Deal With Fires While They're Little

Don't even try to fight a fire unless you have the 4 Cs of firefighting:

Calm - When fighting a fire, you need to be calm and composed. If you feel the least bit jittery or panicky, get out immediately and call 9-1-1 from a neighbour's phone!

Confident - If the fire looks very big, and you're not sure if you can put it all out with an extinguisher, just leave it! Household extinguishers are only designed to handle small fires. Never try if you aren't completely confident that your extinguisher can handle it!

Competent - There is more to using an extinguisher than pointing and clicking. If you haven't been shown how to use an extinguisher—how to prepare it, how to check it, how to aim it, how to spray it, and how to move with it—then you might end up wasting time and putting yourself in danger!

Clear - Before you try to fight a fire, make sure that you have a clear exit from the room in case the fire goes out of control. If there's anyone who needs to be removed from the area, forget about fighting the fire—make sure they're clear of danger, then call the fire department.
If you decide that you're ready and able to extinguish a fire, make sure you remember:

Before trying to put out a fire, make sure any younger siblings or anyone who needs help is out of danger.

If a fire ever seems out of control, get out! Help your younger siblings and anyone else who needs help, then Call 9-1-1 from a neighbour's house.

If you hear an alarm or see smoke but don't see the flame, don't hesitate—evacuate!
When you see a fire in the kitchen...

If the fire is contained in a pot, remember: Smother, don't splash! Water can make some kitchen fires spread very quickly. Use a pot lid to cover it, and leave it to burn out for a minute or two.

If you see a fire that has spread to the cupboards or counter top and you don't have an extinguisher, evacuate! Getting out safely is the most important thing to do in any fire!
If the fire is small enough to be extinguished immediately, and you have an extinguisher handy, remember to give the fire a PASS with the extinguisher:

P – Pull the pin. With some models this is a metal ring, with others it could be a small plastic tab—you should always know how your own extinguisher works.

A – Aim low. The key to putting out a fire is to attack the source, not the flame. Always aim at the thing that's burning, not the fire itself.

S – Squeeze the handle to release the contents.

S – Sweep the extinguisher from side to side while moving forward. This makes sure that you get a good amount of coverage, and makes it more likely that you will cover both what's on fire, and where the fire is trying to spread.

But ALWAYS remember: Home fire extinguishers are only designed to handle small fires! Don't try to fight a fire if it puts you in danger, and make sure the fire never spreads enough to block your exit.
If you need to evacuate, it's important to be quick—but even more important to be smart!

If there are any closed doors between you and the exit, don't touch the handle! Feel around the middle of the door with the back of your hand, and if you feel heat, don't open it! The door handle might be scalding hot, and the door could be keeping you safe from fire!

If the door is cool, you can open it, but be ready to close it again if smoke comes through.
Smoke can be just as dangerous as fire! If you encounter smoke while escaping, try to find a different way.

If you need to pass through a smoky area to get to an exit, crawl on your hands and knees, with your face 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60cm) above the floor. This is where the air will be its cleanest.

If you can't get out, close as many doors between yourself and the fire as you can. Use duct tape or wet cloth to seal around the doors and cover all the vents in the room to keep the smoke out. Call the fire department—even if someone else has called to let them know there's a fire, you need to call them to let them know where you are.

I Promise to be Smart!

Grades 5-8 - Become a Senior Fire Warden

Deal With Fires While They're Little