Who has a home fire extinguisher?

https://dorsetfireprotection.co.uk/still-dry-powder-extinguishers-premises/

How many of you are expecting to have running fuel fires in your home, don't even attempt to put out a gas fire with one either

Interesting Bruneep - especially as all the hospitals I have worked in still have powder extinguishers

Think we (very large NHS trust) have got rid of everything except AFFF and CO2, if I remember correctly from my last fire lecture.

You won’t be able to put out a lithium battery with a fire extinguisher.

Funnily enough I did just that recently. I thought I was drilling into an external disk drive to destroy it, but was actually drilling into an external power supply, which went bang and burst into flames. I grabbed an old car powder extinguisher that was in the garage and put it out fairly effectively. Used the dyson to hoover up the mess, although there were bits of battery casing embedded in the garage ceiling.

Fire blankets are a bit of a debatable issue, a firefighter friend is really against them, having seen people with horrendous burns after trying to use them on chip pans and accidentally knocking the pan over. His view is that you can always buy a new kitchen, not so easy to buy new arms, best to leave that type of fire to the professionals.

Funnily enough I did just that recently. I thought I was drilling into an external disk drive to destroy it, but was actually drilling into an external power supply

forgetting everything else .....

how the hell did you manage that.....

bruneep
Full Member

How many of you are expecting to have running fuel fires in your home, don’t even attempt to put out a gas fire with one either

Thanks for this, what do you make of the "all fires" liquid type?

Example https://www.screwfix.com/p/firexo-all-fires-fire-extinguisher-2ltr/186pg

Or would CO2 (or something else) be better?

We have interlinked smoke alarms - and a healthy dose of get out the house.

This is based on our experience two years ago when a faulty cooks blowtorch (still in flame quietly) was put on 'the' shelf. Which also contained our camping stoves, meths, gas canisters, matches, lighters, firelighters, cotton wool, vaseline....Made even worse when the first two fire officers comprised a neighbour and fellow STW'er.

The cupboard contained most of the explosion and flames - and we were moments away from losing the whole house.

I see plenty of FS people already commented and instructive too that almost consistently they don't have them.

My 2p, having done the fire safety training at work a few times at work is that it's one thing having them (noting the above) but can you actually use them safely. Not just on the right fire, and not thinking about tackling about out of control infernos, I mean have you ever actually discharged one? Do you know where to aim the jet/powder to make it work, because different extinguishers have different targets. Know how loud one is.... you won't drop it in fright? and so on.

I can't recommend highly enough getting the local FS to come and talk to you about prevention, and also fire plans / escape routes, etc. Particularly if you have younger kids. Huge eye opener, way more useful than having 7s of powder shut in a drawer that you have no idea how to use, and they'll gladly do it, they'd far rather spend 30 mins with you preventing than sending firefighters into a burning house because you can't find your kids.

Fire blankets are a bit of a debatable issue, a firefighter friend is really against them, having seen people with horrendous burns after trying to use them on chip pans and accidentally knocking the pan over.

Which also contained our camping stoves, meths, gas canisters, matches, lighters, firelighters, cotton wool, vaseline

Which also contained our camping stoves, meths, gas canisters, matches, lighters, firelighters, cotton wool, vaseline

all ours are in the shed, so if they do ever catch fire, it can just burn to the ground quietly, away from everywhere else....

I have a fireproof cabinet in the workshop for flammable liquids (solvents mainly).

but can you actually use them safely. Not just on the right fire, and not thinking about tackling about out of control infernos, I mean have you ever actually discharged one? Do you know where to aim the jet/powder to make it work, because different extinguishers have different targets. Know how loud one is…. you won’t drop it in fright? and so on.

Yes - in fire training at work we actually discharged them to put out small demo fires.  Water and CO2

surely not stored in the kitchen? 😳

🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈🙈

We just kept bunging little used things in the top, barely reachable shelf...

They are now in the shed.

Kitchen: 6 litre foam and 2kg CO2
Office: 2kg CO2
Garage: 6l foam
Plus notices about which to use

Mind you, when the local helpful fire service guys came to look at my smoke alarms they did say they don’t like homeowners to have extinguishers.
Better to get out.

