subject: The Conventional Water Fire Extinguisher: Nothing Still Beats The Basics [print this page] When you think about fighting off fire, the first thing that comes to mind is surely the element, water. So when extinguishing fire, probably what you also picture is water coming out of this huge, red canister. After all, water is generally the thing that fire fighters use to put off the fire from a burning house. But not all fire extinguishers are actually composed of water, but a water fire extinguisher does exist, too. How helpful really is this equipment actually in ensuring a fire-safe home? How do you use it? And is it the total solution to fire, even in cases where the shrouds of flame are already thrice your height?
A water-based fire extinguisher is the most basic kind of fire extinguisher. Its sized just right, weighs just right, and deters fire just right. You can think of it as a mini version of the thing that firemen use to literally kill gigantic house fires. When you get one, you should ensure that you place it in an easily accessible area so that people can easily grab it at the sight of fabrics and pieces of cloth catching fire within your simple home or abode. The water fire extinguisher does a great job at drenching these kinds of fire into smothers. This tool requires very minimal investment, but it could save you from a potentially gigantic fire that could start from one piece of cloth thats been accidentally ignited.
Operating this fire deterrent is fairly simple. There is a pin-like object that keeps the trigger in place. Take that out by giving it a light pull. Then, distance yourself a couple of feet away from the fire, direct the tube-nozzle of the canister at the direction of the ember, and pull the trigger much like how you would a gun, and the water should begin to spray out. Follow your instinct and cover as much fire with water as possible until they subside and disappear. Make sure that you did not miss out on other parts of the area or object that was burning because that may cause an even deadlier fire to erupt if left unattended. If the coast clears from any dancing flames, take a few moments to make sure that no follow-up ignitions occur until you are already sure that the fire has died completely. Thats the only time that you put down the water fire extinguisher and begin cleaning up.
A water-based fire extinguisher cannot solve all fire problems. For instance, if wires start to burn, common sense will tell you that wetting electrical wirings will cause short circuits and possibly induce a more dangerous fire. Spraying water on burning cooking oil, petroleum or gas may also only end up spreading it as oil and water do not mix. If such events occur, the best thing to do is to call your local fire department for immediate assistance and evacuate the place right away before you end up getting hurt.
To sum it all up, the water fire extinguisher is not like your one-drug-cures-all when it comes to fire deterring. However, having one in your home or small office can help a lot and is definitely much better than having none. If the scope or intensity of a fire emergency is beyond the capabilities of your fire extinguisher, the wisest thing to do is to seek professional help right away.
