Questions you were afraid to ask...write them down

[DrKym]

Never thought of that! thank you Phred! I will be calling in the morning, ours have traveled 3 states with us, and now I will learn to use it effectively and buy new ones!!

May I never need it but if I do, I will be thanking you for the advice of how to use one properly!

[cyber-sibes]

Does a home fire extinguisher ever lose its effectiveness?

Now this is is exactly the question I was asking myself yesterday as I dashed from the house to the garage to grab the fire extinguisher my husband bought me 8 years ago.... thank God it worked, although it took me a few minutes to figure it out (that's when I dialed 911 & got the real fire guys on their way to my house.

And just why did I need the Fire guys & an extinguisher, you might be asking?

I accidently turned the wrong burner on my brand-new stove to heat water ...when I came back 10 minutes later, I saw foot-high flames, & black smoke pouring into the kitchen. I shoved everything else off the counter onto the floor and slammed a wok over the whole mess, then ran to get the extinguisher, realizing that I had no idea how to use it. It seemed stuck. I grabbed the phone & dialed 911. While talking to the 911 operator, I finally got it to work, and by the time the fire guys showed, the blaze was out. They used huge fans to blow the house clear, and checked all the wiring on my (brand new) stove. All that was left was my melted acrylic salt shaker, now looking like the snowball from hell, firmly attached to the (brand new) stovetop.
I was amazed at how quicky the dry chemical extinguisher put out the fire. I have spent the past 24 hours trying to clean the fine veil of powder covering everything in the house. (which just went up for sale last week), and picking bits of plastic off the (brand new) stovetop. The stove is fine, just need a new drip pan.

It was a rough day. I'm so glad 8-yr old fire extinguishers still work, it could have been so much worse.

I really had no intention to confess all this on PT, but it seems so appropriate at this moment.

show me how to use it." Be Safe!
/s/ Phred

That is such good advice, Phred, I found out when I needed it, I was clueless as to how to use it.

[Cinder & Smoke]

"Does a home fire extinguisher ever lose its effectiveness?"

Now this is is exactly the question I was asking myself yesterday as I dashed from the house to the garage to grab the fire extinguisher my husband bought me 8 years ago.... thank God it worked ...

And just why did I need the Fire guys & an extinguisher, you might be asking?

... when I came back 10 minutes later, I saw foot-high flames, & black smoke pouring into the kitchen.

...slammed a wok over the whole mess, then ran to get the extinguisher,
realizing that I had no idea how to use it.
It seemed stuck.

I grabbed the phone & dialed 911.

While talking to the 911 operator, I finally got it to work,
and by the time the fire guys showed, the blaze was out.

I was amazed at how quicky the dry chemical extinguisher put out the fire.
I found out when I needed it, I was clueless as to how to use it.

WOW! ~~~ *Yee-Haw!*

Good on ya! ... Way to GO, Pat!!

You probably *saved* your house! Stove fires rapidly become kitchen cabinet fires!

Now a few suggestions in case you decide to do it again ...

1) FIRST step is to do the 9-1-1 thing - BEFORE you play Freida Firefighter yourself!
Get the Gang with the BRTs (Big Red Trucks) on the way FIRST ... then do your own thing!

2) Consider storing the extinguisher near where you might need it!
Kitchen - good place is on the inside of a low-level cabinet door - CLOSE to
the exit doorway
out of the kitchen. You want to have the extinguisher between the fire
and the exit -
so you can get to the exit without having to pass the fire!
"Out in the garage" is a lil bit further than I'd suggest for the "kitchen" extinguisher!

And - have we called the Fire Guys yet, on 9-1-1 ?

Lastly - and do it NOW ...
* Go FIND your extinguisher
* READ the Instructions - they're ALWAYS printed on the label!
* Give it a lil *SHAKE* to keep the dry chemical inside "loose"
* CHECK the Gauge to be sure it reads "FULL"
* HANG it UP in it's bracket - so you know where it is

HOPEFULLY, you won't need to play Freida Firefighter - but if you do ...
You'll be ready to do a Good Job like Pat did!

[lbaker]

FARFIGHTER, LIFE - MEYBEY, SAVER - PHRED, you are THE MAN, my goodness we love yuou

[Roxyluvsme13]

We don't even have a fire extinguisher.

[slick]

My kitchen fire extinguisher is about 9 years old and there is a way of checking it by pressing this little red button on top.

Still.....I could call my local FD and go down there anyway. I could use some eye candy to look at......even compare them with the LA team. "Do I hold it like this Mr. Firefighter????"

Cybes, I can only imagine how scary this must have been. I'm not sure I would be as composed as you say you were. Lucky you.

Phred, thanks for all the advice. Yea, YOU DA MAN BABY!!!

