Anyone know anything about fire extinguisher??

[Cooper_D]

I was thinking about getting a fire extinguisher for the house and in case TSHTF and I become my own fire department.

The internet suggest getting one for each floor of the house, garage and barn.

So who makes the best brand?

I picked one up at Lowe's thinking a new one is better than the one I bought for my car 40 years ago.

So any firefighters or people in the business who can steer me in the right direction?

 

[Deleted member 995608]

Any *ABC* extinguisher will soot your needs.

A - papers, wood, plastics, etc. Basically anything that produces an ash

B - oil, gasoline, LPG, etc

C - electrical, computers, TV's etc

D - metals such as magnesium, or lithium. Any combustable metal

K - commercial or industrial kitchens

I'm an advocate of fire extinguishers in the home. However, I truly believe that smoke/carbon monoxide detectors are equally as important and needs attention first if you have not done so. And if you do have detectors, when's the last time you tested them??

If SHTF in your home, get and out and stay out. Your fire extinguishers will have the same affect as you peeing on the fire. If you happen to catch a fire in its' early beginning, aim your extinguisher at the seat of the fire and sweep from side to side.

 

[jhenderson]

ABC. as was prev stated. Kidde is pretty much industry standard. Just buy them big enough to do the job. 5-10 lbs extinguishers often put out 1/2 the fire then leave you running for another.

 

[JMarhofke]

ABC is pretty much the standard, but if you don't want a mess, check into CO2. As for the "best" I would recommend Amerex, or Ansul. These are both high quality and can be refilled.

 

[Tuesdak]

JHawes more or less nailed it. I suggest deeper thinking about the dangers involved here. Esp. the enclosed in a building vs. outdoor vehicle fire.

First off the 40 year old fire extinguisher is a bomb waiting to go off. This is featured in the show '1,000 ways to die episode 346 Extinguished (a.k.a. Dodgeball Extinguished)' where the corroded top valve blows off an old fire extinguisher impaling the person who grabbed it. Fire extinguishers have a limited life and some require some care during their life like turning them over and tapping the bottom to make sure the dry chemical doesn't stick to the bottom.

Rare death aside fires generate toxic fumes, suck the oxygen out of a room, and have searing temperatures that can lethally burn your lungs. Opening a door can cause a smoldering fire to flair up from the fresh air suddenly entering the room while the searing hot air burns your eyes and fatality burns your lungs. The toxic fumes and smoke kill people as well as the heat related injuries. (Or kill first then burn everything up.)

Not even getting to clothes melting, reacting with the fumes, skin burns, melted hot things being splattered on you.

After the flames go out whatever caused the fire can try again from overheated wires still glowing etc.

So unless you are standing there when the fire breaks out and then with limited time to get it out due to smoke your best bet is getting everyone out safely and leaving it to the professionals who have the training and equipment to safely handle a fire. Again there is a small window where you can put it out yourself and then get out to fresh air.

Do look at Smoke alarms of both types: ionization 'flaming' smoke detection and photoelectric 'smoldering' smoke detection.

 

[Cooper_D]

Thanks for all the great info.

ABC is pretty much the standard, but if you don't want a mess, check into CO2. As for the "best" I would Amerex, or Ansul. These are both high quality and can be refilled.

I read about Amerex & Ansul but had never heard of them. I'll see who carries them locally.

 

[mrbb]

don;'t forget the KEY is to check them often
the better one's have a gauge on them, so you can see if any pressure drops
at all my old jobs it was a law they had to be inspected and check every 6 months, and have tags on them with when checked
any place near a higher risk for a fire(kitchen, garage I keep two in handy to get to , I also keep one in my bedroom, so, if needed can help on the way out LOL
Smoke alarms are again the key here to a heads up on a fire
have one in every room in all my homes, also have carbon testers as well, and have had my homes tested for Radon, something MANY don't do, but Maybe should

 

[Cooper_D]

I occasionally check out the "survivalist" forums and don't recall seeing anything about fire extinguishers.

