Madera County Fire, Company 11

North Fork Fire Department

 

Fire extinguishers

 

You will most likely see fire extinguishers around your workplace, vehicle, and you should have at least one in your home…but do you know how to use one? Let’s take a look on what types we have, and how to use one.

Before you begin to fight a fire and use a fire extinguisher:

Make sure everyone has left or is leaving the building.

Make sure the 9-1-1 has been called.

Make sure the fire is confined to a small area and is not spreading.

Make sure you have an unobstructed escape route to which the fire will not spread.

Make sure you have read the instructions and know how to use the extinguisher.

             It is reckless to fight a fire in any other circumstances. Instead, leave immediately, close off the area, and call 911.

             There are three types of extinguishers you will find, Type A, B, C, and a combination of all three: ABC.

Fire Extinguisher Ratings

        A-2

Class A Extinguishers will put out fires in ordinary combustibles, such as wood and paper. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher refers to the amount of water the fire extinguisher holds and the amount of fire it will extinguish.

A-1

 

 

 

 

B-2

Class B Extinguishers should be used on fires involving flammable liquids, such as grease, gasoline, oil, etc. The numerical rating for this class of fire extinguisher states the approximate number of square feet of a flammable liquid fire that a non-expert person can expect to extinguish.

B-1

 

 

 

 

C-2

Class C Extinguishers are suitable for use on electrically energized fires. This class of fire extinguishers does not have a numerical rating. The presence of the letter “C” indicates that the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.

C-1