Fire Extinguishers
At some point during your college experience, especially if you live in an apartment style residence hall and have a kitchen, you may encounter a situation in which you are trying to decide whether to use a fire extinguisher.
You must understand that fighting a fire is serious business. Even a small fire can quickly spread to engulf an entire room...or worse. Don't think about trying to use a fire extinguisher unless you have, at the very least, read the information on this page and know what you are doing.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) categorizes fires by class. Extinguishers are marked accordingly and you should always be sure to use the appropriate kind of extinguisher for that type of fire.
| Class |
Type |
Description |
| Class A |
Trash, Wood, Paper |
Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials--paper, wood, fabrics, rubber, and many plastics. Quenching by water or insulating by a multipurpose (ABC) dry chemical agent is effective. |
| Class B |
Liquids, Grease |
Class B fires occur in flammable liquids--gasoline, oils, greases, tars, paints, lacquers, and flammable gases. Dry chemicals and carbon dioxide agents extinguish these fires. |
| Class C |
Electrical Equipment |
Class C fires take place in live electrical equipment--motors, generators, switches, and appliances. Nonconducting extinguishing agents such as dry chemicals or carbon dioxide are required to extinguish them. Never use a Class A (water) extinguisher on this type of fire! |
| Class D |
Combustible Metals |
Class D fires occur in combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, zirconium, sodium, lithium, and potassium. Sodium carbonate, graphite, bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and salt-based chemicals extinguish these fires. |
A Word of Caution: Some fires may be a combination of these!
You are not required to fight a fire. Ever. If you have the slightest doubt about your control of the situation DO NOT FIGHT THE FIRE.
-
Use a mental checklist to make a Fight-or-Flight Decision. Attempt to use an extinguisher only if ALL of the following apply:
- The building is being evacuated (fire alarm is pulled)
- The fire department is being called (dial 911).
- The fire is small, contained and not spreading beyond its starting point.
- The exit is clear, there is no imminent peril and you can fight the fire with your back to the exit.
- You can stay low and avoid smoke.
- The proper extinguisher is immediately at hand.
- You have read the instructions and know how to use the extinguisher.
If any of these above conditions have not been met, don't fight the fire yourself. Call for help, pull the fire alarm and follow the directions for evacuating the building that are posted on the back of your entrance door.
- If you decide to use an extinguisher, whenever possible, use the "Buddy System". Have someone back you up when using a fire extinguisher. If you have any doubt about your personal safety, or if you can not extinguish a fire, leave immediately and close off the area (close the doors, but DO NOT lock them). Leave the building but contact a firefighter to relay whatever information you have about the fire.
- Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher.
-
Stand several feet from the fire, depress the handle and sweep back and forth towards the base of the fire.
Note:
- Do not walk on an area that you have "extinguished" in case the fire reignites or the extinguisher runs out! Remember: you usually can't expect more than 10 full seconds of extinguishing power on a typical unit and this could be significantly less if the extinguisher was not properly maintained or partially discharged.
- The metal parts of CO2 extinguishers tend to get dangerously cold -- practice using one beforehand or have someone show you the proper way to hold one.
- Direct the extinguisher at the base of the flames until the fire is completely out.
- Recharge any discharged extinguisher immediately after use. If you discharge an extinguisher (even just a tiny bit) or pull the pin for any reason, call your residence hall office to arrange a replacement.
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