Fire Safety 

A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergency situations. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user, or otherwise requires the expertise of a fire brigade. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent that can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common.

• Crawl low under any smoke to your exit. Heavy smoke and poisonous gases collect first along the ceiling.

• Before opening a door, feel the doorknob and door. If either is hot, or if there is smoke coming around the door, leave the door closed and use your second way out.

• If you open a door, open it slowly. Be ready to shut it quickly if heavy smoke or fire is present.

• If you can’t get to someone needing assistance, leave the home and call 911 or the fire department. Tell the emergency operator where the person is located.

• If pets are trapped inside your home, tell firefighters right away.

• If you can’t get out, close the door and cover vents and cracks around doors with cloth or tape to keep smoke out. Call 911 or your fire department. Say where you are and signal for help at the window with a light-colored cloth or a flashlight.

• If your clothes catch fire, stop, drop, and roll – stop immediately, drop to the ground, and cover your face with your hands.  Roll over and over or back and forth until the fire is out. If you or someone else cannot stop, drop, and roll, smother the flames with a blanket or towel. Use cool water to treat the burn immediately for three to five minutes. Cover with a clean, dry cloth. Get medical help right away by calling 911 or the fire department.

A working smoke alarm significantly increases your chances of surviving a deadly home fire.

• Replace batteries twice a year, unless you are using 10-year lithium batteries.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including the basement.

• Replace the entire smoke alarm unit every 10 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

• Never disable a smoke alarm while cooking – it can be a deadly mistake.

A fire requires three things in order to burn:

• Heat

• Fuel

• Oxygen.

If you remove any of these three things, then the fire can no longer sustain itself.

If a fire is left to burn unchecked, it will eventually run out of fuel and go out.

If you drop the temperature substantially then it may remove the heat and the fire goes out.

If you can somehow cover the fire so that no more air can get to it, you can remove the oxygen and the fire goes out.

These are the only methods to successfully extinguish a fire and each class of fire is extinguished in a different manner.