[DrKym]

Wow Pat, thank heavens everyone is alright! How frightening!
I was telling Jasper and my kids about me calling tomorrow and much to my surprise.........My son has learned (now his mom needs to) how to use a home extinguisher!

The FD here works with the schools to teach not just stop drop and roll, but because so many kids are latchkey, to also diall 911 and to use a extinguishers correctly!

Still calling tomorrow so tht all of us know how!

[cyber-sibes]

1) FIRST step is to do the 9-1-1 thing - BEFORE you play Freida Firefighter yourself!Get the Gang with the BRTs (Big Red Trucks) on the way FIRST ... then do your own thing!
2) Consider storing the extinguisher near where you might need it!

Yup, as it turned out, I ran right past the extinguisher hanging on the back of the cabinet in the hallway right next to the kitchen, duh. And you're right, I should have called 911 FIRST. (Thanks for your "live" advice too, Phred, it was very thoughtful of you to call. I appreciate it. Will follow through tomorrow. )

[cassiesmom]

They do need to be "inspected".

Consider a typical home or vehicle 2 1/2 or 2 3/4 pound Dry Chemical extinguisher
that carries an "ABC" or "Flammable Liquids" label and has a small GAUGE >>>
These need to be "inspected" frequently to be sure the gauge indicates "FULL" and
that there's nothing blocking the discharge nozzle.
Then pick the extinguisher UP and *SHAKE* it - to unpack the dry chemical and
insure that it will flow out the nozzle when needed.

You can do these "inspections" yourself ... for 12 YEARS.

After the 12th Year of the extinguisher's "life" - it gets a lil "dicey"!
The US Dept of Transportation rules state that all stored pressure Dry Chemical extinguishers MUST be "Hydrostatically Tested" by a certified tester Every 12 Years.
ALL Extinguishers are "dated" with the month/year they were assembled.
THAT date starts the 12 year clock - not when you purchased it.

For small home sized extinguishers, it's a LOT cheaper to go to WalMart, Sears, or your favorite Hardware store and buy a barnd NEW one than pay a fire extinguisher service center to empty, hydro test, dry, and refill your old one!

What to DO with the OLD one?
Call your local Fire Station and ask if you can come by some day for a quick class ...
Tell 'em "I'll bring my old extinguisher to use, just need you guys to build a fire and show me how to use it." (We LIKE building fires! )
After you use it - toss it in the dumpster.

Be Safe!
/s/ Phred

Thank you, Phred. You're awesome. When I was a nursing assistant, the fire department came with fire extinguishers and we got to actually put out a fire they started in the parking lot. When I was a hospital nurse, we had mandatory fire safety training regularly, so I felt more comfortable dealing with a fire extinguisher. Now - I work in an office, so I don't worry quite as much since I wouldn't have to move people in wheelchairs in an emergency.

[Cinder & Smoke]

... so I felt more comfortable dealing with a fire extinguisher.

Now - I work in an office, so I don't worry quite as much ...

Don't let your guard down ...
a "modern" office, with it's typical content of paper and plastic,
can turn into a raging inferno in a matter of minutes!

It still pays to keep your fire extinguisher skills *sharp*.
And don't forget - an early 9-1-1 call gets the Fire Guys and their BRTs there
in time to save some stuff!

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Things that come on a roll ... toilet tissue, paper towels ... What direction is it supposed to unroll? Do I install the new roll with the end facing the wall (so it unrolls from underneath the roller), or facing the room (so it unrolls over the top)?

This is one of my biggest pet peeves! My toilet paper has to unroll over the top.

[Ginger's Mom]

I really do appreciate your advise on the fire extinquisher, Phred. I bought a small fire extinquisher when I bought own place eight years ago, and I keep it in the laundry room/pantry just off the kitchen. But I must admit that I have not looked at it since I bought it. Guess I need to do that. But I glad to hear that it may still have some life in it. I guess I figured they are only good for about five years. so 12 years sounds good.

[Randi]

Phred, you're the best!! Thanks!! I went to have another look at my fire extinguiser, and here it is, full figure.


A close up of the text. It actually says that it weighs 5,6 kg. to begin with. It also says that after 15 years, it should be control checked and tested for preassure - and should weigh min. 5,4 kg. Then checked again after another 5 years. It weighs 5,5 kg now, according to my weight.


The top bit looks like this. I pull the little thing out connected to the chain and simply press the “tricker” and the foam - or whatever, will blast out on the opposite side.


I do wonder what will come out of it, but I could take it down in the yard and see. On the other side of it, it has:
A (wood, paper, textiles)
B (burnable liquids)
C (gasses)
and el installations

A is crossed out. Does that mean I shouldn't use it on those materials? I think John said it would be good on computers.

[Killearn Kitties]

Oh oh! Putting my hand up. CO2 is for electrical fires!! I have one sitting beside me at work.

[lbaker]

"putting my hand up".... KK you are too phuny