Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
Lafayette, Louisiana – In Lafayette, Louisiana, a 4-year-old girl alerted her mother to a growing fire in their laundry room. The mother instructed her to leave the house and go to their meeting place. The residents then grabbed a portable fire extinguisher and successfully put out the fire. Both adults were able to safely exit the building and join the child while they waited for firefighters to arrive. While the laundry room sustained heavy fire damage, using the fire extinguisher contained the fire and prevented what could have been substantial damage to the rest of the home.
Baltimore, Md. — The University of Maryland Medical Center’s Emergency Department was put on “mini-disaster” status when a patient’s room caught on fire. A hospital staffer acted quickly and used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the fire while they waited for the first responders to arrive. Access to the fire extinguisher contributed to preventing injuries and ensuring that hospital could immediately continue operations.
Bemidji, Minn. – Firefighters in Bemidji, Minn. used a fire extinguisher to put out an apartment fire. Officials said the fire, which appears to be accidental, caused minor damage. Adjacent apartments sustained minor smoke damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
West Bend, Wis. – An employee at a senior living facility in West Bend, Wis. used a fire extinguisher to fully put out a fire that broke out in a closet. Fire sprinklers were also activated in the closet. Firefighters found charred debris in the closet, along with fire extinguisher powder. One resident was transported to the hospital, and damage is estimated at $7,500. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Washington County Insider / West Bend, Wis.
Thatcher, Ariz. – Hot air balloon ride in Arizona came to a shocking end after the balloon collided with utility lines and caught fire. After the balloon experienced a mechanical malfunction and lost thrust, the balloon clipped a utility line upon its descent and caught fire from the broken utility wire. The balloon occupants used an onboard fire extinguisher to put out the blaze.
The Gila Herald / Safford, Arizona
Tulsa, Okla. – An Oklahoma Natural Gas employee used a fire extinguisher from his work vehicle to help save the life of a man who was trapped in a burning vehicle after a bad rollover crash. Shane Richardson, who is also a volunteer firefighter, pulled over to help before any first responders had arrived. While Richardson used a fire extinguisher from his work truck to calm the flames, another Good Samaritan pulled the unconscious man from the car. A woman and another man were also thrown from the vehicle during the wreck; all three survived the crash. Richardson said this was the first time he has needed to use his fire extinguisher in his 27-year career with ONG, except during training.
KWTV News 9 / Oklahoma City, OK
Port Charlotte, Fla. – Two Charlotte County deputies and a Good Samaritan are being called heroes after using a fire extinguisher and a pocketknife to save a man from a burning vehicle. Due to the “unbearable” heat from the fire, Deputies Garrett Parrish and Bryant Ovalles Vasquez used the fire extinguisher to beat back the flames enough to reach the driver, whose seatbelt was wrapped around his neck. They used the pocketknife to cut the seatbelt and pulled the man to safety with the help of the Good Samaritan. The deputies’ dash cam captured the whole incident on video. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive.
“You truly never know what the night will hold,” said Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell in a new release. “The job of a deputy is to act bravely in the face of danger, regardless of what lies ahead. These young men did just that. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Deerfield, Mass. – Quick thinking and a pair of fire extinguishers saved a Massachusetts workshop from major damage when a recent fire broke out. The owner of Pioneer Gardens in Deerfield noticed smoke before he and a co-worker grabbed two fire extinguishers that they used to knock down a fire in the workshop. While firefighters arrived to find smoke exiting the building, the fire was already out. Deerfield Fire District Captain Ben Clark said the incident is a great example of why it is important to have fire extinguishers readily available. “It always pays to have a fire extinguisher,” said Clark.
Greenfield Recorder / Greenfield, Mass.
Mitchell, Ontario – A 12-year-old girl is being called a “pretty outstanding young lady” after using a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in her family’s microwave that started while she was cooking. Brooke Workman was home alone making muffins when she heard a bang from the microwave and saw smoke in the kitchen. West Perth Fire Prevention Officer James Marshall said this good news story has many lessons.
