Keeping a fire extinguisher at home or on the move

Some people keep a fire extinguisher at home so they feel safer if a fire starts.

Fire services still say that if there is a fire, get out, stay out and call 999.

Getting out comes first

The government's home fire safety guide tells people not to tackle fires themselves. It says to leave it to the professionals.

The guide asks everyone to get out as soon as possible, without stopping to investigate or to rescue valuables. Call 999 once everyone is clear of the building.

The government guide says an extinguisher can be useful if the fire is very small or is blocking the way out. Anyone who uses one should read the instructions first and not put themselves in danger.

A fire blanket is used to put out a fire or to wrap a person whose clothes are on fire. The government guide suggests keeping it in the kitchen. Someone whose clothes catch fire should stop, drop and roll, and not run around.

A pan on fire

With a pan on fire, the safe place is outside the room. London Fire Brigade gives four steps.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says never to use an extinguisher on a chip pan fire. The jet can force burning fat out of the pan and spread the fire.

Which kind for which fire

A plan for getting out comes before any extinguisher. The government guide asks households to plan an escape route that everyone knows.

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says no single type of extinguisher deals with every type of fire. It matches them up like this.

The service says dry powder should not be used in enclosed spaces. The powder can affect breathing and make it harder to see the way out. Gas from a CO2 extinguisher can be harmful in a confined space, because it pushes out the oxygen in the air.

The service suggests storing an extinguisher away from cookers, heaters and other heat, and having it serviced regularly by a qualified person. If an extinguisher's pressure gauge reads too low, the service says to replace it.

If the car catches fire

The aim is to get everyone away from the car. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service sets out the steps.

In a caravan

If a fire starts while camping, Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service says to get everyone out and away as quickly as possible. Then call 999 and give the exact location, such as a map reference or a nearby landmark.

The service suggests keeping an extinguisher by the caravan entrance and reading its instructions before using it.

On a boat

The Boat Safety Scheme's advice is, if in doubt, don't fight a fire yourself. Get out, stay out, and call 999 or use VHF channel 16 for help. Inland or moored near land, the scheme says to move everybody off the boat and call 999 straight away.

The scheme suggests using an extinguisher only on a small fire, or to help a safe escape past flames. Extinguishers and fire blankets belong within easy reach, close to exits and to risk points such as the galley and the engine.

It suggests checking extinguishers regularly for dents, leaks and loss of pressure, and checking the dates on extinguishers and fire blankets. A dry powder extinguisher can create a dense cloud that makes it hard to see and to breathe.

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