Fire Fire Warning - Please read and pass on

Lifeforms

Can I also point out that these personal fire extinguishers also come with use by dates on them. At this point you're supposed to get them tested/refilled. I used to have one (paranoid parents after the oven went !!!!!! when I first moved in) and in the end it just sat gathering dust. I think when I had a fire inspection, and new smoke detectors installed they had a look, pointed out they had use by dates, and at this point is was 3 or 4 years out.

Buy a Fire blanket if you feel the need to have a bit of extra security regarding fires as it's far more versatile, and useful. Statistically, people rarely have house fires, and the chances are high that your extinguisher, electric suitable, or water, will be OOD when you might actually need it.

They can save lives, but that's the point. it can save lives, but only if it's reasonable to do so. If your house is ablaze, an extinguisher wont cut it, prepare to get hurt/die trying to do so. Brutal message, but true. There is a reason why we have firefighters, and a reason why as soon as you're alerted to a fire in your house (or even smoke) Get out, Stay out, Call the fire brigade out.

I think I'd rather take the burnt stuff, higher premiums over risking it with trying to do it myself. Yeah, I've had a house fire too, it can be devastating, but not as much as if someone dies because of trying to fix it themselves.

Spend the money on smoke detectors that actually work over an extinguisher. I know which I'd rather have at 3am in the morning when I'm fast asleep and about to rapidly be suffocated by smoke!

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

We do have a fire extinguisher suitable for electric and thankfully have never had to use it.
We change it every two years (did'nt know you can get them refilled,thanks for that Lifeform).

Ich_2

If, which is often the case, the fire is caused by an electrical arc NOTHING will put it out other than disconnecting the electricity supply.
I have known 8 commercial size dry-powder extinguishers be discharged on this sort of fire (by a Fire Service) with no effect.

I attended one last week where an electrical arc had caused the destruction (vaporisation) of about half a metre of cable in a meter cupboard.

You should note that most modern PVC wiring does not sustain a fire unless it is present in far higher quantities than normally found in a domestic situation.

terra_ferma

Even Fire Blankets are not as simple as they look to use, you can push the flames towards you and burn your hands and arms if you don't know how to use them.
They work well on certain items, ideal for kitchen fires, items you can easily cover with a blanket and kill the fire, but can't see how it would work on an electricity board.
People need to be very careful before giving advice on how to tackle a fire, if someone tries using safety equipment they are not familiar with after reading information here ,and end up being hurt while they could have been at a safe distance (feeling helpless but unharmed...), how would the poster feel?

allycat999

Fire extinguishers should be serviced annually!

Muppet81

!!!!!! wrote: »

And the first thing the fire brigade do is put a jet of water on it.

No .... they had a powder spray. The hall was full of powder when they finished.

Muppet81

snowleopard61 wrote: »

I'm absolutely no expert at all, but the fire safety training chap at work recently told us that, as far as he knew, the reason why water fire extinguishers are not recommended for electrical fires is not that it is dangerous to use them but that they would be likely to ruin the electrical equipment on which you used them. This did rather surprise us all - given that, presumably, a computer which had caught fire was likely to be rather past its best by the time the fire was extinguished! - but perhaps it's true?

I think if all I had was a water-type extinguisher I'd use it in these circumstances.

Interesting! I will look into that.

Muppet81

Blackpool_Saver wrote: »

how old were the electrics in this house ?

Very old house but apparantly electrics had been re-done in recent years.

Nile

terra_ferma makes a good point.

I have smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and a fire blanket. I feel confident about tackling a small fire in my home because I've had fire training.

I've been shown how to use an extinguisher and a fire blanket and have put out fires. It was an experience I will never forget, especially putting out a fire with a blanket. Walking towards to a fire with a piece of cloth in your hands takes courage, I didn't believe I could put out a fire and not burn my hands in the process.;)

If you are ever faced with a small fire and you have been trained to use an extinguisher or fire blanket you might decide to put out the fire..................but otherwise, close all doors behind you and get everyone out of the house.

Something that hasn't been mentioned yet is hotel fires. I've lost count of the number of times the fire alarm has sounded when I've been in a hotel and people stay in their rooms and ignore the alarm!!!!!!!!!

When you first check in to your hotel room, look at the room plan on the door and see where your nearest fire exit is. Think about the fire alarm going off at stupid o'clock and you might have to find the fire exit in the dark.

My pet hate is the fire doors left wedged open by staff. I make a point of closing every fire door as I find them.

prosaver

what about sand or soil ..or even throw loads off coats on it it couldnt been that big as everyone was looking at it?