- Published on
Note: this is an update to blog post I wrote in 2021 but little has changed since then.
We are fortunate in Nova Scotia to have countless dedicated fire departments working to protect our lives and property. I am comfortable with the level of fire protection we have in Halifax and sleep easier knowing we have highly trained professionals ready to respond when we need them. But there is an important reality that every homeowner should understand: a fire department cannot always arrive in time to save a home.
Once a fire becomes established, conditions can deteriorate incredibly quickly. Modern homes can also present a particularly challenging environment for firefighters. The synthetic materials commonly found in modern construction, furnishings and household contents can produce significant amounts of heat and toxic smoke and can contribute to fires developing much more rapidly than they did decades ago. Even materials such as oriented strand board (OSB), which is commonly used in modern construction, are combustible. That is why having a basic fire safety plan (and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher) is so important.
Understanding Fire Classes in 1 Minute
Fires are classified according to the type of material that is burning. In Canada, the common classifications you are most likely to encounter are:
Class A – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cardboard and cloth.
Class B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, paint and grease.
Class C – Fires involving energized electrical equipment. Once the electrical source is disconnected, the fire is classified according to the material actually burning.
Class D – Combustible metals. These are generally associated with specialized industrial applications and are not something most homeowners need to worry about.
There is also Class K, which is used primarily for commercial cooking operations involving cooking oils and fats. Residential kitchens generally do not require a specialized Class K extinguisher. Fortunately, you do not need a collection of different extinguishers for a typical home. A properly rated ABC dry-chemical extinguisher is suitable for the types of fires most likely to occur in a residence, including many fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Where Should You Keep an Extinguishers
As someone who has assisted with teaching proper fire-extinguisher operation and who has inspected hundreds of properties (and seen fire damage firsthand), one thing that continues to concern me is the lack of basic fire protection I see in many houses. If I even see one at all, it is not unusual to find a home with only one extinguisher and sometimes that extinguisher is decades old, poorly maintained, inaccessible or located in a questionable location.
Personally, I keep multiple ABC extinguishers in my home rather than relying on a single extinguisher. They are located:
The important thing is not the exact number of extinguishers but having an appropriate extinguisher readily accessible where a small fire could start, without putting yourself in danger to retrieve it.
For example, you don't want to have to walk through a burning kitchen to reach the extinguisher that is mounted beside the kitchen stove.
Don't Try to Be a Hero
The single biggest takeaway from this article is simple:
SAVE THE HEROICS FOR THE MOVIES!
A fire that appears small can become dangerous very quickly. If you decide to attempt to extinguish a fire, it should only be when the fire is small and contained, you have a clear and immediate escape route, everyone else is getting out, and you are confident you can do so safely.
Learn the PASS technique:
P – Pull the pin.
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the top of the flames.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire.
Never turn your back on a fire, and always maintain a clear escape route behind you. If the extinguisher does not put the fire out almost immediately, leave. You only have seconds (not minutes) before smoke can become overwhelming or disorienting near an out of control fire.
Also remember that a fire that appears to be extinguished can reignite. I learned this firsthand, and it is one reason I strongly recommend that homeowners never assume a fire is completely dealt with simply because the flames are no longer visible.
Have a Fire Escape Plan
A fire extinguisher is only one part of fire safety. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms where required, and test them regularly. Everyone in the household should know at least two ways out of sleeping areas where possible and should know where to meet outside. Most importantly, practice your escape plan. It may feel silly to conduct a fire drill in your own home, particularly with older children or adults, but when a real fire occurs it is not the time to figure out who is going where.
Get out. Stay out. Call 911.
Even if you manage to extinguish a fire yourself, calling the fire department is still important. A fire can extend into concealed spaces and continue smoldering long after the visible flames are gone. Your first priority should always be getting yourself and your family to safety, not saving your belongings or your house.
If you do not have a suitable, accessible fire extinguisher in your home, consider picking one up today. Make sure you know what it is rated for, that everyone in the household knows where it is located, and that it is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. A fire extinguisher may never be needed but if you ever do need one, you will be very glad you have it and even more glad that you know when not to use it. A fire extinguisher is a tool, not a substitute for getting out safely.