Plainly common sense is vital here. A small fire could be self extinguished or it’ll then become a big fire and it’s too late. A big fire? Get out fast.

how the hell did you manage that…..

I had a number of external hard drives to dispose of, so I put them in a vice one at a time and drilled through them with an electric drill. An external power source which was with them looked very similar (black box with sockets) and so went in the vice and got drilled (until it blew up)....

Yes – in fire training at work we actually discharged them to put out small demo fires.  Water and CO2

I've given many fire extinguisher training courses in my time. I'm guessing that was in a nice open area with a pleasant breeze removing products of combustion away from you, all your work chums around having a laugh and a giggle.  A fire in your own house a confined space, kitchen, cupboard bedroom etc etc blasting a extinguisher onto it gives a completely different reaction to a wee fire pan outside.  Also be wary of using a CO2 in a confined environment....

I appreciate a dry powder device lasts a few seconds, but I think it would have blasted out the pan fire with ease if she had one..

aye crack on then

Thanks for this, what do you make of the “all fires” liquid type?

Example https://www.screwfix.com/p/firexo-all-fires-fire-extinguisher-2ltr/186pg
/a>

Or would CO2 (or something else) be better?

whats your risk in the home that you feel the need for this? Save your money and spend it on proper detection and reducing any risk

Better than nowt Bruneep surely?  It was outdoors but against an angle in a wall

I wouldn't have bought the extingishers for anything but the stairs and this thread has reminded me to replace it.    3 flats in an attic, offices below with a door to a small staircase to the attic

Get out fast for me means either down the stairs or out on to the roof. Neither a very good option.  My thought was the extinguisher might just make a difference between being able to get down the stairs or having to go out on to the roof

I have also had experience of a bin fire at work.  That had the door shut on it and 999 called - I didn't try to put it out tho it was small and confined.  By the time the fire brigade got there the fire was out which was slightly embarrassing

edit:  Very educational experience on reflection.  I was the boss and despite training and practices I did not get it all right but it did give me some insight.  I am also trained generically how to react to emergencies and still did not get it all right so I agree with your general point.

Better than nowt Bruneep surely?

He's always very argumentative on these threads - just ignore him...

Genuine question not just being argumentative.  I feel vulnerable to fire in my flat and this thread is making me think hard about fire safety

Or is the risk that having used one in controlled circumstances may make me over confident?

Genuine question not just being argumentative. 

I meant Bruneep - I get the impression whatever anyone else says (right or wrong) he'll just disagree with it out of principle...

Best thing I learned from offshore suvival is on discovering a fire, raise the alarm and GTFO. No way would I tackle a fire at home. I also still remember doing the course when you had to navigate a confined room with an actual fire burning in it. I'm getting out as quickly as possible and let the professionals deal with it.

I meant Bruneep – I get the impression whatever anyone else says (right or wrong) he’ll just disagree with it out of principle…

me?

Just giving my wise wisdom  and expertise of 30yrs in fire service, but clearly that counts for nothing and  those who have never ever had to tackle a fire within a confined environment know better. People have  some wonderful ideas of squirting an inappropriate extinguisher at a fire and all will be well.  I'll bow out to their superior knowledge and wisdom.

bruneep

whats your risk in the home that you feel the need for this? Save your money and spend it on proper detection and reducing any risk

I had an electrical fire over night before christmas which I was luckily able to extinguish due to early detection (smoke alarms).

It scared me that our exit routes could become blocked, also I had no easy means to put out the fire (i used some bath towels to smother it which happened to be nearby waiting to be washed).

Therefore I want fire extinguishers:

1. kept downstairs to extinguish small fires caught early by smoke alarm, kitchen fires etc
2. to keep upstairs to aid us getting down the stairs and out the front door

(i used some bath towels to smother it which happened to be nearby waiting to be washed).

Am I the only one who sees a potential flaw in this action?

To be clear though I am glad nothing actually happened to you or your family.

gonefishin

Am I the only one who sees a potential flaw in this action?

What's that?

Bruneep - which is why I asked you questions and tried to explain my situation.

Thinking about this, I should really get a fire blanket for the lounge as it has a woodburner. There's carpet once you move away from the fireplace.

Pretty cheap on amazon, are they all the same?

Bath towels are generally wet. Water and electricity is a bad combination.

