Fire extinguisher good idea or bad

FlyingDonkeys

Trying to work out is it a good idea to get a fire extinguisher for the kitchen. If so, which one?

Very confused. There seem to so many and confusing advice. Some say better to use a fire blanket or damp tea cloth. Only ask as a potato caught fire in the microwave. Scared the hell out of me!

MisterP123

I wouldn't. How well versed are you and your family members at using fire extinguishers correctly and at making the right choice whilst panicking?

Potato on fire in microwave; CO2 extinguisher = good. Powder = good. Water = Bad

Chip pan fire; CO2 extinguisher = very bad. Powder = very bad. Water = very bad. Blanket/wet tea towel = good.

I'm no expert but I believe powder extinguishers and fire blankets are commonly sold together as they're a good combo for most small fires, but it's about making the right choice at the time.

FlyingDonkeys

Oh dear. Not versed at all and in a panic well hopeless I would say.

Sounds like fire blanket might be best all rounder choice.

FlyingDonkeys

MisterP123 wrote: »

I wouldn't. How well versed are you and your family members at using fire extinguishers correctly and at making the right choice whilst panicking?

Potato on fire in microwave; CO2 extinguisher = good. Powder = good. Water = Bad

Chip pan fire; CO2 extinguisher = very bad. Powder = very bad. Water = very bad. Blanket/wet tea towel = good.

I'm no expert but I believe powder extinguishers and fire blankets are commonly sold together as they're a good combo for most small fires, but it's about making the right choice at the time.

I wonder if one should somehow keep a tea towel damp at all times. Takes time to dampen it!

MisterP123

Just don't cook :rotfl:


Isolate all means of gas and electric to the building, ban all naked flames, pack away all obstacles that may cause an obstruction in the dark, fit padding to all sharp edges, ensure everybody lives on the ground floor to eliminate the risk of falling down the down stairs, throw all bowls and sink/bath plugs away and drain all the toilets to best prevent drowning.

Ebe_Scrooge

FlyingDonkeys wrote: »

I wonder if one should somehow keep a tea towel damp at all times. Takes time to dampen it!

Really ?????????


In an emergency, run a towel under the tap, wring it out, takes maybe 5 seconds.


A fire blanket has the advantage of being large enough to wrap around a burning person ( cringes at the thought :eek: ).


If you're really worried about fire, then a fire blanket for burning chip-pans / people, plus a CO2 or powder extinguisher which can be used on pretty much any other type of fire, including electrical ( which is arguably the second most common type of fire you'll get in a kitchen ).


It could be said that this is a bit overkill for most domestic situations, or it could be "better safe than sorry". And don't forget that fire extinguishers have a shelf-life. Whatever, a blanket and powder extinguisher is what my wife is required to have, as a childminder. Presumably the regulatory body that imposes the rules have taken proper advice when drawing up the requirements ?

PasturesNew

FlyingDonkeys wrote: »

Only ask as a potato caught fire in the microwave. Scared the hell out of me!

I've never heard of that before! What on earth were you doing with it?

No point getting an extinguisher - it's safer for you to spend your time dialling 999 than waste time and risk your life trying to put out a kitchen fire in a room that has all manner of gas/electrical systems you could put at risk.

If somebody can create a fire with a spud they're a bigger danger to themselves... and, given a real fire and an extinguisher they then have to worry about if it's the "right sort" and read the instructions and do it right and hope it's a working extinguisher ..... it'd end in tears.

Mojisola

Whatever you decide to get, position it so that it can be reached easily if there is a fire. It might seem obvious advice but we've rented holiday cottages where the fire blanket was fixed to the wall above the hob so that you'd have to reach over any fire to get the blanket and another where the fire extinguisher was further into the room - if there's a fire, you don't want people to have to go further into a space to grab an extinguisher, it should be between the likely fire source and an exit.

Also think about the height it's fitted at - it's useless if only the six footers in the family can reach it easily.

Silvertabby

We have a small powder canister and a fire blanket on the utility room wall. Fortunately, we have never had to use either of them. Canisters should last for at least 5 years before they need replacing or recharging.

Friends have raised their eyebrows at times, and have said that they wouldn't bother because 'they wouldn't know which one to use in a panic' ..... but Mr S and I are both ex Armed Forces and we have been trained to use them.

50Twuncle

Ebe_Scrooge wrote: »

Really ?????????


In an emergency, run a towel under the tap, wring it out, takes maybe 5 seconds.


A fire blanket has the advantage of being large enough to wrap around a burning person ( cringes at the thought :eek: ).


If you're really worried about fire, then a fire blanket for burning chip-pans / people, plus a CO2 or powder extinguisher which can be used on pretty much any other type of fire, including electrical ( which is arguably the second most common type of fire you'll get in a kitchen ).


It could be said that this is a bit overkill for most domestic situations, or it could be "better safe than sorry". And don't forget that fire extinguishers have a shelf-life. Whatever, a blanket and powder extinguisher is what my wife is required to have, as a childminder. Presumably the regulatory body that imposes the rules have taken proper advice when drawing up the requirements ?

WRONG - In an emergency - dial 999 - Get the experts in !!

shaun_from_Africa

MisterP123 wrote: »

Potato on fire in microwave; CO2 extinguisher = good. Powder = good. Water = Bad

Chip pan fire; CO2 extinguisher = very bad. Powder = very bad. Water = very bad. Blanket/wet tea towel = good.

There are now water filled fire extinguishers that can safely be used on both cooking fat and electrical fires. These are called "Water mist" extinguishers and they are ideal for household use as they can be used in confined areas and after use only a very small clean up job is needed and they are suitable for all fire types apart from burning metals.

I've recently been on a firefighting training refresher course (I have to do this every 18 months as part of my employment) and saw one of these extinguishers in use against a drum of burning diesel and it was extremely effective in putting the fire out.