What the letters mean
Fire extinguishers are rated by the classes of fire they can handle. Class A: ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth). Class B: flammable liquids (grease, gasoline, oil). Class C: energized electrical equipment. Class K: cooking oils and fats (commercial kitchens).
For home use, NFPA recommends an ABC-rated dry chemical extinguisher, which handles the most common household fire types. Keep one on each level of the home and one in the kitchen. Mount where you can grab it while moving toward an exit, not in a corner where fire could trap you.
Four steps, 10 to 20 seconds
Pull the pin to unlock the handle. Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not at the flames themselves. Flames are the visible symptom; the base is the fuel source. Squeeze the handle to discharge. Sweep side to side across the base of the fire.
Most home extinguishers discharge for only 10 to 20 seconds. Practice the PASS technique mentally so you do not waste those seconds figuring out how the device works during a real fire.
The fire is winning if you have to ask
Use an extinguisher only if the fire is small and contained (a wastebasket, a pan, a small appliance), you have a clear escape route behind you, the room is not filled with smoke, and you have called or are calling 911.
If the fire is spreading, if the smoke makes it hard to see or breathe, or if you have used the entire extinguisher without putting the fire out, evacuate immediately. Close doors behind you.
- Home standard: ABC-rated dry chemical extinguisher
- PASS: Pull pin, Aim at base, Squeeze handle, Sweep side to side
- Most home units last only 10-20 seconds
- Only fight small, contained fires with a clear escape route behind you
- Replace or recharge after any use, even partial
- Fire Extinguisher Safety — NFPA extinguisher types, PASS technique, and placement.