Bruneep – which is why I asked you questions and tried to explain my situation.

I'd be asking  footflaps

gonefishin
Free Member

Bath towels are generally wet. Water and electricity is a bad combination.

Oh, lol- good point! Yeah I checked the power was definitely off first!

I don't have any pictures of the damage to the house, but here is what went up. It was an Inkbird temperature controller. Mine was being used on my aquarium (yes it was kept absolutely bone dry), but they're also used for brewing, and that sort of thing.

My guess was a relay failed in it and overheated, as I remember hearing it click unusually loudly a night or two before it went up.

I feel vulnerable to fire in my flat and this thread is making me think hard about fire safety

Then ask the FS to come and give you some free advice.

Actually astonished at how many folk are so dismissive of them. Couldn’t happen to you eh?

I'm pretty dismissive of them.  I've used both a CO2 and a Powder in anger and cannot imagine a situation in my own home where I would discover (or be alerted to) a fire, go and get the extinguisher (it will never be in the ideal place for that fire), and fight the fire rather than alerting everyone else in the house, calling the fire brigade and getting out.  Using an extinguisher first seems the wrong sequence of events.

@multi21 - did you call the F/B or evacuate the family in your recent incident?

The twice I have used an extinguisher for real were (1) in a university chemistry lab; there were several of us - small solvent fire.  I put the fire out whilst others initiated the evacuation etc.  The fire was out by the time all the students (~70) were out the lab, but there were extinguishers within about 3 paces of the fire, multiple exits etc - the fire was probably actually out before the 999 call was complete but I don't think anyone felt a moment of embarrassment nor did the fire brigade imply delaying evening 60s was a good idea.  (2) a dry powder extinguisher outdoors, when I'd been doing something stupid and knew it might catch fire so had got an extinguisher out garage especially - I haven't replaced it.  @tj - I cannot imagine using one in a confined stairwell would aid your escape unless something really peculiar like a waste paper bin on the landing.  If the stair is on fire it will either be too much for the extinguisher, the smoke waiting for you to find the extinguisher at the top, or so small that you don't need to put it out to escape and discharging it will make your breathing and vision worse.

If I had a welder at home or did other "hot" stuff like that I'd have one near the welder.  A fire blanket might make sense in the kitchen but I have accidentally set fire to tea towels/oven gloves in the past and my immediate reaction was to put them out by dropping in the sink/pouring water on them.  I'm not sure my first instinct would be to get the blank out.

So no - its not I don't think it will happen to me.  Its because I've thought about it that I am confident that it adds nothing (and might lead me or another family member to a bad decision) that I dismiss them. In terms of the OP probably more to be gained from thinking about how/where you charge stuff and making sure if it does overheat the ability to spread is limited than hoping you can get to an extinguisher and contain it.

My guess was a relay failed in it and overheated, as I remember hearing it click unusually loudly a night or two before it went up.

@tj – I cannot imagine using one in a confined stairwell would aid your escape unless something really peculiar like a waste paper bin on the landing.

There is a locked door at the bottom of the stair attic stair ( which I have reversed so it can be kicked out).  My thought was something like burning paper thru the letter box. An extinguisher might just put it out and allow escape rather than heading out onto the roof and letting thre fire get hold

Like with first aid kits when MTBing - its a very small subset of situations where it might help.  But I am listening and learning

poly

I’m pretty dismissive of them. I’ve used both a CO2 and a Powder in anger and cannot imagine a situation in my own home where I would discover (or be alerted to) a fire, go and get the extinguisher (it will never be in the ideal place for that fire), and fight the fire rather than alerting everyone else in the house, calling the fire brigade and getting out. Using an extinguisher first seems the wrong sequence of events.

@multi21 – did you call the F/B or evacuate the family in your recent incident?

No to be honest I just ran downstairs on autopilot to see what had set the smoke alarm off. My first thought was that it was just the baby bottle steriliser had been switched on without the water being topped up. Wasn't until I got into the lounge i saw the thick smoke and flames licking up the aquarium cabinet and realised that it was a real fire.

zilog6128

wow, never seen that before (a fire actually starting and the device being totally destroyed!) I know those Inkbirds are really popular. I have loads of smart devices with relays (not Inkbirds), one I did overload by foolishly plugging a 3kw heater into it, it didn’t’ set on fire though (just overheated & some magic smoke came out!)

