Do you have a fire extinguisher?

Yes, we have 2 here at home. One is mounted to the wall right inside the utility room near the kitchen stove and the other is mounted on the side of the fire place in case a log rolls out and off the fire rug onto the living room rug and starts a fire that way. I did have to use one once long time ago in a mobile home that we just had a new furnace installed in. I went to turn it on the next morning and flames started shooting up out of the cabinet. Thankfully, the fire extinguisher was right there inside a kitchen cabinet and I used it. Was a HUGE mess being the blower was on and the chemicals spread throughout the house via ductwork. Called fire department as well but got the fire put out by the time they showed up.

Nope never had a fire extinguisher but did once put out a fire in my apartment...and with....flour...It was an electrical fire in my bedroom some 15 years ago or so...yes, we could have called the fire dept. but I wanted to get it out pronto and at that time none of the fire hydrants were in working order. Some years later there was a fire in one of the apts. across the street and by the time the fire dept could get trucks filled with water, the apt was entirely gutted...Anyway, since it was an electrical fire with flames coming out of the outlet, I had the sense NOT to throw water at it but flour....I had remembered flour is good to put out grease fires...and yes, it worked. Did you know there are several types of fire extinguishers though? You have to match what kind of fire it is with the right extinguisher otherwise you can make the situation worse.

Hi GardenGerty! I'm glad I read this. I rent my house, and there is a fire extinguisher in the pantry in the kitchen. But I've lived here a little over a year and I have no idea how long it's been there. I'm going to ask my landlady, and if it's getting old I'll ask her if she'll replace it. (She's really good about things like that, thankfully!) I did learn how to use one at a job I used to have. There are 5 smoke detectors throughout the house, and I change the batteries when the time changes, twice a year, like I've heard recommended. We all really should be aware of these things we can do for our own safety.

We do keep a fire extinguisher handy, right in the kitchen where it's most likely to be needed (the way I cook ). Growing up in New England, where so many people have fireplaces and wood stoves, the fire department made semi annual visits to the schools, instructing on the proper use of extinguishers. You discussion is timely and important! Thanks!

We have kept fire extinguishers in our home for years. We actually have three that sit under the desk in our kitchen. We had one once that our young grandson used in our laundry room. He pulled the pin and shot it all over my black walnut paneling. MAN, what a mess we had to clean up. He didn't realize what it was, or was just experimenting. That was many years ago. He's now almost 21 and probably has forgotten about it. We've never really had to use one. There was a time when we were renting and our son was a baby that I needed one. I had a fire in a skillet on the stove and knew not to try and go out with it. But I did a stupid thing and set it in the sink and poured water on it - a no no! I could have caught the curtain over the window a fire, but I was lucky.

A girl I finished school with had a fire like that, took the skillet of grease outside and tripped, burning her face very badly and she was scarred for life. This happened when we had only been out of school about 4 years.

yes we have a couple of it in our office for our family business .. businesses here are required to have at least one depending on the area of the place.

we were also trained how to use it in case of emergency

no, In don't have it

Yes. We have a fire extinguisher. We have one here at home. We have never had to use it though, thank God. I work from my home at the moment. I think I remember how to use one. I knew where to point it and use it also. I learned that where I used to work too. I have never used one though. I have never practiced with one either.

Its too bad there is no fire extinguisher in our h0use

We do not have fire extinguisher in home and generally we do not keep it at home.I saw in a cinema hall but never saw anyone using it. I think everyone in colder countries know how to use it but we do not know. Its great to know some tips from you which may be useful somewhere sometime.