Port Ludlow Fire & Rescue - plfr.org
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Never Fight a Fire If...
before fighting a fireFires can be extremely dangerous and you should always be certain that you would not endanger yourself or others when attempting to put out a fire. Never fight a fire if:
- You don't know what's burning. If you don't know what is burning you don't know what type of extinguisher to use. Even if you have a multi-purpose ABC fire extinguisher, there may be something in the fire that could explode or produce highly toxic smoke. If you don’t know what is burning, let the fire department handle it.
- The fire appears to be too large to handle with one extinguisher. If you've emptied the extinguisher on the fire and the fire continues – evacuate immediately. Do not look for another extinguisher! Evacuate the building immediately, closing doors and windows behind you to reduce the spread of fire.
- The fire is spreading rapidly beyond the spot where it started. The time to use an extinguisher is in the beginning stages of a fire. Fire doubles in size every minute and can spread rapidly. If the fire is already spreading quickly, it is best to evacuate the building immediately, closing doors and windows behind you to reduce the spread of fire.
- You don’t have an adequate or appropriate fire extinguisher. If you don't have the correct type or large enough extinguisher to put out the fire, it is best not to try to fight the fire. Evacuate the building immediately, closing doors and windows behind you to reduce the spread of fire.
- You might inhale toxic smoke. Any type of fire will produce some amount of carbon monoxide. When synthetic materials, such as nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a couch burn, they can produce highly toxic gases such as hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and ammonia, in addition to carbon monoxide. These gases can be fatal in very small amounts.
- Your instincts tell you not to. If you are uncomfortable with the situation, for any reason, or do not feel confident in using the fire extinguisher properly and safely, do not attempt to fight the fire. Call the fire department and let the professionals handle the emergency.
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