fire. Even so, it's important to remember that safety always comes first. If you are unsure about how to use a fire extinguisher or if there is any doubt in your mind about whether or not you should use one at all, call 911 immediately!