Should I Have a Fire Extinguisher in My Denver, CO Home?

A home fire that has not been extinguished can whip through a residence within minutes, destroying belongings and weakening the structural integrity of the building. Denver, Colorado, residents can minimize fire damage by installing and knowing how to correctly use a fire extinguisher.

Colorado is known for its major wildfires, fires ignited by climate change, droughts, and lightning sparks. Residents are forced to flee their homes within a moment’s notice, leaving everything behind. Powerful wind gusts fan the flames and lead to rapid and extensive property fire damage.

As recently as December 2021, urban wildfires ripped through 6000 acres and turned at least 500 Denver homes to a crisp. Entire subdivisions and neighborhoods were devastated. Denver residents lost the majority of their belongings and homes to the wildfires.

While a fire extinguisher will be of little use during the uncontrollable blazes of Colorado wildfires, the device will come in handy for use with smaller and more manageable flames. Containing a minor fire with a fire extinguisher will potentially save lives as well as the valuables in the home.

What are common causes of home fires?

The most common type of home fire is caused by cooking accidents. The National Fire Protection Association reports that over a course of four years, from 2011 to 2015, about 170,200 cooking-related fires occurred. The majority of cooking fires are preventable.

Heating equipment, such as space heaters, furnaces, chimneys and fireplaces, is another top cause of home fires. Malfunctioning electrical systems also trigger sparks and eventual flames. Candles cause hundreds of thousands of dollars in fire damage. Smoking accidents, too, cause home fires.

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, home fires are the second leading cause of accidental death inside residential properties. Home fires can be controlled until the fire officials arrive—and a fire extinguisher can be used to successfully squash small flames.

How do homeowners use a fire extinguisher?

The Denver Fire Department provides safety tips for using a portable fire extinguisher. The proper use of a fire extinguisher can save lives and the property from devastating harm. Fire extinguishers should be used when the fire is minor and is contained to a small area of the home.

Further criteria for the safe and effective use of a fire extinguisher are that the fire should not be growing, and occupants should have exited the building. As long as the fire department has been called and the room is not filled with smoke, a fire extinguisher can be effective.

Denver residents are advised to learn how to use a fire extinguisher as soon as the device is purchased. Read the instructions that come with the fire extinguisher. Become familiar with the extinguisher parts and components before it becomes essential to use it.

If necessary, Denver homeowners can participate in hands-on fire extinguisher training courses provided by local fire departments or fire equipment distributors. The easiest way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher is via the word PASS: Pull the pin, aim low, squeeze and sweep.

Pulling the pin in the fire extinguisher releases the locking mechanism. With the user pointing the nozzle away, aim the extinguisher toward the base of the fire. Squeeze the lever to discharge the extinguishing agent. Sweep (move the extinguisher from side to side) until the fire is extinguished.

When attacking the fire with a fire extinguisher, it is crucial that the homeowner keep his back to a clear exit; in the event the fire becomes uncontrollable, the individual can make a quick escape. If the room fills with smoke, the homeowner should leave the building immediately.

What are buying recommendations for a fire extinguisher?

A multipurpose extinguisher is ideal for most homes, as it is capable of extinguishing most types of home fires. Opt for a fire extinguisher that is lightweight enough to operate without difficulty, yet large enough to put out a small home fire.

Fire extinguishers are coded with letters and numbers. The letter A indicates that the extinguisher will use water to squash flames, and is suitable for wood, paper and cloth fires. The letter B involves flammable liquids, such as grease, and C applies to electrical equipment, like televisions.

The numbers next to the letters indicate the extinguisher’s firefighting capacity. Generally, the higher the number, the more powerful is the extinguisher. Denver homeowners are advised to buy a multipurpose extinguisher rated as 3A:40-B:C, which costs about $40, or a medium-sized one rated as 2A:10-B:C, for about $35.

A home fire can destroy a Denver property, but installing a fire extinguisher near an exit and knowing how to use it will potentially reduce the fire’s devastation. A smoke alarm and a home fire escape plan are two additional components that will save the property as well as lives.

When your home fire is too large to contain with a fire extinguisher, the fire department should be called to control the flames. Once the fire is extinguished, Denver homeowners are advised to contact ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration, a reputable fire damage restoration company.

We are a locally based fire damage cleanup company with a longstanding reputation for excellence. Our experienced technicians arrive quickly to the site and promptly begin cleanup efforts. We stop the spread of fire damage and restore your home to its pre-loss condition as quickly as possible.

Fire damage extends beyond the flames. Smoke and soot are corrosive byproducts of the fire and must be cleaned immediately to prevent permanent damage to materials. Upon stabilizing the property, our cleanup specialists pre-clean damaged goods and execute our fire damage restoration plan.

ServiceMaster Fire and Water Restoration offers comprehensive fire damage cleanup services, from structural repairs and soot damage removal to deodorization. Our technicians stand by 24 hours a day to respond to emergency calls for smoke and fire damage restoration in Denver, Colorado. Call us when fire damage strikes.