When think about using a fire extinguishers  and reacting to a fire always think about your safety because fire can be very dangerous and you should not endanger yourself or the other people when attempting to put out a fire. 

These are some of the things that you should think about  when a fire is discovered.

1. Ask for help if easy to do     .

2. Assist any person immediate danger to safety without risk to yourself to accomplish this.

3. Activate the building fire alarms system and/or call 911. 

 Normally when you activate the building fire alarm system, it will automatically notify the fire department and help should be on the way. It will also sound the building alarms to notify other occupants, and it will shut down the air-handling units to prevent the spread of smoke throughout the building sometime activate doors to close.

After you have done the things explain above... you can evaluate if you can fight the fire with a fire extinguisher, you need to keep these rules in mind.

1. Think Safety. What are potential fire hazards in your area?  Is their appropriate fire extinguisher available?  Do you know how to operate it?  How do you how to fight this fire? How do you escape danger? What are your exit points?

2. Know what is burning.  If you do not know what is burning, you don't know what type of extinguisher to use. Even if you have an ABC extinguisher, there may be something in the fire that is going to explode or produce highly toxic smoke. Chances are, you will know what is burning, or at least have a good idea, but if you do not, let the fire department handle it.   

3.  Evaluate the size of the fire; if the fire bigger than you probable one fire extinguisher will not do the job.

4. If the fire is spreading so rapidly beyond the spot where the fire started, the time to use an extinguisher is in the incipient, or beginning, stages of a fire. If the fire is already spreading quickly, it is best to evacuate the building, closing doors and windows behind you as you leave. 

***Most important Rule is always position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire.  In case the extinguisher malfunctions or something happens un-expectantly, you need to be able to get out quickly and safely if you do not want to become trapped and become a victim.

Do not fight the fire if...

1. If you put yourself at harms way or someone else.

2.  If you do not have the correct type or large enough extinguisher, it is best not to try to fight the fire.

3.  What out you may inhale toxic smoke?  If the fire is producing large amounts of smoke that you would have to breathe in order to fight it, it is best not to try. Any sort of combustion will produce some amount of carbon monoxide, but when synthetic materials such as the nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a sofa burn, they can produce highly toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide, acrogenic, and ammonia in addition to carbon monoxide. These gases can be fatal in very small amounts. 

What you common sense tells you not to do...do not do it.  If you are not comfortable with the situation for any reason, just let better-trained individual do it or just let your local fire department do their job.   

Safety First

If you choose to fight the fire with a Fire Extinguisher

Fire Extinguishers can be very effective tools only if you read, understand, and follow all safety guidelines for their use. Fire Extinguishers are great for small fires and for containing some fires until help arrives, his how you should approach a small fire wisely.

a. Whenever possible, use the "Buddy System" to have someone back you up when using a fire extinguisher. If you have any doubt about your personal safety, or if you cannot extinguish a fire, leave immediately and close off the area (close the doors, but DO NOT lock them). Leave the building but contact a firefighter to relay whatever information you have about the fire.

b. Pull the pin on the fire extinguisher.

c. Stand several feet from the fire, depress the handle and sweep back and forth towards the fire.  Normally 6 - 8 feet away is good starting point to approachable extinguisher fire.     (Note:)

• Do not walk on an area that you have "extinguished" in case the fire reignites or the extinguisher runs out! Remember: you usually can't expect more than 8-10 full seconds of extinguishing power on a typical unit and this could be significantly less if the extinguisher was not properly maintained or partially discharged.
• The metal parts of CO₂ extinguishers tend to get dangerously cold -- practice using one beforehand or have someone show you the proper way to hold one.
• Employees in most cases should proper fire training is usually required by state or federal OSHA  
•  Aim Low: Point the extinguisher hose (or nozzle) at the base of the fire.

e.   Squeeze the lever above the handle: This discharges the extinguishing agent.  Releasing the lever will stop the discharge.  (See special instructions for cartridge-operated dry-chemical extinguishers.)

f.   SWEEP from side to side: Moving carefully toward the fire, keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire and seep back and forth until the flames appear to be out.   Watch the fire area.  If the fire re-ignites, repeat the process.  Step back and evaluate.

g. Have you local fire department do their job inspect the fire site, even if you think you have extinguished the fire.  You have known idea how many fire reignites after a long time and still burn down a building because someone missed something.

If your clothing is on fire (and the floor is not), STOP, DROP and ROLL on the ground to extinguish the flames. If you are within a few feet of a safety shower or fire blanket, you can use these instead, but do not try to make it "just down the hall" if you are on fire. If one of your coworkers catches fire and runs down the hallway in panic, tackle them and extinguish their clothing.