Follow These 4 Steps To Use Your Fire Extinguisher the Right Way

1/2/2022 (Permalink)

If you have sustained damage or simply need a post-fire cleanup, working with a reputable restoration service in Garland, TX, is a good idea.

Few things can ruin a cozy evening at home faster than a kitchen fire. Whether you are preparing a meal for your family or cooking for friends, you must know how to effectively deal with flames in your kitchen. If you want to minimize fire damage in your Garland, TX, home, follow these four simple steps to use your fire extinguisher the right way.

1. Remove the Pin

Your emergency extinguisher probably has a pin to prevent accidental sprays. This piece of plastic or metal sits inside the trigger. It also likely has a ring that makes removal simple and intuitive. Before you begin to extinguish a fire, you must remove the safety pin.

2. Aim the Nozzle

Often, unaware homeowners point the nozzle of the extinguisher at the top of the flames. This is a mistake, as fires receive fuel from their foundations. Therefore, you must focus your spray on the base of the fire in your kitchen.

3. Apply Controlled Pressure

Your fire extinguisher may dispense more suppression agents than you anticipate. As such, it is important not to panic. Instead, apply controlled pressure to the extinguisher’s nozzle. Begin slowly before gradually increasing pressure to successfully extinguish the blaze.

4. Use a Sweeping Motion

To put out a fire of any size, you must concentrate on the base. As you probably know, fires tend to move around. By using a sweeping motion, you target all parts of the fire. Continue moving the extinguisher from side to side until the fire is gone.

Using a fire extinguisher to stop a fire in the kitchen is usually your best bet to limit the damage. Still, extinguishers can be messy. If you have sustained damage or simply need a post-fire cleanup, working with a reputable restoration service in Garland, TX, is a good idea. Before you get to that point, however, you must be sure both you and your extinguisher are ready for action.