Using portable fire extinguishers is relatively easy. They were designed to be user friendly, so private citizens could have some protection from fires. Usually, there is little more to using a standard manual fire extinguisher than removing it from its security case, taking out the safety pin from the top of the device, pointing the nozzle at the hot base of the fire and applying pressure to the lever. The jet stream will be propelled forward and work to extinguish the fire. All extinguishers will come with their own instructions, and users should read the instructions for their particular fire extinguisher rather than simply obey general guidelines. The best fire extinguisher usage tips should be applied on an individual basis.

Some of the most important fire extinguisher usage tips involve the placement and ease of accessibility of the extinguisher. They should always be located near exits, in a case in the wall, a meter up from the floor. Even seconds of delay can severely contribute to the spread of any fire. Once a fire has reached a certain point in strength, a manual, portable fire extinguisher will be insufficient. There are certain trade-offs with portability, and one of these is volume. A small, manual extinguisher may not have enough discharge to stop a severe enough fire. However, at the early stages in a fire’s progression, even a tiny fire extinguisher can be enough. The most important fire extinguisher usage tips will prevent people from overestimating or underestimating the extent to which they can solve the problems themselves.

Not all extinguishers can be used on all types of fires. A fire blanket works best on burning clothing, and small, liquid fires. Some of these may be specialized for industrial fires over kitchen fires, and it is important not to try to misapply any particular extinguisher. Using the wrong type of extinguisher on an electrical fire can be downright dangerous. Typical foam extinguishers should never be used on live electrical equipment, and their jet stream should not be directly applied to burning liquid. Users should always research their particular extinguisher types before usage, familiarizing themselves with their particular devices prior to any emergency.