Fire Safety Blog | Fire Extinguisher Online

Safe Operating of a fire extinguisher

Knowing how to operate a fire extinguisher could save your life in an emergency. The key to putting out a fire with an extinguisher is to use the PASS strategy: Pull the pin, Aim the hose, Squeeze the lever, and Sweep the hose. However, before you use a fire extinguisher to put out a fire, it's very important that you determine whether or not it's appropriate for you to be fighting the fire, and whether or not you'll be able to put it out. If you don't think you can fight the fire, or if you have any doubts, evacuate the building immediately and call the fire department. Fires double in size every 60 seconds, so you don't want to be fumbling around in an emergency situation, reading over the instruction manual as a small flame on the stove grows into an inferno.

Remember, in an Emergency Call Triple Zero (000)

There are 5 main fire extinguisher types in Australia – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical. You should have the right types of fire extinguisher for your house or business premises, or you may not meet current regulations.

With the proper use of a portable fire extinguishers you will be able to reduce or eliminate the degree of injury, damage and cost to business in the event of a small fire. If your fire extinguishers are installed correctly you are on your way to successfully help reduce the risk of damage and loss of costs to your building or workplace. If extinguishers are NOT installed correctly this can be another way insurance companies can look at NOT paying our for your claims. Fire safety in your work place is important! 

A Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher is the most common type used in Australia. It is also known as a DCP, BE, or ABE fire extinguisher. To determine if a fire extinguisher is a dry chemical type, one simply needs to look for the white band that runs around the tank. One can also check the description sign to ensure they have a dry chemical fire extinguisher. With this information, people will know more about these extinguishers and how they work so they can be used safely.

The Fire Service usually recommends that if you have a fire in the kitchen, don’t take any risks, get everyone out of your home and call the Fire and Rescue Service. If you’re not sure you can handle the fire or if it is spreading from its starting point then it is almost certainly already too big and you should leave the building. If you cannot deal with the fire, close the door on the way out, and call 000.

If it is a deep fat fryer:

• If a pan of food or chip pan catches fire do not attempt to remove from the stove, it could give you terrible burns if incorrectly handled.
• Turn off the heat if it is safe to do so, but never lean over the pan to the controls, switch off the supply at the meter if necessary.
• Never throw water over it.
• Don’t use a general fire extinguisher on a pan filled with oil or fat. The ONLY fire extinguishers safe for deep fat fryers are wet chemical extinguishers, special ABF classed extinguishers and ‘dry’ water mist extinguishers! Never use traditional foam or powder extinguishers on burning fat or oil.
• If you use wet chemical extinguishers, make sure you empty the entire content of the extinguisher on the oil, even if the flames have been doused already! This prevents re-ignition.
• Leave the pan to cool completely.
• Dial 000 and call the Fire and Rescue Service

If electric appliances are involved:

• Pull the plug out or switch off power at the fuse box. This may stop the fire immediately.
• Smother the fire with a fire blanket, or use a carbon dioxide extinguisher if available. Foam Extinguishers can be used as well.
• Dial 000 and call the Fire and Rescue Service.

We are pleased to announce the introduction of a series of corporate discounts available for clients wishing to bulk purchase their fire protection equipment.

Bulk purchasing of our fire safety products is a great way of making savings. Whether you are buying fire extinguishers, fire blankets, fire hose reels or fire signs we can help.

The team at Fire Extinguisher Online can make sure that you receive the appropriate equipment to properly protect your location. You will not need to worry about buying too many fire extinguishers, the wrong type of device, or getting extinguishers that are too small to adequately fight a fire.

Contact us now!

Every year there are around 20,000 house fires in Australia, resulting in the loss of property and in some cases even lives. Property can always be replaced by your home insurance policy, however to protect your life and the lives of those around you, it is important to make sure you have the right equipment on hand to deal with a fire.

A fire extinguisher is a first attack style fire protection device used to extinguish or control smaller fires. Due to the proximity one must get to a fire for a portable extinguisher to be effective, it is not designed to fight or control large or out of control fires as this can endanger the user. In larger fires the portable extinguisher may be used to create or clear an escape route in the event a fire traps an occupant.