Yes they are very popular, and I've posted/searched on loads of forums, can't find a single other instance of one catching on fire. It only had a 200w heater hanging off it so wasn't overloaded.

I was 🤏 this close to getting rid of the aquarium afterwards but the thing is, it could have been anything that went up. Phone charger, NAS, fridge, TV on standby, smart plugs, router, smart heating controller etc.
We trust these all things but it only takes a small component to fail or a bad solder at the factory etc to cause a fire down the line.

Home and bike
https://flic.kr/p/2o9MzDm

Just giving my wise wisdom and expertise of 30yrs in fire service, but clearly that counts for nothing and those who have never ever had to tackle a fire within a confined environment know better. People have some wonderful ideas of squirting an inappropriate extinguisher at a fire and all will be well. I’ll bow out to their superior knowledge and wisdom.

This interests me.

Our old buy to let flat had an HMO licence. As such I had to provide a fire blanket in kitchen and had two powder fire extinguishers, insisted upon by Fire Officers who visited. In addition I had to have the mains wired, interlinked smoke alarms, intumescent strips to all doors, door closers, emergency lighting AND all of that had to be checked and recorded, including a full building 'training' on a) leaving the building and b) where and how to use the fire blanket and fire extinguishers.

It always struck me that if there was a real fire, particularly in the 10'x6' kitchen with one door out, the last think I would want to do was stop around longer than needed, or even worse return and try to fling the contents of a fire extinguisher over it. Do bear in mind that all four flats had ONE exit door each and ONE front door overall on the building. This though was what the law for landlords expected and was geared towards a tenant doing. 🤷‍♀️

At the same time our old outdoor residential centre used to train with another area Fire Brigade, with a main centre with 70 beds and multiple staff houses of upto 6 people, we used to plan and train for leave the building.

If any staff wanted training on fire extinguisher use we would point them out so they didn't bash a leg against them as the left the building. ONLY the kitchen staff and senior team were shown a fire blanket for a kitchen stove top fire. ONLY the permanent staff were shown a very simple sweep of all rooms for persons as EVERYONE left the building.

Any questions? Yes, the answer was leave the building.
Want to challenge that? Yes, just leave the building.
(etc).

This was so at odds with the residential policy for our buy to let.

@tj - it might, for that one niche scenario (what's behind the door/letter box - could you mitigate that risk by removing flammables so the paper just burns out or fit a basket (although even in Leith its not a scenario I'd be stressing about unless you make a habit of upsetting local crime gangs)?  My worry would be any fire big enough to need an extinguisher (rather than stamped out with your feet) will be making a lot of smoke which goes straight up the stair so either you can't make it as far as the fire OR you do but can't put it out and have no way to retreat.

dry powder extinguisher did the job of putting it out but in the process wrecked every other computer in the room with the powder particles

Similar story, I once went to a frozen food warehouse that had a sprinkler system which malfunctioned over the weekend. When I got there they were using a JCB to scoop up foot thick slabs of ice from the floor, goodness how much damage was caused.........

I have a couple in the workshop/sheds and a fire blanket in the house.
I have always thought that if I see a fire start in the house I can easy deal with it either with the fire blanket or water depending on the cause of the fire, if the alarms have gone off and I don't know what/where it started then it's already time to get out and call the FS

Like with first aid kits when MTBing – its a very small subset of situations where it might help.  But I am listening and learning

In general using a first aid kit doesn't expose you to, or prolong your exposure to the danger. That's the first step in first aid, to make sure you don't become a problem as well.

Call them up, today, and ask them to come and give some advice.

My thought was something like burning paper thru the letter box.

You can be an argumentative sod, but we don't know where you live so who's going to do that?

I raised this with NFU when they insisted on extinguishers on all floors, similar to somebody above.

No way would I ever hang about to use them. But they had to be purchased just to meet their requirements.

My thought was something like burning paper thru the letter box.

If that is a real concern fit one of  these  https://www.fireprotectionshop.co.uk/p/white-mailguard-fire-protection-bag.html

I have one but not sure where I put it.

The training video I watched said to smash the regulator off the extinguisher then throw it into the inferno before running across a burning collapsing roof.

Is that wrong?