Types of Fire Extinguishers
There are many different types of portable fire extinguishers, each one containing a different extinguishing agent based on its intended use. Each extinguisher will be labeled according to which classes of fire it is suitable for: Class A, B, C, or D, or a combination of each. In addition, it will also have a number before the class of fire indicating how much fire it should put out. The larger the number, the larger the fire it should extinguish. For example, a common multi-purpose residential fire extinguisher might have a rating of 1A:10B:C. Make sure you have the proper extinguisher for the right type of fire; otherwise, you could make the fire worse and put yourself in danger.
Extinguisher Location
Fire extinguishers should be located where they are highly visible and within easy reach to maximize efficiency in extinguishing a fire while it is still small.