Fire Extinguishers
Save Lives
See It – Grab It – Use It
VISALIA, CA – Visalia fire authorities labeled a small fire at the city’s Target as suspicious after employees discovered the fire in the toilet paper aisle. A store employee put out the flames by using a portable fire extinguisher before fire crews arrived at the store. The employee was able to extinguish the fire before the store’s fire sprinklers were activated, preventing a potential $50 million loss of products. The actual estimated loss was reported to be $350, but due to the suspicious nature of the fire, two engines and a battalion chief responded to the scene.
Visalia Times-Delta (Visalia, CA)
LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ – All of the animals at the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium and Safari Park are safe after an electrical fire started in the otter exhibit. Two of the park’s employees discovered the fire shortly after 7 a.m. The employees worked together to save the animals; while one employee put out the flames with a portable fire extinguisher, the other worked to evacuate the air-breathing animals. The fire was extinguished before fire crews arrived on the scene, and only minimal damage was reported.
DALLAS, TX – An American Airlines flight from Dallas-Fort Worth, TX on route to Indianapolis, IN had to be diverted to Little Rock, AR after a passenger’s e-cigarette caught fire in the airplane’s restroom. Crew members responded swiftly by using a portable fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Passengers reported that while the flight attendants were able to extinguish the fire quickly, the plane still performed an accelerated decent to the Little Rock airport. None of the passengers or crew members were injured, and upon inspection, no damage to the plane was discovered.
MCALESTER, OK – No students or school personnel were injured when a fire ignited underneath a school bus. Two sisters, who were going to the school to pick up their nieces, discovered the fire and acted quickly to alert the bus driver. Once alerted, the bus driver evacuated the students from the bus, while the sisters and another bystander put out the flames with a portable fire extinguisher. Officials stated that all those involved in the incident acted exactly as they should have, and that the fire started after a battery cable shorted out near a transmission fluid leak.
McAlester News-Capital (McAlester, OK)
NILES, MI- No one was injured when the Niles Fire Department responded to a grease fire at a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Workers first noticed a fire underneath the fryer, but then the flames spread upward. As some employees called 911 and evacuated the restaurant, other workers used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the flames. When the fire department arrived, the flames had been extinguished and damage had been limited to the frying machine.
The Herald Palladium (Niles, MI)
FAIR GROVE, MO- Students at the Fair Grove elementary school had to be evacuated after an electric fire in one of the bathrooms filled the school with smoke. The teacher that discovered the fire, first notified the administration, and then used a portable fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Upon arrival, the fire department made sure the fire would not reignite, and then helped clear smoke from the school. The fire was started by a fan in the bathroom that shorted out.
Springfield News-Leader (Springfield, MO)
GREENCASTLE, IN – The Greencastle Fire Department was called to respond to a structure fire at the town’s Long John Silver’s. The fire started in the restaurant’s kitchen near the fryer area. Restaurant employees acted quickly and put out the grease fire using a portable fire extinguisher. When the fire crews arrived on the scene, the building had been evacuated and the fire was completely extinguished. No damage or injuries were reported by the fire department.
Banner Graphic (Greencastle, IN)
BRADFORD COUNTY, FL- An on duty shift sergeant was alerted to a dryer fire by inmates at the Bradford County Jail. The sergeant saw flames coming from the bottom of the dryer unit, so he used a portable fire extinguisher to put them out. The corrections officers extinguished the fire just as the Starke Fire Department arrived at the jail. The fire was contained to the laundry area and no evacuation of the jail was required.
News 4 JAX (Bradford Country, FL)
CHARLOTTE, NC- As a retired military veteran was driving in his company van he spotted a car on the off-ramp that was on fire. He quickly made a U-turn to make his way back to the car. The veteran then grabbed the portable fire extinguisher that was in his work van and ran to the car. He and another person used the fire extinguisher to keep the flames down while they helped the woman from her car. Authorities stated that had the fire got any worse, the car could have exploded.
COLUMBIA, MO – A Wal-Mart employee called the Columbia Fire Department when a small electrical fire started in the store’s meat department. The employee then put out the fire using a portable fire extinguisher. It took the Columbia Fire Department only five minutes to dispatch to the store, but officials state that the fire was already extinguished before they arrived. The fire started in the cooling unit of a stationary meat rack according to the official press release.
Latest Stories
Fire extinguisher used to save car crash victim
Chester, NY – In Chester, New York, a bystander’s use of a portable fire extinguisher helped control a car fire long enough for first responders to rescue a trapped driver. Footage of the incident shows police officers arriving at the scene as the bystander grabbed a portable fire extinguisher from his vehicle and used it […]
Ceiling fan fire stopped by portable fire extinguisher
New Jersey – A fire in a New Jersey home was quickly brought under control thanks to the homeowner’s fast response and access to a portable fire extinguisher. The incident began when a ceiling fan suddenly caught fire, dripping burning material onto the floor. Fortunately, the homeowners were prepared and used a fire extinguisher to […]
Hero saves neighbor with fire extinguisher
Tucson, AZ – A South Tucson resident is being hailed as a hero for using a portable fire extinguisher to stop an apartment fire and protect his neighbor. On June 19, the man jumped into action after spotting smoke and hearing fire alarms while walking his dog. Seeing his neighbor struggling on a smoke-filled balcony, […]
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 […]
Research
Portable Fire Extinguishers Dramatically Reduce the Carbon Footprint of Building Fires
Portable Fire Extinguishers are Safe & Effective Tools for Building Occupants
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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.
