Many lives have been lost simply because people were not prepared to deal with accidental fires.  

In fact, it is estimated that less that 5% of the nation's homes have fire extinguishers.

Fire extinguishers are considered first-aid equipment for controlling and putting out small fires before they become too large.  

However, they are no substitute for the fire department in the event of a large or major blaze.

Having the proper fire extinguisher, as well as knowing how to use it and when not to use it, is important in safeguarding your household.  

Selecting the proper extinguisher for your home is as simple as A-B-C.  

Make sure that all adult family members know how to use fire extinguishers.  

A unit with a gauge will enable you to check for enough pressure to do the job effectively.  Most home units are disposable.  Therefore, never expel the home extinguisher to see if it works.  Hold practice fire drills so everyone knows how to escape a fire.

Santa Fe Fire & Rescue offers fire extinguisher training once a year at the City of Santa Fe Child Safety Fair in October. 

                For more info contact the Public Relations Officer

• Class A extinguishers are for ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cardboard, and most plastics. The numerical rating on these types of extinguishers indicates the amount of water it holds and the amount of fire it can extinguish.
• Class B fires involve flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, grease and oil. The numerical rating for class B extinguishers indicates the approximate number of square feet of fire it can extinguish.
• Class C fires involve electrical equipment, such as appliances, wiring, circuit breakers and outlets. Never use water to extinguish class C fires - the risk of electrical shock is far too great! Class C extinguishers do not have a numerical rating. The C classification means the extinguishing agent is non-conductive.
• Class D fire extinguishers are commonly found in a chemical laboratory. They are for fires that involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium. These types of extinguishers also have no numerical rating, nor are they given a multi-purpose rating - they are designed for class D fires only.

Some fires may involve a combination of these classifications. Your fire extinguishers should have ABC ratings on them.

Here are the most common types of fire extinguishers:

• Water extinguishers or APW extinguishers (air-pressurized water) are suitable for class A fires only. Never use a water extinguisher on grease fires, electrical fires or class D fires - the flames will spread and make the fire bigger! Water extinguishers are filled with water and pressurized with oxygen. Again - water extinguishers can be very dangerous in the wrong type of situation. Only fight the fire if you're certain it contains ordinary combustible materials only.
• Dry chemical extinguishers come in a variety of types and are suitable for a combination of class A, B and C fires. These are filled with foam or powder and pressurized with nitrogen.
  • BC - This is the regular type of dry chemical extinguisher. It is filled with sodium bicarbonate or potassium bicarbonate. The BC variety leaves a mildly corrosive residue which must be cleaned immediately to prevent any damage to materials.
  • ABC - This is the multipurpose dry chemical extinguisher. The ABC type is filled with monoammonium phosphate, a yellow powder that leaves a sticky residue that may be damaging to electrical appliances such as a computer.

Dry chemical extinguishers have an advantage over CO2 extinguishers since they leave a non-flammable substance on the extinguished material, reducing the likelihood of re-ignition.

• Carbon Dioxide (CO2) extinguishers are used for class B and C fires. CO2 extinguishers contain carbon dioxide, a non-flammable gas, and are highly pressurized. The pressure is so great that it is not uncommon for bits of dry ice to shoot out the nozzle. They don't work very well on class A fires because they may not be able to displace enough oxygen to put the fire out, causing it to re-ignite.

These are only the common types of fire extinguishers. There are many others to choose from. Base your selection on the classification and the extinguisher's compatibility with the items you wish to protect.

When to Fight a Fire

You should fight a fire with a fire extinguisher only when all the following are true:

• Evacuate all other members of the family;

• The fire department has been called;

• The fire is small and confined to the immediate areas where it started such as in a wastebasket, cushion, small appliance, stove, etc;

• You can fight the fire with your back to a safe escape route;

• Your extinguisher is rated for the type of fire you are fighting and is in good working order; and

• You had training in the use of the extinguisher and are confident that you can operate it effectively.