Fire Saftey Tip With:

Caly Williamson - LVFD Assistant Chief

 

Grease Fire? DON'T USE WATER! Water is the #1 cause of grease fire spread, if you can turn the oven or stove off and use baking soda to try to extinguish the flames and call the Fire department as soon as you can!

  • DO NOT USE WATER ON A GREASE FIRE! Start evacuating everyone from the building. Fires spread extremely fast and can overwhelm victims in minutes. Treat burns only after evacuating the building.
  • Call 911. There's no reason to wait, and the fire department can always go back to the station if you are able to get the fire out without help.
  • The easiest way to smother a grease fire is to cover it with a pan lid. Be careful with glass lids; they can break from the extreme heat of open flame.
  • Grease fires can also be smothered with baking soda, but it takes a lot of baking soda to do the trick. Unless the baking soda is easily accessible, it's usually easier to quickly find a lid.
  • A dry chemical fire extinguisher will also work, but it will contaminate your kitchen and food. Class K fire extinguishers are available to put out grease and other kitchen fires, but they are usually only found in commercial kitchens.

 

 
  • Fire Escape Plan
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Stop Drop and Roll
  • Fire Prevention

You and your family should have a plan regarding not only a fire in your home, but a medical emergency as well. follow these tips to help you and your family make the most effective escape plan possible!

1. Draw a floor plan of your home. Use a separate page for each floor.
2. Designate two routes out of each room using doors or windows. Mark the locations of
smoke alarms with SA.
3. Choose a meeting place outside your home and note it on the plan.
4. Post your fire escape plan where everyone can see it. Make sure anyone staying
overnight is familiar with the plan.
5. Practice using the escape plan with your family at least twice per year.

Fire extinguishers are useful for putting out small fires. They aren't perfect, so the decision to use a fire extinguisher must be made and acted on quickly. To be used properly, fire extinguishers must be readily available and users must be familiar with their operation. To see a demonstration, watch the Fire Extinguisher Video.

Choosing a fire extinguisher is based on the types of fires the extinguisher will be expected to put out. Fire extinguishers are rated for certain types of fires. The rating for a fire extinguisher helps determine where in the home, office, or car it will be best utilized. Fire extinguishers ratings are:

  • Class A - Ordinary combustible solids like paper, wood, and plastic
  • Class B - Flammable or combustible liquid fires such as gasoline or kerosene
  • Class C - Energized electrical components
Specialized fire extinguishers are used in certain types of fires, class D extinguishers for combustible metals and class K extinguishers designed for use in commercial kitchens.

Extinguishing Agents

There are several substances that can be used in fire extinguishers, but the most common are water, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or halon. Water is not safe to use on electrical components, except in special class K devices. Dry chemical extinguishers leave a residue that is detrimental to delicate electrical components like computers. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and halon extinguishers leave no residues behind. Most of the time, dry chemical is the best type of extinguisher for home use.

Fire Extinguisher Techniques

Regardless which class or type of fire extinguisher is used, the basic techniques are the same.

First, choose your fires wisely:

  • Only fight a fire that is small and contained
  • Do not fight a fire between you and the exit
  • Make sure the building is being evacuated
  • Make sure someone is calling 911
Once you have decided to fight the fire, follow these steps. Remember PASS:
  1. Pull the pin on the extinguisher
  2. Aim at the BASE of the fire (the item that's burning, not the flames) while standing back several feet from the fire
  3. Squeeze the trigger to discharge the fire extinguisher
  4. Sweep side-to-side as you discharge the fire extinguisher

Suggested Fire Extinguishers

This is by far not an exhaustive list. Choose the extinguisher based on the expected types of fires where it will be used.
  • Kidde Pro Line Tri-Class Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher
    Charge Weight 2.6 lbs 466227 / KID466227
    Covers class A, B, and C fires.
    Compare Prices
  • Kidde 466140 Kitchen Fire Away 2-lbs
    B and C type fires
    Compare Prices
  • Kidde Halotron 1 ProPlus Fire Extinguisher
    UL Rating 5-B:C, Charge Weight 5 lbs - KID466728 Halon extinguisher particularly good for electrical components.
    Compare Prices

If clothes catch fire they can spread very quickly, engulfing the victim in flames. Certain types of clothing, especially synthetic fabrics, may melt and stick to skin. The best way to reduce injury from the flames is to extinguish the burning fabric as quickly as possible.

To put out burning clothing, take these three steps:

  1. Stop
    Don't run or wave your arms. Movement will fan the flames and cause the burns to be more severe.
  2. Drop
    Get on the ground quickly and cover your face with your hands.
  3. Roll
    Try to smother the flames by rolling over and over. Pay attention to what's burning and focus on putting out that area of your body.

    It's helpful to roll up into a rug or thick, nonflammable material (such as tent canvas) to help smother the flames. Don't roll into a thin blanket, sheet or plastic because you may accidentally catch that material on fire also.

    Others can help you douse the flames by patting the fire with their hands or other material. Use water or a fire extinguisher to put out the fire if one is available.

LINDALE FIRE PREVENTION TEAM