Overview
Fire Extinguishers
Fire is the most common type of emergency in American businesses, and planning for them is
extremely important. A critical decision for each employee is whether to fight a small fire
with a portable extinguisher or to simply evacuate the building. Often, small fires can be
easily put out by a well-trained employee equipped with the proper fire extinguisher.
However, in order to do this successfully, employees must understand the uses and
limitations associated with portable fire extinguishers as well as the hazards that come with
fighting fires.
After completing this course, you will be able to identify the basic properties of fire and fire
extinguishers and recognize how to respond to a fire emergency. This course should be taken
annually as a refresher.
In addition to taking this course, designated employees who are authorized to fight fires in the
workplace should receive hands-on training on fire extinguisher use. You may also take the
Fire Prevention course to help you identify more ways to reduce fire hazards in the
workplace.
Overview
Fire Extinguishers
Fire is the most common type of emergency in American businesses, and planning for them is
extremely important. A critical decision for each employee is whether to fight a small fire
with a portable extinguisher or to simply evacuate the building. Often, small fires can be
easily put out by a well-trained employee equipped with the proper fire extinguisher.
However, in order to do this successfully, employees must understand the uses and
limitations associated with portable fire extinguishers as well as the hazards that come with
fighting fires.
After completing this course, you will be able to identify the basic properties of fire and fire
extinguishers and recognize how to respond to a fire emergency. This course should be taken
annually as a refresher.
In addition to taking this course, designated employees who are authorized to fight fires in the
workplace should receive hands-on training on fire extinguisher use. You may also take the
Fire Prevention course to help you identify more ways to reduce fire hazards in the
workplace.
Causes
What causes fire?
1. Identify the components of fire and the properties of each.
2. Recognize that separating the components of fire will prevent or stop fire.
The fire triangle
When combined under the right conditions, oxygen, fuel, and heat can cause fire. You can
prevent fire by making sure these three components are never combined.
A fire is a chemical reaction that must continue to occur or the fire will go out. Once a fire
has started, you must remove the oxygen, heat, or fuel to extinguish the fire. Portable fire
extinguishers apply an extinguishing agent that cools burning fuel, displaces or removes
oxygen, and stops the chemical reaction so the fire cannot continue to burn.
Click on each term in the fire triangle below to learn more about each component of fire.
Fire statistics
Every year, fire departments respond to millions of fires in the United States. Property
damage is estimated to cost more than $10 billion annually. The cost, however, is far greater
than just loss of property — someone dies every few hours due to fire-related injuries, and
more than one person is injured by a fire every hour.
Response
How should I respond to a fire?
1. Recognize how to respond to an early-stage fire.
2. Identify the steps in responding to a larger fire.
3. Recognize that personal safety is of primary concern during a fire.
Responding to a fire
Attempting to extinguish even a small fire carries some risk. You might be able to control or
extinguish a small fire in its early stage, but fires can increase in size and intensity in seconds,
blocking your exit path and creating a hazardous atmosphere. Therefore, individuals should
attempt to fight only very small or incipient stage fires. Portable fire extinguishers should
only be used for two reasons:


to control or extinguish small or incipient stage fires or
to protect evacuation routes that a fire may block directly or indirectly with smoke or
burning/smoldering materials
Any time you attempt to extinguish a small fire, you must act quickly. Your safety is the most
important factor to consider when you are faced with a fire emergency. If the fire is out of its
incipient stage, only trained personnel should attempt to extinguish the fire, and you should
quickly evacuate.
The interaction below is designed to teach you how to quickly make the right decisions when
fighting a fire. As you work through the interaction, become familiar with the questions
presented to you. Your familiarity with the thought process used here will help you act
appropriately should the situation arise.
Scenario 1
You are a machine operator in a large manufacturing plant. You are in the middle of your shift when
you notice smoke coming from one of the production staging areas. You approach the area and
realize the smoke is coming from an out-of-control fire near flammable chemicals. What is your next
step? – Call Emergency
Scenario 2
You are working near the flow supply lines for operations. Several flammable liquids are delivered
through the lines and pipes. A fire has ignited and engaged one of the liquid flow lines. What is your
next step? – Shut off the source
Scenario 3
You are trying to put out a small fire with a portable fire extinguisher. After several minutes, it
becomes clear that the fire is spreading. What is your next step? – Evacuate
Scenario 4
You are working at your computer station when smoke begins to fill the office and the fire alarm
begins to sound. What is your next step? – Drop to the floor
Scenario 5
A small fire has just ignited in your office. You are confident you can put it out with the available fire
extinguisher. What is your next step? – Sound the Alarm
Classification
How do I choose the correct fire extinguisher?
1. Identify the types of fires and the appropriate extinguisher for each.
2. Recognize that some extinguishers can be used on multiple classes of fires.
3. Recognize the importance of using the correct extinguisher on a fire.
Choosing the correct extinguisher
Fires, and the extinguishers used to put them out, are classified according to the fuel source.
There are four types of fires: Class A, B, C, and D. Portable fire extinguishers have letter
symbols on them that match the type of fire they are designed to extinguish. For example, if a
fire extinguisher has the letter “A” on it, it is used to extinguish “Class A” fires.
Multiple uses
Many fire extinguishers are labeled as suitable for more than one class of fire. For example, a
Class ABC fire extinguisher can be used to extinguish Class A, Class B, and Class C fires.
However, no fire extinguisher can put out every class of fire.
Use the correct extinguisher
Use a fire extinguisher only on the class or classes of fires for which it is designed. Using the
wrong extinguisher can make a dangerous situation much worse.
Use
How do I use a fire extinguisher?
1. Identify the PASS rule and how to implement it.
2. Recognize safe work practices to implement when using an extinguisher.
The PASS rule
Learning how to use a fire extinguisher is as simple as remembering the PASS rule — Pull,
Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. Click on each button below to learn more about the PASS rule.
Safe work practices
Follow these safe work practices regarding fires:





Know your workplace. Know where the fire alarms and fire extinguishers are located and
always have an escape route planned.
If a fire is blocking your escape route, use a fire extinguisher to clear a safe path through
the fire.
Toxic fumes, gases, and harmful particles are often released by fires. Position yourself on
the side of the fire that prevents you from inhaling these hazardous emissions.
If a fire begins to spread, get out immediately, and close the door to confine the fire.
If you are outside a closed room that might be on fire, never open the door to the room;
the flames could jump out at you.