Fires can be dangerous and costly, and a portable fire extinguisher can be an effective tool to help control or put out early-stage fires.

Fire extinguishers are classified by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) according to the type of fire they will extinguish. It's important to be aware of your fire extinguisher's code and whether it matches the cause of the fire before attempting to extinguish it.

• Class A: used for fires involving ordinary combustibles such as paper, cloth, wood, rubber, and many plastics
• Class B: used for fires involving flammable liquids such as oils, gas, some paints, lacquers, grease, and solvents
• Class C: used for fires involving electrical equipment such as wiring, fuse boxes, energized electrical machinery, computers, or other electrical items
• Class D: used for fires involving powders, flakes, or shavings of metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium, and sodium
• Class K: used for fires involving cooking fluids such as oils and fats

Different fire extinguishers will use different extinguishing agents, the substance that gets applied to the fire.

• Water: found in Class A extinguishers
• Film-forming foam: aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) and film-forming fluroprotein (FFFP) are used in Class A and B extinguishers. These foams are particularly useful in preventing reignition in Class B fires by covering the liquid surface
• Carbon dioxide: a short-range gas cloud found in Class B and C extinguishers that reduces the oxygen in the vicinity of the fire and is most effective when strong air currents aren't present
• Halogenated agents: Halon 1211 and similar but cleaner agents that can be installed in cold weather, discharge as a gas or mist, and can be used on Class A, B, or C fires. These nonconductive agents are commonly used on electrical equipment fires
• Dry chemicals: Powders made of small particulates like sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate for Class B fires and ammonium sulfate for Class A fires. These can coat a surface to smother fuel and isolate it from the surrounding oxygen
• Wet chemicals: Various extinguishing agents typically with a pH of 9.0 or less. Used as a coolant on Class A fires, or creates a foam blanket in fighting Class K fires to prevent reignition as well as reduce the risk of splashing hot grease or cooking oil
• Dry powders: Used on Class D fires and can be released from an extinguisher or scooped and shoveled onto a fire

Most handheld fire extinguishers use the P.A.S.S. technique to operate:

• Pull the pin. This will prepare the extinguisher for use and break the tamper seal
• Aim the extinguisher nozzle low, at the base of the fire
• Squeeze the handle to release extinguishing materials
• Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire until it appears to be out. Then watch. Repeat the process if the fire begins to flame back up

Take time to develop an emergency action plan for fire safety. With the proper planning, fire safety equipment, and training, companies can help protect workers and property.