Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
AUGUSTA, ME — The residents of a two-story home in Augusta had to jump into action after the buildings smoke detectors alerted them to a fire. The mother and daughter were able to control the flames with their portable fire extinguisher until fire fighters arrived. The fire is believed to have been started by a candle that was left unattended in another room of the house. While no one was injured because of the fire, the home did sustain minor damage. The two women stayed in an alternate location that evening because firefighters needed to shut down the electricity during their response.
Central Maine News (Augusta, ME)
BISMARCK, ND – Earlier this month, a laundry machine caught fire at the My Place Hotel in Bismarck. While it is unclear what started the fire, a hotel employee is credited with putting out the flames by using a dry chemical portable fire extinguisher. Once fire crews arrived, they only had to ventilate the building of smoke, as the employee had extinguished the entire fire. No injuries occurred as a result of the fire and only the washing machine itself was damaged.
The Bismarck Tribune (Bismarck, ND)
OXFORD, CO – A truck driver travelling along Colorado Highway 172 spotted a roadside fire that was caused by a hot piece of equipment that fell off of a broken down car. The truck driver immediately stopped and used a portable fire extinguisher to reduce the size of the flames until the fire department could arrive. Several other drivers on the road pulled over as well to assist the truck driver. The fire chief said that the fire burned “about half to three-quarters of an acre,” but could’ve been much worse.
The Durango Herald (Oxford, CO)
GULFPORT, MS — On an early Sunday morning at the Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, a fire began in the baggage claim area of the building. This fire occurred after a piece of TSA equipment that is used to scan bags caught on fire, causing officials to evacuate the airport. Luckily, airport staff was able to use the portable fire extinguishers to put out the flames before the local fire department had a chance to arrive. There were no injuries or damage to any baggage in the airport and flight passengers were able to enter the building again after only 20 minutes.
DENISON, TX – Early in the morning, staff at the Crawford Street Place Assisted Living Center discovered a fire that was ignited due to a light fixture shorting out. The residents of the retirement home were quickly evacuated from the building to another center in Denison. The retirement home staff was able to assess the issue in the kitchen and put the flames out with a portable fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived on the scene. Due to the quick actions taken by the staff, nobody was hurt as a result of the fire. The occupants of Crawford Street Place were able to move back into their homes later that evening.
ARLINGTON, NE – Quick thinking from Arlington Community Church members prevented two electrical fires from spreading. First, a meter on the south side of the building caught fire from an electrical short, but was quickly put out by a neighbor with a portable fire extinguisher. Power was shut off to the building while two congregation members who own an electrical business repaired the meter. After the power was restored to the church, the electricians discovered that the dishwasher had caught fire as well. Another portable fire extinguisher was used to put out the flames. No one was harmed as a result of the fires, but the church will be closed until further notice.
Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise (Arlington, NE)
WEEDSPORT, NY — At Weedsport Junior-Senior High School, a fire began due to a malfunction with the school’s 3D printer. While students were being evacuated from the building, a school staff member was able to put out the flames using a portable fire extinguisher before the local fire department arrived. The Superintendent applauded the personnel inside the school for utilizing the skills that they learned during fire safety drills. The school resumed classes once the area was deemed safe again, but closed off the three rooms that were impacted by the fire. The school also halted all use of 3D printers for the time being.
ATHENS, AL – A three month old puppy is being credited with saving the lives of his owners after he woke them up from a nap because their lawn was on fire. According to the family, two of their dogs were sleeping with them, but luckily the puppy was awake to alert them to the rapidly spreading fire. The couple told journalists that the fire was inches from their house, but they were able to use a portable fire extinguisher to put out a majority of the flames. The source of the fire was not determined, but damage from the fire was limited to items in the yard.
