Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
Warren, TX – A quick-acting oilfield worker prevented a fire that could have burned longer on an oil storage tank in Tyler County. A possible lightning strike on an oil storage tank in the area ignited a fire on the tank’s pressure relief valve. A worker who was in the area was able to put out the flames using a portable fire extinguisher. Fire authorities arrived to ensure that the fire was completely extinguished and that there were no leaks or spills at the scene.
Post Falls, ID — Bystanders in Post Falls worked together to put out a quickly spreading fire caused by a tractor’s trailer breaking. While the driver pulled over when he heard the noise of a part snapping off, he didn’t initially spot the fire and drove away. The honks of other motorists alerted him to the fire. Motorists and a nearby homeowner worked as a team using portable fire extinguishers and a hose to control the fire until authorities arrived to completely put out to flames. All those involved left the scene without any injuries.
The Coeur d’Alene Press (Coeur d’Alene, ID)
Deerfield Beach, FL- A Deerfield home is still standing thanks to a Good Samaritan’s quick actions after he was alerted to a fire by his neighbor’s calls for help. Once he spotted the plumes of smoke, he swiftly snagged the re-breather mask he uses for his job as a pest control technician and a portable fire extinguisher. Once inside, he found that the kitchen dishwasher was on fire. He smothered most of the flames with the extinguisher until fire crews arrived on scene. There were no injuries as a result of the fire. The Good Samaritan told fire fighters that as soon as they left, he planned on driving “to Costco to get a new fire extinguisher.”
Winter Park, FL — A local Florida man was given an award for saving his disabled neighbor from an apartment building blaze. Startled by the smell of smoke on a recent evening, the man immediately brought his son to safety. Upon learning that a disabled man was still inside the building, he rushed back to rescue him. The man then proceeded to use a portable fire extinguisher to control the flames until emergency crews arrived. While presenting the honor, the Fire Chief declared that this man’s heroism prevented “a full-blown apartment fire with severe injury.”
Beaufort, SC — Recently, a fifteen year old girl became her family’s savior when she prevented their home from going up in flames. While preheating the oven on a Friday night, the girl watched a spark catch the oven on fire. Swiftly, she grabbed a nearby portable fire extinguisher and smothered the growing blaze. Although smoke continued to fill the house as fire fighters arrived, the flames had been completely stamped out. Only the oven was damaged as a result of the fire.
The Beaufort Gazette (Bluffton, SC)
Summit, NJ — An employee at Overlook Medical Center relied on his fire safety training to manage a growing car fire that was outside of the building. In the early hours of the morning, the New Jersey man watched as a car burst into flames and dashed outside with a portable fire extinguisher. Recalling the safety training he had received through his employer, the man used a portable fire extinguisher to control the flames until professionals reported to the scene. As a result of his actions, no one was injured by the fire.
El Cajon, CA- A mechanic from Executive Auto saved not one, but two local businesses when he took control of a blaze along Interstate 8. The brush fire initially sparked on a nearby hill between the two auto shops, but was spreading fast. Spotting the flames, the man grabbed a portable fire extinguisher and went to work managing the flames until emergency crews could respond. The man’s fellow employees insisted that he had prevented thousands of dollars’ worth of customer vehicles from being torched.
Whitehall, MI – Over Memorial Day weekend, a local Whitehall family was shocked when their pool heater burst into flames. Enjoying some s’mores with friends, the party was interrupted by a cloud of smoke billowing from the pool house. Upon discovering the fire, the family’s guest, a Fire Inspector at White Lake Fire Authority, swiftly grabbed a portable fire extinguisher from the kitchen and put out the flames. Only the pool heater and attached plumbing were lost.
FireExtinguishersSaveLives.org Submission (Whitehall, MI)
Norwalk, IA – On a recent Tuesday evening, the Norwalk fire department was called to put out a house fire that was ignited by a bolt of lightning. The strike hit the home’s shed and travelled to the house. The owners acted swiftly, grabbing their portable fire extinguisher, and put out the flames. While the house sustained some damage, everyone inside remained out of harm’s way.
WHO-HD Ch. 13 News. (Norwalk, IA)
Naples, FL – A family in Southwest Florida is thankful for their son’s quick thinking. Playing on his Xbox late one night, the young boy became alarmed when he was overpowered by the smell of burning plastic. After realizing his brother’s mini fridge had caught on fire, he quickly picked up his sister and led his other siblings to safety. Returning with his nanny, he smothered the flames with a portable fire extinguisher. As a result of his actions, there were no injuries.
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.
