Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
Maplewood, MN – A 12-year-old from Maplewood, MN has received the Fire Chief’s Recognition Award for her quick thinking when she stopped a fire that broke out in her kitchen. As the fire began to spread from the stove to a nearby box on the counter, she knew to look for the nearest fire extinguisher. Although she had never been trained in how to use a fire extinguisher, she was able to completely douse the fire. After the incident, the family encouraged everyone to keep a fire extinguisher on hand.
Star Tribune – Maplewood, MN
Schertz, TX – When a fire broke out at a Schertz, Texas apartment building, a nearby police officer rushed in to help. Using a portable fire extinguisher, he was able to quickly get the fire under control and make sure everyone living in the apartment was safely evacuated. Thanks to his response, damage to the apartment was limited and no one was injured.
KTSA – San Antonio, TX
Miles City, MT – A staff member at a Miles City, Montana elementary school is being praised for a quick response when a fire broke out in the cafeteria’s kitchen. As fire crews arrived, they found light smoke emanating from the school and the successful evacuation of students taking place. Upon entering, firefighters found that a staff member had completely stopped the fire with a portable fire extinguisher. Fire officials thanked the staff member for the quick response, which prevented serious damage to the building and allowed the students to return to class later that day.
NonStopLocal – Miles City, MT
Philomath, OR – An Oregon man is being credited for his quick thinking after his camper caught fire while driving on the highway. When he noticed smoke emanating from the camper, the man pulled over, called 911, and then used a portable fire extinguisher to knock down the flames. He was then able to safely unhitch his vehicle and move it away from the camper. When firefighters arrived on scene, they made sure the fire was fully out. Fire officials noted that the man’s actions prevented serious damage and a potentially dangerous situation.
Philomath News – Philomath, OR
Lorain, OH – When a kitchen fire broke out at an apartment complex in Lorain, Ohio, a neighbor’s quick actions prevented a potential disaster. After hearing screams for help coming from a neighboring apartment, the man took a fire extinguisher from the hallway and used it to knock out the flames. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze was fully extinguished. Following the incident, officials commended the man for his bravery, noting that his actions prevented substantial damage to the apartment complex and potentially saved lives.
The Morning Journal – Lorain, OH
High Springs, FL – In High Springs, FL, a family awoke to smoke and flames when a candle that had been left burning started a fire in one of their bedrooms. Fortunately, the homeowner had kept a fire extinguisher in the home and safely used it to knock out the fire before firefighters arrived on scene, preventing significant damage to the home. Upon arriving, firefighters found that the fire was contained to the bedroom and completely extinguished.
Alachua Chronicle – High Springs, FL
Williamsburg, VA – A motorist in Williamsburg, VA is being hailed as a hero for assisting a trapped truck driver after his fuel transport truck crashed and caught fire. As flames began to spread to the truck’s cab near the driver, the bystander quickly identified the fire extinguisher on board and used it to stop the flames before they could reach the driver. After the fire was out, she tended to the driver until first responders arrived on scene and transported him to a nearby hospital. Thanks to the bystander’s quick action, the driver is expected to make a full recovery.
Williamsburg Yorktown Daily – Williamsburg, VA
La Grange Park, IL – In La Grange Park, IL, firefighters responded after an automatic fire alarm was triggered at a 27-unit apartment complex. Upon entering the complex, they found that a kitchen fire had been put out by a resident using a portable fire extinguisher. Thanks to the resident’s response, damage was limited to the kitchen, and no one was injured. After the incident, fire officials highlighted the importance of fire safety, encouraging everyone to keep a portable fire extinguisher and check smoke detectors regularly.
Chicago Tribune – La Grange Park, IL
Cortland, NY – When a fire broke out in the kitchen of a Cortland, NY home, tenants quickly jumped into action to avoid disaster. Following a 911 call, Cortland firefighters responded to the home to find smoke coming from the second floor. By the time they entered the home, a tenant had already used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the fire and began ventilating the room. After the incident, Cortland fire officials noted that thanks to the tenant’s actions, the home suffered no structural damage.
WXHC – Homer,NY
Monroe, LA – Two elementary school teachers in Baskin, LA are being praised for their courageous actions when they found an A/C unit on fire in the teacher’s lounge. As the flames began to spread to the nearby curtains, one teacher located a fire extinguisher while the other pulled the fire alarm to trigger an evacuation. Although she had never used a fire extinguisher before, the teacher used it safely and effectively to knock out the fire in a matter of seconds. Fire officials praised the teachers for their heroic actions, noting that their actions likely saved lives and prevented devastating damage to the school.
KNOE – Monroe, LA
Latest Stories
Extinguisher keeps garage fire at bay
Huntley, IL – Construction workers used a portable fire extinguisher to help contain a fire that broke out in a homeowner’s garage. The workers started with buckets of water, but as the flames grew, they found a nearby fire extinguisher and used it to suppress the flames. Fire officials praised the workers for containing the […]
Robotics students avoid disaster with extinguishers
West Newbury, MA – When a fire broke out in a Massachusetts school auditorium, a group of robotics students responded using portable fire extinguishers. After noticing a growing blaze in a trash barrel filled with sawdust, the students used the nearby fire extinguishers to control the flames before first responders arrived. School officials praised the […]
Hero uses fire extinguisher, saves seniors
South Strabane, PA – A maintenance worker’s use of a portable fire extinguisher is being highlighted for stopping a fire at a senior living facility in Washington County. When a fire broke out in a senior’s apartment, the worker quickly used a portable fire extinguisher to extinguish the flames within 90 seconds. The worker was […]
Neighbor uses fire extinguisher against cooking fire
De Pere, WI – In De Pere, WI, a fire in a townhome kitchen was extinguished using a portable fire extinguisher. When a grease fire broke out on the stove, the homeowner called 911, but before firefighters could arrive, a neighbor and a nearby police officer used a fire extinguisher to completely extinguish the fire. […]
Bystander, fire extinguisher help save home on Christmas
Henrico County, VA – A Henrico County, VA couple narrowly avoid disaster on Christmas Day by using a portable fire extinguisher to put out an electrical fire. When a bystander alerted them to a fire on their front porch, the homeowner quickly used a fire extinguisher to suppress the fire. When firefighters arrived, they found […]
11 year-old honored for fire extinguisher save
Fort Collins, CO – An 11-year-old from Fort Collins, CO is being honored for helping save her neighbor’s home after quickly extinguishing an apartment fire. When she noticed the fire, she quickly ran to grab a nearby portable fire extinguisher. Her swift use of the extinguisher prevented the fire from spreading further and potentially trapping […]
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 […]
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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About FireExtinguishersSaveLives.org
Why Fire Extinguishers are Important
How to Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher
Fire Safety Map
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.
