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Because many fire extinguishers discharge their entire contents in eight to 15 seconds, they are designed to fight small, contained fires like a wastebasket fire, and are useful only under the following conditions:

• The extinguisher must be charged and the proper type for the fire.

• The fire must be small enough for the extinguisher to be effective.

• The fire must be discovered by a person ready, willing and able to use the extinguisher.

Know your classes

Using the wrong type of fire extinguisher on a fire can make matters worse. Different extinguishing agents must be used on certain types of fires.

• Class A: wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics (remember: leaves an Ash).

• Class B: flammable liquids—gasoline, oil, grease, acetone (remember: can Boil).
• Class C: electrical—as long as it’s “plugged in” (remember: carries a Circuit or Current).
• Class D: combustible or flammable metals including magnetism, titanium, zirconium, sodium, potassium, etc.

When using a fire extinguisher, remember pass:

P—Pull the pin.
A—Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.
S—Squeeze the handle.
S—Sweep from side to side at the base of the fire.