How to Use Your Fire Extinguisher
![fire-extinguisher-2a a woman using a fire extinguisher to put out an oven fire](https://www.emcsecurity.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/fire-extinguisher-2a.jpg)
The independent review site, Safewise.com, interviewed fire-fighters to determine which fire extinguisher they’d recommend.
Their pick: Amerex B402.
Amerex B402 is one of the most recommended fire extinguishers on the market, and its steel casing and aluminum valves make it durable enough to withstand a fire and be recharged for future use.
Other top contenders:
- First Alert Standard Home Fire Extinguisher: Best for Budget
- The Fireman Fire Extinguishing Spray: Best for Convenience
- First Alert Tundra Spray: Portable Pick
- Kidde ABC Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher: Disposable Pick
Types of Fires Extinguishers & Ratings
Before you purchase a fire extinguisher, it’s important to understand the different types of fires. Chemical fire extinguishers are filled with different fire suppressants, and choosing a type of extinguisher with the wrong contents could actually make a fire worse (like throwing water on a grease fire).
Household fires fall under three classifications, depending on the type of fuel burning. The most common fire extinguisher classifications are A, B, C, and K. Class A-B-C fire extinguishers will handle most household fires, but just to be on the safe side, it’s smart to also have a K-rated fire extinguisher on hand for your kitchen.
- Class A: Solid combustible materials that are not metals, like wood, paper, cloth, plastics, and rubber.
- Class B: Flammable liquids, like gasoline, oil, grease, and paints.
- Class C: Electrical equipment, like appliances and outlets.
- Class K: Cooking oils and greases, animal fats, and vegetable fats.
Where to Store Your Fire Extinguisher
It is best to store your extinguisher in your kitchen, 5–8 feet from potential fire sources like deep fat fryers, fireplaces, or clothes dryers. This way you can access them quickly and safely in case of a fire.
Make sure that there is always a fire extinguisher no farther than 40 feet away from any location in your home.
While it’s very important to have a fire extinguisher readily available in your home, it’s equally important to have smoke detectors installed. EMC Security recommends installing at least one monitored smoke detector outside the bedrooms. This way, if there’s a fire, we’ll work to get you the help you need, while you can concentrate on getting your loved ones to safety.
EMC Security monitors for fire at no additional monthly cost.