Since October is Fire Safety month we thought we would take some time to explain the different types of fire extinguishers and their uses.

It is highly recommended to have a fire extinguisher in the home, at the office and even in your car. If a fire breaks out  the application of a fire extinguisher can prevent the fire from spreading and reducing damage.

Different types of fires call for different types of extinguishers, using the wrong extinguisher can be dangerous and may be life threatening.

Fire extinguishers are rated by fire class, which makes it easier to figure out which one is best for the task at hand.

Fire extinguisher classes are:

• Class A -  Used on paper, wood, cardboard and simple plastics. Class A extinguishers are filled with water under high pressure.
• Class B -  Used on grease, oil, and gasoline. Class B extinguishers are filled with a chemical mixture designed to put the fire out safely.
• Class C -  Used on electrical fires. Class C extinguishers contain con conductive flame retardant to smother the fire.
• Class D  - Used on flammable metals. Class D extinguishers use a dry powder rather than dry chemicals.

Remember fire extingushers can lose pressure or become damaged so they should be inspected regularly. You can have them inspected usually free of charge at your local fire department.