RB Community Watch by Jacquie Nelson

Can you operate a fire extinguisher?
Do you know how to use a fire extinguisher?

Captain Bob Hammond of Fire Station 33 in Rancho Bernardo recently noted that even if people keep a fire extinguisher in their home, chances are they don't know how to use it. Such people often make fires worse, Hammond said.

Chief John Evans , a fire chief in New Jersey, says fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and sprinklers can also give people a false sense of security.

This general ignorance of how to use fire extinguishers was confirmed by a network TV news magazine, which tested five people who had extinguishers in their homes. The people, who volunteered for the experiment but did not know what specific fire knowledge would be tested, panicked when they were presented with a real fire and failed to properly use their extinguishers.

Here are some basic extinguisher safety measures:

Keep the fire extinguisher where you can reach it. The kitchen is a likely place for a fire to occur, but don't keep it too close to the stove. You will want to move away from the danger to get the extinguisher - not closer to it. Also, keep the extinguisher near an exit.

Know the different types of extinguishers and use the proper one: A is for paper and wood fires, B is for flammable liquids and C is for energized electrical fires. The experts recommend getting a fire extinguisher labeled "2A:10BC." This extinguisher is a bigger size and is good for all types of fire so you don't have to puzzle over which one to use.

Read the instructions on the extinguisher when you buy it, so that you don't waste valuable time when the real thing comes along. Rehearsing and preparing can save lives. To dispose of fire extinguishers in a safe fashion, AIRGAS Fire Group, 740 Enterprise Street in Escondido will dispose of them for you. Visit them or call 1-760-746-4506. If you want more information, call Mike Purdy at 858-495-2325.

What to do in case of a fire: call 9-1-1 immediately to get fire help on the way, even if it's a small fire. Get people out of the house. Have a plan in place and rehearse it with your family (more than once.) Know of two ways out of every room. Shut off the heat source. Turning off the burner or putting a lid back on a pan can sometimes prevent an entire house from burning down.

Use your extinguisher and remember to P-A-S-S: P - Pull the safety pin; A - Aim at the BASE of the fire only; S - Squeeze the trigger; S- Sweep from side to side.

Check out www.rbernardo.com for a list of fires to which the RB Station 33 has recently responded.

Courtesy RB NEWSJournal
May 17, 2001