Your home is your personal retreat – the place where you expect to find rest, and are proud to call your own. Unfortunately, all you have worked so hard to build over the years can be reduced to ashes in a matter of minutes in the event of a fire. Having a high quality and easy-to-operate fire extinguisher on hand is critical for protecting your house—one of your most important assets.
The Value of Extinguishers
A home fire can be attributed to one of many causes, including appliances, smoking or the presence of an open flame used for heating the home or cooking. Sometimes carelessness results in a massive fire, and in other cases, electric malfunction is the culprit. Statistics show that for non-residential fires, cooking is often the main cause of unexpected blazes. Unfortunately, if a fire is not extinguished in time, it can quickly cause irreversible damage and may even result in injury or death. This is why homeowners – as well as business owners – would benefit from having an extinguisher available for use at all times.
What to Look for in a Fire Extinguisher
Different types of extinguishers are designed to target certain types of fires. You can oust a fire involving paper, wood, rubber, cloth and many plastics using a Class “A” fire extinguisher. Illinois homeowners should look for an extinguisher created for Class “B” fires if there is a chance that a fire involving flammable gases and liquids could erupt on their properties. These flammable materials include paint thinner, motor oil, natural gas, propane and dry cleaning agents. Class “C” extinguishers are made to tackle blazes stemming from live electrical equipment and thus will not conduct electricity. Meanwhile, Class “D” extinguishers involve metals such as titanium, magnesium and sodium, while Class “K” extinguishers are made for fires associated with animal or vegetable oils.
How They Work
In order to properly use an extinguisher, you must hold the device upright and then pull the safety pin. Spray the fire, aiming at the blaze’s base. Be sure to squeeze the device’s handles together and then sweep the stream from one side to the next. With a well-designed fire extinguisher, you can rest assured that you will be able to quickly destroy a fire before it destroys your home and possessions.
Getz Fire Equipment Company offers superior portable extinguishers for fires. To learn about the company’s products and services, visit Getzfire.com.
