COLUMBUS, Ohio — With dry weather for harvest, farmers are thinking about fire safety. That includes appropriate, maintained fire extinguishers and people who know how to use them.
There are five general classes of extinguishers, but those rated class ABC (A, ordinary combustibles; B, flammable liquids; C, electrical appliances) are usually sufficient for farm use, said Dee Jepsen, state leader of The Ohio State University extension Agricultural Safety and Health Program.
"The weight or the size of the fire extinguisher controls how much fire you can put out," she said. "Having a 5-pound extinguisher in a pickup truck is a good idea. On a combine you should have a larger unit, maybe 20 pounds, on the ground unit, and a smaller unit, maybe 10 pounds, in the cab."
The important thing about extinguishers is they are only for the onset of a fire, Jepsen explained. Fire professionals say try to put it out, but get out of the way if it gets bigger.
Remember the PASS acronym for fire extinguisher use; Pull the trigger; Aim – don’t aim too high at the flames, but aim at the base, the source of the fire; Squeeze the trigger; and use a Sweeping motion, completely blanketing that fire.
"Remember, fire extinguishers should be placed by the door of a building, so people don’t have to run into a burning building to get a fire extinguisher," Jepsen said. "Place them every 50 to 75 feet on average so you don’t have to walk far.
"In a 100-foot pole barn, people say they’ll buy one and put it in the middle, but that won’t work. They need one by the door and one in the middle. Farmers should double-check with what their insurance company wants them to do."
Also, anyone who might be expected to use a extinguisher should be shown how to use it. Jepsen advised farmers get out a fire extinguisher and let everyone give it a try. Once the pin is pulled, though, it will need to be recharged.
If the extinguisher is from a box store and is not rechargeable because the parts are plastic, you have to throw them away once they are used, said Chief Frank Conway, state fire marshal, Fire Prevention Bureau.
"You can also buy units from a fire service company, companies that are in the business of selling fire extinguishers," he said. "They are a little bit more expensive. Those units need to be inspected annually by that company."
Farmers and homeowners should inspect their extinguishers monthly, Conway said. See that they are in their designated place, and make sure there are no obstructions – that the fire extinguisher is accessible and visible.
Check that the safety seal is intact. Look for any signs of physical damage, corrosion or leakage. See that the nozzle is clear. Check the pressure gauge. Finally, check the fullness of the unit by lifting or weighing it.
"You have to realize that a fire extinguisher is kind of like a Band-Aid approach," Conway said. "If you are not quite sure if a fire extinguisher is going to be able to handle it or not, it would be better from a safety standpoint not to use it.
"Don’t delay in calling the fire department. Don’t put yourself in a situation where the fire is between you and your exit door. Never turn your back on the fire."
