The proper number of home fire extinguishers is determined by your home’s size and number of floors—ask a fire safety professional for a risk assessment!
Last week, we discussed the importance of home fire safety. A recent report by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) noted home fires only account for 25% of all reported fires, but they were responsible for 75% of fire-related deaths and 76% of fire-related injuries. This is incredibly troubling because it highlights how important home fire safety is and how easy it is for people to be unprepared. One of the ways people can prepare themselves is to ensure they have an appropriate number of fire extinguishers in places where they’re easy to reach and that everyone in the house knows how to use them.
Home Size
One of the determining factors for the right number of extinguishers is the size of your home and how many floors it has. If you have a large, two-story home with only one fire extinguisher—that’s an equation that can lead to trouble. You should have extinguishers in primary living areas, the kitchen, garage, and at least one on each story of the home. If you live in a small, one-story home, then one might be enough. In this case, it is best to locate it in the kitchen because this is where the majority of home fires originate. Following the extinguisher spacing guidelines in NFPA Standard 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, is always a good idea.
Home Areas
As mentioned, the kitchen is the most important place to have a fire extinguisher. The majority of home structure fires start in the kitchen while cooking. When working in the kitchen, any number of things can go wrong that lead to a serious fire. If you have a second floor, then you should find a central area to locate a fire extinguisher so that it’s within easy reach. The easier it is to grab, the quicker you can respond to a small fire and extinguish it before it becomes a big fire.
Know Where They Are
Fire extinguishers won’t do you any good if you don’t know where they are. Make sure you know where all your fire extinguishers are located so that you can get to them quickly to them if a fire occurs. This will give you a better chance to put out the fire and protect yourself, your family, and your home.
Get Them Serviced
Fire extinguishers have specific inspection and service intervals, and they can become inoperable due to damage or leakage. An inoperable fire extinguisher isn’t going to be useful during a fire, so make it a point to have a professional regularly inspect your extinguishers and smoke detectors. This will give you peace of mind and ensure that you can rely on these important safety devices.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
Whether you need smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, or an automatic sprinkler system installed at your commercial property, Fireline has you covered. We have been protecting
people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.