Fire Fighting. It is important to know what can be done to control a fire once it has been detected. Types of fire fighting equipment available for home use

Fire Fighting

Generally when faced with a fire of any size civilians are advised to stay well away and summon assistance in the form of the local fire service. In some instances however, the blaze will be small enough that extinguishing it quickly can prevent it spreading and becoming a far greater safety risk.

Fire Fighting products

It is much harder to counter a fire without specially designed fire fighting products. While it is possible to extinguish a chip pan with a damp tea towel, it is much better to use a fire retardent blanket instead. Many uncontained fires cannot be extinguished without a fire extinguisher. With this in mind, the safety conscious will ensure that their homes and businesses contain at least the basic fire fighting equipment.

Fire blankets are used for covering or wrapping conflagrations to deprive them of air, which fires need to burn. They cost from about £15. If you buy one, make sure it conforms to British Standard BS 6575. A fire blanket can be thrown over burning liquids, particularly chip pan fires and can also be used to wrap around people on fire.

Fire Extinguishers are used to spray something onto a fire to deprive it of heat and air, both of which are needed for a fire to burn. They can be used from a greater distance than a fire blanket and are more effective for fighting a fire.
Fire Extinguishers come in three main types, water, powder and foam.
Water can be used only on burning solids, never on burning liquids or electrical fires.
Powder is good for electrical fires as it will not conduct electricity.
Foam, or AFFF is very effective on most fires, with the exception of electrical or chip pan fires.