Tuesday, February 1, 2011

How to put out an electrical fire

1
Call the fire department. Even if you think the fire is small and you can contain it yourself, it's better to be safe and have the professionals on their way. Be sure to tell them it's an electrical fire so they can be prepared.

2
Shut off the main breakers to the house, if possible. Be sure your hands are not wet and the fire is not close to the breaker box before attempting this step.

3
Use a class-C or multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher to put out the flames. You can not use any other kind of fire extinguisher on an electrical fire. The extinguisher should be clearly marked, but if it's not and you're not sure what kind it is, don't use it.

4
Throw a sodium bicarbonate such as baking soda on the fire to smother it. If a fire extinguisher is not available and the fire is small, dousing it with enough baking soda can put it out.

5
Get out of the house and wait for help to arrive. If you have no means to fight the fire yourself or if it's large or spreading quickly, it's best to leave the premises before the fire prevents you from leaving.

No comments:

Post a Comment