EAST WINDSOR: Fire chief cautions: All fire extinguishers not the same

A fire breaks out on your stove, in your garage, living room or basement. Instinctively, you grab a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher. But is that the correct thing to do?
The answer is: it depends. It depends, not only on the “type” of fire you’re up against, but also the “type” of fire extinguisher you have on hand, as there are many different kinds, each designed for a specific purpose.
East Windsor Vol. Fire Co. 2 Chief Mario Batista says the worst thing for a stove fire is to throw water on it, as that may cause the fire to spread, or electrocute you if it’s an electric range.
“It’s best to either smother a small blaze with a wet towel, or attack it with a dry powder extinguisher,” said the chief. “Then, always call the fire department, even if you’re convinced the fire is out. It may have spread behind a wall or underneath a cabinet.”
Such advice is not limited to homes.
Chief Batista says fire extinguisher knowledge is critical in the workplace as well, as employees should not only have access to the proper fire extinguishers, but also be trained in knowing which one is the correct one to use.
Chief Batista recently conducted a series of training seminars for employees of Hovione and Conair, explaining that there are, generally, five main types of fire extinguishers, including wet chemical, CO2, water, foam and dry powder, each with a specific purpose.
“Fire extinguishers are designed for use on small fires, contained to small areas,” said Batista. “But it’s critically important to use the correct one, or you could actually make matters worse and possibly injure yourself. It’s best to just call the fire department and get out of the building.”
Chief Batista stresses that there is no one fire extinguisher that works on all types of fires.