“She was not far away from where she was cooking, she was paying attention, she heard the malfunction even before the smoke alarms went. She called 911, there was a fire extinguisher handy, and she made the decision to try the fire extinguisher on the fire and she was successful,” said Marshall. “You’ve got to have your smoke alarms and you’ve got to have your fire extinguishers … it’s a great way to mitigate the issue and because of her actions her family gets to sleep at home tonight.”
The Shoreline Beacon / Toronto, Ontario
Tulsa, OK – After noticing fire coming from a vehicle in front of him at a fast-food drive thru, a former Oklahoma police officer helped the driver of the burning vehicle escape and used a fire extinguisher from the restaurant to keep the fire in check until the fire department arrived. Curtis McLaughlin, who recently finished training to become a nurse, wasted no time taking action. The restaurant owner thanked McLaughlin for rescuing the driver of the other vehicle, John Price. “We are grateful that one of our guests was in the right place at the right time and was able to help another guest to safety. We are proud to serve in a community with such selfless, considerate individuals,” said store owner David Chen.
Latest Stories
Employees use fire extinguisher against mechanical fire
Lincoln, NE – Employees at a manufacturing plant in Lincoln, NE utilized a portable fire extinguisher to stop the spread of a duct fire. After a mechanical failure in the plant’s exhaust system sparked the fire, employees used a nearby fire extinguisher to knock out the flames before firefighters arrived on scene. Fire officials praised […]
Use of fire extinguisher prevents porch fire from spreading
Elk River, MN – An employee of a Minnesota retirement community used a portable fire extinguisher to put out a fire caused by a discarded cigarette, preventing a potentially devastating porch fire. When a poorly discarded cigarette ignited a porch planter, flames and smoke began to enter the apartment building. Hearing the smoke detector, the […]
Homeowners extinguish fire started by family pet
Almira Township, MI – Homeowners in Almira Township, MI, used a portable fire extinguisher to put out a kitchen fire started by the family pet. According to fire officials, the family cat likely turned on the oven’s self-cleaning function which ignited grease in a pan left overnight. The home’s smoke alarm sounded, waking up the […]
Officer extinguishes engine fire, saves driver
Traverse, City MI – In Traverse City, Michigan, a conservation officer is being recognized for rescuing a driver involved in a two-vehicle crash. While he was assisting the rescue effort, the engine of one of the vehicles caught fire. As the flames began to spread, he quickly retrieved the portable fire extinguisher from his patrol […]
Quick-thinking employees extinguish fire
Somerset, KY – At a Dairy Queen in Somerset, Kentucky, employees quickly extinguished a kitchen fire before firefighters arrived. Firefighters dispatched to the scene were relieved to find that employees had already put out the flames using a portable fire extinguisher. The firefighters noted that the employees had completely extinguished the fire using proper fire […]
Bus driver saves police officer after crash
Pine Bluff, AR – In Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a school bus driver saved a police officer’s life after the officer’s vehicle slammed into his bus and caught fire. As flames began to spread across the vehicle, the bus driver was unable to get the driver out of the vehicle. He used a portable fire extinguisher from […]
Oven fire quickly extinguished
Philomath, OR – A woman in Philomath, OR, averted disaster when oil in her oven ignited during a self-cleaning cycle. As the oven caught fire, she quickly grabbed a portable fire extinguisher from outside her apartment door and successfully extinguished the flames before firefighters arrived. Thanks to her swift actions, the damage was limited to […]
Heroes save driver after car catches fire
Dundee, NE – Bystanders in Dundee, NE, are being praised for their quick actions in saving a driver whose vehicle had caught fire. As flames rapidly engulfed the car, two bystanders grabbed portable fire extinguishers and used them to slow the blaze long enough for others to pry open the car door and rescue the […]
Research
Portable Fire Extinguishers Dramatically Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Building Fires
Portable Fire Extinguishers are Safe & Effective Tools for Building Occupants
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Why Fire Extinguishers are Important
How to Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher
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Are You Safe? Does your building require fire extinguishers throughout?
Every state has a State Fire Code with a section on fire extinguisher requirements. To get an overview of what state fire codes are based on and if states have made enhancements to fire codes visit the Interactive Fire Safety Map.
