Fire Safety and Education Articles
Classes of Fires
There are four classes of fires. All fire extinguishers are labeled, using standard symbols, for the classes of fires on which they can be used. A red slash through any of the symbols tells you the extinguisher cannot be used on that class of fire. A missing symbol...
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Fire Extinguisher Sizes
Portable extinguishers are also rated for the size of fire they can handle. This rating is expressed as a number from 1 to 40 for Class A fires and from 1 to 640 for Class B fires. This rating will appear on the label-- 2A:10B:C, for example. The larger the numbers,...
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Why Does Smoke Come from a Fire?
Let's say you have a nice fire going, and it has burned down to the point where what you see is a collection of hot "glowing embers." The fire is still producing a lot of heat, but it is producing no smoke at all. You might have gotten to this point either by starting...
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What is Fire?
In order to have a fire, there must be three elements: Fuel: something which will burn Heat: enough to make the fuel burn Oxygen: air All three elements must be present at the same time to have a fire. Fire will burn until one or more of the elements is removed,...
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Using an Extinguisher? Remember P.A.S.S.
Always keep your back to an unobstructed exit, stand six to eight feet away from the fire, and follow the PASS (Pull-Aim- Squeeze-Sweep) four-step procedure: PULL THE PIN - This unlocks the operating lever and allows you to discharge the extinguisher. Some...
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“Should I Try to Fight this Fire?”
BEFORE you begin (or even consider) fighting a fire: Call the Fire Department (Dial 911). Make sure the building is being evacuated. Determine whether the fire is small and is not spreading. Confirm you have a safe path to an exit not threatened by the fire. Know how...
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Only Fight a Fire If…
...If the fire is small and contained. The time to use a fire extinguisher is in the early, or incipient, stage of a fire. Once the fire starts to grow or spread, it is best to evacuate the building, closing doors or windows behind you. ...If you are safe from toxic...
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In Case of Fire, Just Remember the Three A’s
ACTIVATE - the building alarm system or notify the fire department by calling 911. Or, have someone else do this for you. ASSIST - any persons in immediate danger, or those incapable on their own, to exit the building, without risk to yourself. Only after these two...
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How Do Photoelectric Smoke Detectors Work?
All smoke detectors consist of two basic parts: a sensor to sense the smoke and a very loud electronic horn to wake people up. Smoke detectors can run off of a 9-volt battery or 120-volt house current. Occasionally you will walk into a store and a bell will go off as...
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How Do Multi-Class Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers Work?
If you ask any firefighter what it takes to create a fire, you will learn that you have to have three things: A Fuel - some sort of combustible solid, liquid or gas Oxygen - to react with the fuel Heat - there must be enough heat to get the fuel above its flash point....
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How Do Ionization Smoke Detectors Work?
All smoke detectors consist of two basic parts: a sensor to sense the smoke and a very loud electronic horn to wake people up. Smoke detectors can run off of a 9-volt battery or 120-volt house current. Ionization smoke detectors use an ionization chamber and a source...
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Fighting Small Fires on the Job
Fire extinguishers in the workplace should be placed conspicuously and within easy reach so they can be accessed quickly while a fire is still small. Federal regulations require that employers who provide portable fire extinguishers in the workplace also provide...
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Different Types of Fire Extinguishers
The Fire Extinguisher must be appropriate for the type of fire being fought. Multipurpose fire extinguishers, labeled ABC, may be used on all three classes of fire. If you use the wrong type of extinguisher, you can endanger yourself and make the fire worse. It is...
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