Fire Extinguishers and Home Safety
Small blazes aren’t that uncommon in the modern household. Fortunately, fire extinguishers can help fires from escalating, if you have the right kind, at the right place, at the right time.
Keep at least one fire extinguisher near your kitchen, where most common house fires start. Another near the exit of your home can ensure a safer getaway if flames are close to your house’s entry points.
According to the Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA), multipurpose, or ABC, extinguishers are recommended for home use. The “A” signifies the device can extinguish fires from wood, cotton and cloth; the “B” means the extinguisher fights fires from flammable liquids like cooking sprays; and the “C” indicates it will put out fires resulting from live electricity.
How to Use a Fire Extinguisher
Fire extinguishers aren’t difficult to use. OCFA offers helpful information and urges homeowners to remember the PASS technique for using one:
- Pull the pin
- Aim at the base of the fire
- Squeeze the lever slowly
- Sweep from side-to-side
Click here to watch an instructional video from OCFA on how to use a fire extinguisher.
Click here to view OCFA flyers on fire safety, available in Chinese, English, Farsi, Korean, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Last but not least, always call 9-1-1 and make sure you have a clear exit route before using an extinguisher.
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