If you live in a house, there should be at least one fire extinguisher in your home—but it's best to have several: One in every kitchen, one in the garage, and one in the basement, in addition to one near an exit door. These extinguishers should be kept in plain view (not obstructed by clothing or clutter), in case a visitor needs it to help you. If you don't see any in your friends' house, it's good to ask where they are, just in case.
Fire extinguishers must be given a maintenance check every year. Mentioning to your friends that you're doing it yourself is a good way to remind them to do it themselves. Feel free to contact us for a fire extinguisher service company near you.
Make sure your friends' extinguishers are stored safely! They should be away from stoves and heating appliances, and should always have the instructions in plain view—if your friends have one that has been painted over, then they need to have it replaced!
If a fire breaks out, your highest priority isn't to extinguish it immediately—it's making sure everyone's safe. If there's anyone who needs assistance evacuating and there's any doubt in your mind that you can immediately stop the fire, make sure they're helped to safety before grabbing the extinguisher.
If you need to use an extinguisher to fight a fire, be it for a friend or in your own home, remember to give it a PASS:
Don't even try to fight a fire without running through 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 precious 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.
Also keep in mind that there are different types of extinguishers, some of which are only designed to handle certain types of fires. The types it's designed to handle are printed on the extinguisher:
A – Materials such as wood, paper, cloth, and rubber, which are normally found around the family home. Most extinguishers can handle an A-class fire.
B – Flammable or combustible liquids. Grease, oil-based paints, lacquers, some rubbers. These are also common household fires, particularly in kitchens and garages. Flammable liquids can splash and spread quickly if the wrong extinguisher is used.
C – Energized electrical equipment and household appliances such as televisions, radios, and stoves. Electrical fires can cause serious shock if the wrong extinguisher is used.
D – Combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, or potassium. These are not common to household fires, but can be caused by fireworks and sparklers.
For general household use, ABC fire extinguishers are suitable. If you're unsure about which extinguisher you need, feel free to ask us.
Remember that fire extinguishers are only designed for small fires. If the fire is too large to be extinguished immediately, evacuate and call 9-1-1. Don't let your friends try to fight a fire that's too dangerous, or that might spread and block off the exit.