Fire Extinguisher?

[ttriton]

How many and what type fire extinguishers do you carry on your fire apparatus?

Thanks

[FWDbuff]

Our two pumpers and light rescue each have one:
-20lb ABC dry chem (or is it 30lb???)
-One PW (with carry strap)
-One Ansul-type PKP extinguisher
-One class D extinguisher

[FyredUp]

1-30 pound CO2
1-30 pound ABC dry chemical
2-2 1/2 gallon pessurized water treated with either Class A foam, or more recently with Fire Aide


FWDbuff,

Just curious, why do you carry a purple K and an ABC extinguisher? Seems redundant.

[FIRE117]

On our rural pumper, we carry:

1-2 1/2 gallon pressurized water
1-Dry Chem. Size unknown
4-15 lb. CO2

The four 15lb. CO2 are for a special hazard we have in the community.

[mcwops]

why do you carry a purple K and an ABC extinguisher? Seems redundant.

As an ARFF guy, I can tell you PK is more effective on Class B fires than a typical ABC extinguisher (besides the fact that is the ARFF world we are required to use PK due to corrosion issues). However PK is not effective enough on Class A fires to carry a Class A rating. Although I will admit, in my structural life I don't recall ever seeing a PK extinguisher off airport.

[Bones42]

Both engines have the same....2 water cans, 1 CO2, 1 dry chem.

[LaFireEducator]

Combo Department
Engines - 1 20lb. ABC Dry Powder
Service & Utility Trucks - 2 20lb ABC Dry Powder

Volunteer Department
Brush/Service Truck -
(2) 21/2 gallon Water Cans
(1) 20lb ABC Dry Powder

Engines -
1 20lb ABC Powder
1 CO2
1 2 1/2 Gallon Water Can
1 2 1/2 Gallon Water Cab w/ Class B Foam
1 2 1/2 Gallon Class K (on 3 of the 5 engines closest to restaurants)

[FyredUp]

As an ARFF guy, I can tell you PK is more effective on Class B fires than a typical ABC extinguisher (besides the fact that is the ARFF world we are required to use PK due to corrosion issues). However PK is not effective enough on Class A fires to carry a Class A rating. Although I will admit, in my structural life I don't recall ever seeing a PK extinguisher off airport.

Being a former CFR guy (the name change to ARFF occurred while I was on the job, hated it, and still do) I understand about Purple K, we had a 500 pound system on our P-23. I guess I had just never seen the redundancy of PK and ABC multi-purpose extinguishers on a structural engine.

[InsuranceLCRep]

Thinking back on my firefighting experience (14 years) with 3 departments (rural and suburbia), I can not recall EVER using or some else using a fire extinguisher on a fire. I have trained many on how to use the extinguishes at industrial plants as part of "fire brigade" training. I think most times they are on the vehicle because ISO says you need to have them.

So how often are the fire extinguishers used on an actual fire?? What kind of fire did you use it on?

Yea I know in NYC they use a can ( 2.5 gallon) extingusher.

[LaFireEducator]

Thinking back on my firefighting experience (14 years) with 3 departments (rural and suburbia), I can not recall EVER using or some else using a fire extinguisher on a fire. I have trained many on how to use the extinguishes at industrial plants as part of "fire brigade" training. I think most times they are on the vehicle because ISO says you need to have them.

So how often are the fire extinguishers used on an actual fire?? What kind of fire did you use it on?

Yea I know in NYC they use a can ( 2.5 gallon) extingusher.

I have probably used an extinguisher 6 or 7 times as the initial attack off the engine in my 30 years. A couple of times it was to knock down a running fuel fire at vehicle fires while the main body of fire was hit with a handline. A couple of times it was a water can at a furniture fire in a home, and a couple of times it was a CO2 at a grease fire, primarily as it was the best choice in terms of limiting owner clean-up.

[FyredUp]

Thinking back on my firefighting experience (14 years) with 3 departments (rural and suburbia), I can not recall EVER using or some else using a fire extinguisher on a fire. I have trained many on how to use the extinguishes at industrial plants as part of "fire brigade" training. I think most times they are on the vehicle because ISO says you need to have them.

So how often are the fire extinguishers used on an actual fire?? What kind of fire did you use it on?

Yea I know in NYC they use a can ( 2.5 gallon) extingusher.

I have used ABC dry chem extinguishers on a few occasions. A couple of car fires, a railroad tie pile fire, and as a first hit on a fire running in between the original ceiling and a drop ceiling while the hose line was being stretched.

I have used a water extinguisher on several occasions, rubbish fires, small grass fires, during overhaul, and for furniture fuires.

I have never used a CO2 extinguisher on a real fire.

I have never used a Class D extinguinsher.

I have never used a Class K extinguisher.

[FWDbuff]

As an ARFF guy, I can tell you PK is more effective on Class B fires than a typical ABC extinguisher (besides the fact that is the ARFF world we are required to use PK due to corrosion issues). However PK is not effective enough on Class A fires to carry a Class A rating. Although I will admit, in my structural life I don't recall ever seeing a PK extinguisher off airport.

winner winner.......part of our first due is an "affluent" community where several individuals own & operate their own helicopters (yes turbine) that they use to commute to Manhattan, downtown philly or to NE Philly Airport to hop the G-IV to Pittsburgh. Now while it is understood that any fire of size & consequence will be attacked appropriately, the 20lb PKP's are kept around for "minor" incidents....although anyone and everyone who has ever been charged with riding as company officer have said multiple times "if I see ANY fire showing, *** the extinguisher, get the deuce and a half bomb line."

[tree68]

Engine has two ABC, usually one pressurized water (with Class A Foam).
Tankers each have an ABC.
Rescue has an ABC, CO2, and a couple of pressurized water cans.

Don't think I've ever used a CO2. The ABC's have been off a few times. The water cans come in handy for trash barrel fires, and even overhaulling the occasional ground cover fire.

[Trkco1]

Rescue carries 2 cans, 1 CO2 and 1 ABC. Have used the can many times, 2-1/2 gallons can knock down quite a bit of fire. Have only used the CO2 twice, once for a cooking grease recycling container the other because the rear brakes of the rig went up. ABC only in training.

[EGregory]

The only time I've ever used an extiniguisher was at a saw mill fire. There were small piles of saw dust and puddles of grease burning all over the place and dry chem extinguishers about every 20 feet on the walls. While the guys on the hoses were hitting the main bodies of the fire I started pulling the extinguishers off the walls and hitting the little piles and puddles. We carry 20 or 30lb dry chem on all of our trucks but are discouraged from using them if not necessary since water is cheaper and more convenient than refilling the extinguishers.

The official position is don't use it if you don't need to but don't hesitate to use it if there's a real need to do so.

[FuturePrimitive]

Each engine has 1 water can, 1 dry chem, and 1 CO2. I think each ladder carries the same as well, but might only be water cans. (Sounds like its time to refresh some knowledge!)

Water cans are (in my experience) the most useful, like another poster said they can be used to get a quick knock down on a small fire while a line is being stretched.

[johnsb]

Typically most of the units I've been on carry at least 1 water can, (but usually 2), a dry chem, and a CO2. We typically put foam in the water cans, or at least Joy detergent, it makes it effective on small car and fuel fires. Never seen a CO2 used for an actual fire that I remember, but I've seen it used for other things.......

[ttriton]

Maybe something I should know, but what's a water can? Is it just a pressure pump sprayer you use at home or is it something special?

Thanks

[LaFireEducator]

A "water can" is a slang term for a pressurized 2 1/2 gallon water fire extinguisher. It's very common in the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.

[WD6956]

already answered at the same time.