ORLANDO, FL – During Disney’s daily Festival of Fantasy at the Magic Kingdom, the Maleficent Dragon parade float caught fire in front of hundreds of spectators. A Disney spokesperson confirmed that the dragon’s flame throwing mechanism malfunctioned and caught the dragon’s head on fire. Spectators posted videos online showing a park employee using a portable fire extinguisher to spray the flames. Disney’s spokesperson and Orlando fire authorities confirmed that the fire was extinguished before fire fighters arrived at the scene and that the no one was injured as a result of the fire.
Orlando Sentinel (Orlando, FL)
SAUGUS, MA – Two Oaklandvale Elementary School cafeteria workers were recently commended at a school committee meeting for their quick response to a kitchen fire. Earlier this month, an electrical fire started while the two women were preparing the day’s meals. The women worked as a team to remove some nearby cardboard, notify school staff, and call the fire department. Additionally, they successfully used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the flames. No one was injured as a result of the fire and the cafeteria workers were able to finish preparing food for the school’s students.
Latest Stories
Teenager stops kitchen fire with extinguisher
Blanchard, PA – A teenager in Centre County, PA is being praised for his quick actions after helping extinguish a fire in a neighbor’s kitchen. The fire broke out when cooking oil ignited on the stove at the home. The teen, who was visiting the home, ran to retrieve a portable fire extinguisher from his […]
Citizen honored for fire extinguisher save
Carson City, NV – A Carson City resident was recognized for rescuing a neighbor during a fire last month. After a gas explosion caused a fire at his apartment complex, the resident quickly found a nearby portable fire extinguisher and entered the burning apartment to find his neighbor trapped in a bedroom. He used a […]
Employees extinguish 2-alarm fire
Wareham, MA – Employees of Wareham, MA Dunkin Donuts used portable fire extinguishers to extinguish a two-alarm fire before firefighters arrived. The Wareham Fire Department responded to the scene after reports of a possible propane tank explosion. They found the rear exterior of the building burned but the fire already suppressed thanks to quick action […]
Home saved with extinguisher after dryer catches fire
Chester, MA – A homeowner in Chester, MA, successfully contained a dryer fire using a portable fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived. The Chester Fire Department responded to ensure the fire was fully extinguished. Fire officials praised the homeowner for having the appropriate extinguisher on hand, which prevented significant damage to the home. WWLP – Chester, […]
Extinguisher stops fire at laundromat
Corvallis, OR – At a laundromat in Corvallis, OR, a bystander utilized a portable fire extinguisher to stop a fire that started inside one of the laundry machines. After smoke alarms sounded, the individual used a nearby fire extinguisher to suppress fire. When fire officials arrived on scene, they found the fire completely extinguished and […]
Homeowners use extinguisher to prevent major house fire
Concord, VA – Homeowners in Concord, Virginia, successfully put out a fire using a portable fire extinguisher after being alerted by their smoke alarms. The Concord Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) responded to the scene but found the fire already extinguished. Fire crews ventilated the remaining smoke from the home before clearing the scene. CVFD praised […]
Extinguisher keeps garage fire at bay
Huntley, IL – Construction workers used a portable fire extinguisher to help contain a fire that broke out in a homeowner’s garage. The workers started with buckets of water, but as the flames grew, they found a nearby fire extinguisher and used it to suppress the flames. Fire officials praised the workers for containing the […]
Robotics students avoid disaster with extinguishers
West Newbury, MA – When a fire broke out in a Massachusetts school auditorium, a group of robotics students responded using portable fire extinguishers. After noticing a growing blaze in a trash barrel filled with sawdust, the students used the nearby fire extinguishers to control the flames before first responders arrived. School officials praised the […]
Research
Portable Fire Extinguishers Dramatically Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Building Fires
Portable Fire Extinguishers are Safe & Effective Tools for Building Occupants
Videos
About FireExtinguishersSaveLives.org
Why Fire Extinguishers are Important
How to Use a Portable Fire Extinguisher
Fire Safety Map
Are You Safe? Does your building require fire extinguishers throughout?
Every state has a State Fire Code with a section on fire extinguisher requirements. To get an overview of what state fire codes are based on and if states have made enhancements to fire codes visit the Interactive Fire Safety Map.
