Fire extinguishers are devices used to extinguish or control small fires in an emergency situation. 22% of fires start in the vehicle. Do you have a  fire extinguisher in your car?

There are many different types of extinguishers. There’s a Class, A which is used for items like wood and paper. Type B is for combustible liquids (Like gas in vehicle’s). Type C is an extinguisher for electrical items. And Class D is normally used for water reactive metals such as burning magnesium and will be located in factories using such metals. It comes in the form of a powder that must cover the material to extinguish it. Type K is a kitchen type of extinguisher, used to put out kitchen fires and grease fires.

There are also extinguishers that are filled with water and air, these “water cans” have some what of advantage over say a ABC Dry Chemical extinguisher. Water cans do not leave a residue like Dry Chemical ones do. But the down side is that they do not work on all types of fires, they are good on Class A type fires only. Another type of extinguisher is a foam extinguisher. These you can use on multiple types of fires, like Class A and Class B depending what type of foam is in the extinguisher. Foam extinguishers work the same way as the water cans.

Best practices in using an extinguisher

*If you ever have to use and extinguisher to put out a fire, remain clam. If you do not you have a greater chance of getting hurt by not paying attention. First call 911 or emergency service , and tell them what is going on and where you are. The more information you can give 911 the easier it is for the emergency crews responding to get to you faster and know what they are going to.

*Then you want to make sure the extinguisher is able to put out the material that is on fire.

*Determine if it is safe for you to extinguish the fire.

*Next arm your fire extinguisher, make sure you are at least 6 feet from the fire.

*Then aim the extinguisher at the base of the fire, and sweep back and forth slowly.

*Once you have either put out the fire or emptied the extinguisher (typical extinguisher last for few seconds) get away      from the area. By this time emergency personnel should be arriving.

* Remember call 911 or Emergency services if you ever have a fire*

With a fire extinguisher in your vehicle you want to place it in a place where it is easy accessible. Fire extinguisher’s are easy to use, remove from the bracket, pull the pin in the extinguisher, aim at the base of the fire, pull the lever and apply to the fire. Always remember to call 911 or emergency service if you have a vehicle fire.

For more information on fire extinguishers you can visit the US Fire Administrations website.