Fire extinguishers are a great way to put out small fires quickly before they escalate into something bigger. This guide recommends 3 particular fire extinguishers that everyone should keep in their home.
One of the most common causes of house fires in the UK is kitchen fires and a percentage of these fires could be put out by an extinguisher or fire blanket. Cooker fires start off small but if they are not treated quickly, they can escalate quickly and cause a lot of damage. Keeping an extinguisher on hand in your kitchen will allow you to tame this fire until the Fire Brigade arrive. There are different types of extinguishers required for different situations but the most common cause of a fire in your kitchen will be your cooker so it is recommended you have a class F fire extinguisher – wet chemical.
When thinking about fire extinguishers most people won’t even consider getting one for their car, but there are a lot of advantages to carrying one in your vehicle. A car setting on fire can have serious consequences not just for yourself and your vehicle but everyone in the vicinity if it is not treated quickly enough. While waiting for the fire brigade you could extinguish an engine fire before it makes contact with the petrol fumes and escalates. Also if you are able to extinguish an engine fire quickly you might be able to save the vehicle and in turn save yourself some pennies. The most recommended vehicle fire extinguishers are foam because these are easier to clean and you can still see after using, however you can also use dry powder extinguishers. Remember when buying car extinguishers, you won’t be able to buy the same size as you would for your kitchen. The size you will need will depend on the size of your car.
The car and kitchen fire extinguishers mentioned above target very specific fire causes but an ABC dry powder extinguisher can put out multiple fires. It can extinguish fires involving wood, textiles, paper, gas, petrol, oil, paint and fires involving electrical equipment. Due to their diversity it is useful to have one of these around the house.
Before you use a fire extinguisher you should make sure it is safe to do so and you have read the instructions. You should consult the fire brigade of a fire and should spray away from the escape route so you can still get out of the building if necessary.
