Fire extinguishers are labeled according to the type of fire on which they may be used. Fires involving wood or cloth, flammable liquids, electrical current or a combination of those will each react differently to extinguishers. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on a particular type of fire could be dangerous and make matters even worse. In the heat of the moment reading the directions on the extinguisher is an after-thought.
Remember the P-A-S-S word!
- Pull the pin at the top of the cylinder
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire
- Squeeze or press the handle
- Sweep the contents from side to side at the base of the fire until it goes out