Because This Enemy Comes In Many Forms-wood Fires,

For example, what would you have done in the following situation?A pastry cook was heating a rack of 20 new, well-oiled pans in an oven when preparing to bake bread. But in doing so, he immersed the smoking oil in a rich bath of air. Never leave fats or oils frying unattended on a hot stove. You merely spread the fire-explosively! Also, because water conducts electricity, you should not use it or any extinguisher that incorporates it where there may be live electrical wires. If, however, it is safe for you to go ahead and fight the fire, do so from a position that will allow you access to an exit. They work on the principle that carbon dioxide displaces oxygen. Improper use of fire blankets can increase the severity of smoke and fire injuries if the blanket funnels smoke towards the face or if the blanket is not removed after the flames have been extinguished. Of course, if you have not already done so, turn the heat source off immediately if at all possible. Toss a shovelful of dirt or a fire blanket over a fire, and you smother it.In any case, next time you see one of those silent little sentinels, stop and get better acquainted.Have you considered home fire drills? These can indeed save lives. Keep matches and lighters away from children. Water's potency as an extinguishing agent stems from its great capacity for absorbing heat. Just pull the blanket from its tidy little wall-mounted holder, stretch it out in front of you to protect yourself from the flames, and place the blanket over the fire.Naturally, we want to use the best weapons at hand to extinguish a small but threatening fire.Note, too, that smoke, especially toxic smoke from synthetics, kills more people than flames-it can kill in less than two minutes! So when escaping from a burning building, stay low. Be careful where you place space heaters. This limits the oxygen flow to the fire. Arrange for the family to meet at a specific location-any clearly defined safe spot that is easy to find day or night.The "Triangle" That Spells FireWhat is called the fire triangle is a common-sense formula that sets out the conditions for combustion: fuel plus oxygen plus heat equals fire.Foam extinguishers work well, not only on class A fires but especially on fires involving flammable liquids (industrial lubricants, fuels, paints), generally known as class B fires. National Fire Protection Association states: "It should be emphasized that .Tailor-Made for Every Kind of Small FireWhile many homes do not have fire extinguishers, factories, offices, and public buildings are often required by law to be equipped with them. These are often called class A fires. Be careful not to use foam near electricity. Remember, if you see smoke, especially if it is rising from fats or cooking oils over a heat source, spontaneous combustion could be just seconds away.If the use of a fire blanket is common in your country, be sure that you know how to use it properly. Or he might have employed the fire blanket first and then, if necessary, the carbon dioxide extinguisher. The basic types are water, wet chemical, foam, dry powder, and carbon dioxide. But do not use water on flammable liquids.Better Than ExtinguishersThe best protection against fires is, of course, fire prevention; so use good sense. And extinguishers should always be mounted near exits and should be easy to access. But if you doubt that the extinguisher you have is the correct one or if you fear that the fire is too big.