We are fortunate in Nova Scotia to have countless dedicated fire departments working to protect our lives and property. I am comfortable with the level of fire protection we have in Halifax and sleep easier knowing we have highly trained professionals ready to respond when we need them. But there is an important reality that every homeowner should understand: a fire department cannot always arrive in time to save a home.
Once a fire becomes established, conditions can deteriorate incredibly quickly. Modern homes can also present a particularly challenging environment for firefighters. The synthetic materials commonly found in modern construction, furnishings and household contents can produce significant amounts of heat and toxic smoke and can contribute to fires developing much more rapidly than they did decades ago. Even materials such as oriented strand board (OSB), which is commonly used in modern construction, are combustible. That is why having a basic fire safety plan (and knowing how to use a fire extinguisher) is so important.
Understanding Fire Classes in 1 Minute
Fires are classified according to the type of material that is burning. In Canada, the common classifications you are most likely to encounter are:
Class A – Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cardboard and cloth.
Class B – Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, oil, paint and grease.
Class C – Fires involving energized electrical equipment. Once the electrical source is disconnected, the fire is classified according to the material actually burning.
Class D – Combustible metals. These are generally associated with specialized industrial applications and are not something most homeowners need to worry about.
There is also Class K, which is used primarily for commercial cooking operations involving cooking oils and fats. Residential kitchens generally do not require a specialized Class K extinguisher. Fortunately, you do not need a collection of different extinguishers for a typical home. A properly rated ABC dry-chemical extinguisher is suitable for the types of fires most likely to occur in a residence, including many fires involving energized electrical equipment.
Where Should You Keep an Extinguishers
As someone who has assisted with teaching proper fire-extinguisher operation and who has inspected hundreds of properties (and seen fire damage firsthand), one thing that continues to concern me is the lack of basic fire protection I see in many houses. If I even see one at all, it is not unusual to find a home with only one extinguisher and sometimes that extinguisher is decades old, poorly maintained, inaccessible or located in a questionable location.
Personally, I keep multiple ABC extinguishers in my home rather than relying on a single extinguisher. They are located:
- Outside the bedrooms on the upper level
- Near, but not immediately beside or above, the kitchen stove
- In the basement near the clothes dryer
The important thing is not the exact number of extinguishers but having an appropriate extinguisher readily accessible where a small fire could start, without putting yourself in danger to retrieve it.
For example, you don't want to have to walk through a burning kitchen to reach the extinguisher that is mounted beside the kitchen stove.
Don't Try to Be a Hero
The single biggest takeaway from this article is simple:
SAVE THE HEROICS FOR THE MOVIES!
A fire that appears small can become dangerous very quickly. If you decide to attempt to extinguish a fire, it should only be when the fire is small and contained, you have a clear and immediate escape route, everyone else is getting out, and you are confident you can do so safely.
Learn the PASS technique:
P – Pull the pin.
A – Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not the top of the flames.
S – Squeeze the handle.
S – Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire.
Never turn your back on a fire, and always maintain a clear escape route behind you. If the extinguisher does not put the fire out almost immediately, leave. You only have seconds (not minutes) before smoke can become overwhelming or disorienting near an out of control fire.
Also remember that a fire that appears to be extinguished can reignite. I learned this firsthand, and it is one reason I strongly recommend that homeowners never assume a fire is completely dealt with simply because the flames are no longer visible.
Have a Fire Escape Plan
A fire extinguisher is only one part of fire safety. Make sure your home has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms where required, and test them regularly. Everyone in the household should know at least two ways out of sleeping areas where possible and should know where to meet outside. Most importantly, practice your escape plan. It may feel silly to conduct a fire drill in your own home, particularly with older children or adults, but when a real fire occurs it is not the time to figure out who is going where.
Get out. Stay out. Call 911.
Even if you manage to extinguish a fire yourself, calling the fire department is still important. A fire can extend into concealed spaces and continue smoldering long after the visible flames are gone. Your first priority should always be getting yourself and your family to safety, not saving your belongings or your house.
If you do not have a suitable, accessible fire extinguisher in your home, consider picking one up today. Make sure you know what it is rated for, that everyone in the household knows where it is located, and that it is maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. A fire extinguisher may never be needed but if you ever do need one, you will be very glad you have it and even more glad that you know when not to use it. A fire extinguisher is a tool, not a substitute for getting out safely.