That should be a no brainier. If all power is out for extended peorids, shtf, all fire equip fighting at "the big one" on the other side of the county, one should be able to put out a small fire.

Before I go and buy 4-5 extinguishers I was hoping to find the "best" brand available locally and not some 5 year old bargain online.

I do have smoke detectors, check them regularly, and just got my first carbon monoxide detector(more to come).

I agree with getting out fast, from what I have read most people grab a garden hose first and wait to long to call 911.

As far as my 40 year old models I never knew that they could become dangerous so I will call around to find out how to dispose of them safely.

Jdoremire, any particular brand of smoke detector you would suggest?

Again thanks for all the great information!!

 

[mrbb]

there are folks that collect old one's and some can be worth a pretty penny
so before just getting ride of them, have a look at what you have and maybe go from there

 

[Cooper_D]

I never thought about looking an the extinguishers at work to see who services them I'll do that tomorrow.

Businesses also have to dispose of the fire hoses after a certain amount of time. They can't sell them either, but they can dispose or give them away. I once brought 2 home they were throwing out, thought I would think of a good use for them. Ended up the mice chewed holes in them first.

 

[Cooper_D]

there are folks that collect old one's and some can be worth a pretty penny
so before just getting ride of them, have a look at what you have and maybe go from there

I wish they had value but they are the kind you would bolt to the roll bar of a jeep. The gauge still shows green but I really should get something I can depend on

 

[mrbb]

I wish they had value but they are the kind you would bolt to the roll bar of a jeep. The gauge still shows green but I really should get something I can really depend on

OK , I have a few of the older Stainless steel one's, and know there worth SOMETHING to some folks
U gave a few retired fireman some I had yrs back and they were all super happy with them, made me laugh, was like I gave them a new Puppy LOL

mine still have pressure in the too, I think there water filled too ??

that's also something to think about is the SIZE of the one's you plan to get, they don't GO far
I keep a larger one in my bed room again so if I have to work my way out(have a few hunting camps I do the same at, more worried about them LOL)
and then kitchen and work shops and likes

had a small roll bar one in a 4x4 jeep, and motor caught on fire, and the thing ran out WAY before doing any good
scrapped the for larger one's in rest of trucks, due to seeing how little the small one did

 

[Cooper_D]

One thing I read said some of the larger ones are to heavy for some to handle.

Also avoid ones with plastic handles - they can get brittle

 

[mrbb]

make sure everyone in the home KNOW"S HOW to you one too!
the time to learn ISN"T when there is a FIRE

you MIGHT be able to even use your OLD one's as practice one's for any kids or those that never used one before
a better use than just tossing them

 

[Deleted member 995608]

A structure fire can grow past the incipient stage to the growth stage in seconds. Especially in later model home construction where composite materials are being used and all wood materials left the building. Our homes are filled with plastic and man made materials that quickly reach ignition limits at alarming rates. It's scary stuff people. Structure fires are farther and farther between, but when they occur, successfully extinguishing them before a total loss is shrinking.

A person has to weigh the *Risk VS Gain* whenever if ever a fire occurs in their home. Unfortunately, people at times lose everything they own. But what they can come out with is their lives, and there is not ONE MATERIAL ITEM on this planet that is equitable to a human life. Risk VS Gain...Risk VS Gain.

This is why I think that an adequate amount of properly placed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in a home subside an army of fire extinguishers.

RANT OVER

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I was watching the Today Show a few mornings back and they did a story on new construction home VS legacy type home fires. Essentially, it showed just how fast modern homes and it's furnishings can ignite to the point where seconds literally matter. I hope some of you guys or gals saw this. It certainly makes a person think twice.

I know some furnishing MFG's are researching materials that don't ignite quickly and are both economical for them to use. Hoping to see some MFG's incorporate these materials in their products.

For future thought. If any of you are having a custom home or garage built, request they have it designed/engineered with real wood products and not glulam beams and so forth.