Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
Town of Culpeper – Discarded fireworks that combusted are to blame for a trash truck fire that was put out with a fire extinguisher. A Culpeper, Vir. neighbor was walking his dog, Spanky, when he noticed white smoke pouring out of the trash truck. He grabbed a spare fire extinguisher and ran it over to the trash truck driver whose own extinguisher was nearly depleted. Officials reminded the public to not put combustible material in the trash.
Culpeper Star-Exponent (Culpeper, VA)
Oconto, Wis. – Employees at a specialty products plant in Oconto, Wisconsin used a dry chemical fire extinguisher to knock down a fire inside of a paper baler used for recycling. While the fire stayed in the machine, there was a lot of smoke within the plant. No injuries were reported. In a separate nearby fire emergency, an Oconto police officer used a portable fire extinguisher from his squad car to knock down a fire on front exterior of a one-story home.
Green Bay Press-Gazette (Green Bay, WI)
Fort Kent, Maine – A fire emergency in Maine could have been much worse if not for the preparedness of the homeowners. Fire officials say a young man was trying to rig up a cell phone charger and splicing some wires before setting it on bedside table to take a shower. The young man’s parents, who were at home, heard smoke detectors and saw smoke coming from the bedroom. The homeowners used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Damage was limited to a burned the nightstand and scorched bed. There were no injuries.
St. John Valley Times/Fiddlehead Focus (Madawaska, ME)
Worchester, Mass. – Two Massachusetts firefighters are recognized for their bravery saving lives in the face of separate house fires that were put out with fire extinguishers. Firefighter/EMT Christopher Veracka of the Kingston Fire Dept. was acknowledged for rescuing his next-door neighbors, who are also his wife’s family, from a house fire and knocking the fire down with a fire extinguisher. Lt. Christopher Mahoney of the Carver Fire Dept. was also recognized for saving a woman who was trapped by a fire on the second floor of her home.
Two Rivers, Wis. – Firefighters in Two Rivers, Wisconsin used a fire extinguisher to put out an overnight electrical fire at an assisted living facility. The firefighters also helped safely evacuate all residents. The fire caused about $20,000 in damage.
WLUK Fox 11 News (Green Bay, WI)
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine – A Maine homeowner knocked down a cooking fire with a fire extinguisher before crews arrived, which saved the home from severe damage. Firefighters said the fire broke out while the resident was cooking wet potatoes in hot grease on the stove. The fire flared up into the microwave and then into the cupboards.
The Piscataquis Observer (Dover-Foxcroft, ME)
Santa Barbara, Calif. – An Amtrak employee used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire inside the Amtrak station before it could spread. It began when a man used newspapers to start a fire in a nonoperational fireplace located inside the passenger waiting area. Witnesses observed the man warming himself in front of the fire. He was arrested for arson.
Santa Barbara Independent (Santa Barbara, CA)
Fish Creek, Wis. – Two recent fires in Door County, Wisconsin were doused by people making split-second decisions with fire extinguishers. “The impact of those extinguishers was significant,” said Gibraltar Fire Department Chief Andy Bertges. “I don’t think a lot of people realize what was prevented and saved. It’s hundreds of thousands of dollars’ difference and peoples’ livelihoods that were protected. I think it’s just amazing.”
Door County Pulse (Baileys Harbor, WI)
Green Bay, Wis. – Fire crews in Green Bay only used a fire extinguisher to put out a fire in an apartment unit. After the fire was extinguished, firefighters remained at the scene to clear the apartment of smoke. The total damage caused by the fire is estimated at $1,500. No injuries were reported.
Branson, MO – The quick response of a Branson, MO police officer armed with a fire extinguisher kept a fire at a commercial building from spreading. “We use the phrase big fires start small, small fires produce a huge amount of smoke and smoke is what kills,” Branson Fire Rescue Chief Ted Martin said. “When you look at this (fire), it was small, but it produced a huge amount of black smoke that a police officer was able to see, so he could make that call for help.”
Branson Tri-Lakes News (Hollister, MO)
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
Videos
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.
