Putting together a fire safety plan for your home is one of the most responsible things you can do. A fire can break out at absolutely any moment and it doesn't take a lot for one of them to happen. Something as simple as leaving a candle burning before falling asleep can have catastrophic consequences, potentially resulting in damage to property or even the loss of life. Preparing yourself by creating a plan of action is a great place to start, but if you really want to maximize your fire plan, check out why you need a fire extinguisher.

Some Fires Do Not Respond To Water

When you think about putting out a fire, what is the first image that comes to mind? If you are like several other members of the population, you might picture a hose with water spewing out of it. Water and fire are indeed very closely associated with each other, and you may mistakenly believe you can put out any fire with water. However, the truth is there are some types of fires that cannot be quenched with mere water. In fact, putting water on certain types of fires could actually cause them to spread even faster!

In the safety world, fires are divided up into four main categories:

• Class A - Wood, Paper, Cloth, Trash, & Plastics
• Class B - Flammable Liquids Such As Gasoline, Oil, Grease, and Acetone
• Class C - Electrical
• Class D - Metals: Potassium, Sodium, Aluminum, and Magnesium

The only kinds of fires that will respond well to water belong to Class A. When you are selecting your extinguisher, be sure to pay close attention to the labels affixed to the unit so you can select a model that has the range to combat as many different fires as possible.

Stave Off Disaster With A Fire Extinguisher

Although it is extremely important for you and the other members of your household to evacuate the premises if a fire does occur, you also need to be prepared for the possibility that you will have to fight through the flames before you can get outside. Buying and keeping your extinguisher well within reach could be the difference between getting to safety or being closed in by a roaring blaze of heat.

If you have a rather large home, you may want to consider purchasing several extinguishers to be placed in strategic locations around the property. Get your extinguishers immediately and start training so you and your family will know how to respond during a fire emergency.

For more information, contact a local company, like Fire Tech Extinguisher Service.