How do I use a fire extinguisher and what type do I need?

Which type for which fire, the PASS technique, and the far more important decision about whether to fight it at all.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 20 min
Read: 2 min
Safety: warning

Short answer

Get out and call the fire service first. Only tackle a small contained fire with a clear escape route behind you. Use PASS: pull the pin, aim at the base, squeeze, sweep — and leave if it is not out in seconds.

The most important part of this is knowing when not to use one. Extinguishers are for small fires caught early, and the decision to leave instead is almost always the right one.

Safety

Getting everyone out and calling the fire service comes first, always. Only tackle a fire that is small, contained and between you and nothing — never with the fire between you and the exit. Never use water on an electrical or cooking-oil fire. If it does not go out within seconds, leave immediately and close the door behind you.

What you'll need

A suitable extinguisher
Fire blanket for the kitchen
Working smoke alarms

Step by step

Get everyone out and call the fire service first.Before anything else, every time. An extinguisher is for a small fire you have already decided is safe to tackle, not an alternative to raising the alarm.
Decide whether to fight it at all.Only if it is small and contained, you have a clear escape route behind you, the room is not filling with smoke, and you know the extinguisher is the right type. Any doubt means leave.
Know the main types.Water: wood, paper, fabric only — never electrical or oil. Foam: as water plus flammable liquids. Dry powder: most fire types including electrical, but it makes a mess and is unpleasant indoors. CO2: electrical and liquids, leaves no residue.
Get a fire blanket for the kitchen.The right tool for a pan fire and better than any extinguisher for it. Turn off the heat if you safely can, lay the blanket over the pan, and leave it to cool completely.
Never use water on oil or electrics.Water on burning oil causes an explosive eruption of flame. On electrics it conducts. This is the most important thing to know and the most common serious error.
Use the PASS technique.Pull the pin. Aim at the base of the flames, not the flames themselves. Squeeze the handle. Sweep side to side across the base.
Stand back and keep your exit behind you.A couple of metres, with the door behind you. Never let the fire get between you and the way out.
Leave if it is not out quickly.An extinguisher lasts seconds, not minutes. If the fire is not out almost immediately, leave, close the door behind you to slow it, and wait outside.

Tips

For a domestic kitchen, a fire blanket plus working smoke alarms is more useful than an extinguisher. Most home fires start there.
If you keep an extinguisher, check the pressure gauge is in the green occasionally and know where it is without thinking.
Closing doors as you leave dramatically slows a fire's spread. It is one of the most effective things you can do on the way out.

Questions people ask

What type of fire extinguisher do I need at home?

For most homes, a fire blanket in the kitchen and working smoke alarms matter more. If you want an extinguisher, a dry powder or foam type covers the widest range of domestic risks.

When should I not use a fire extinguisher?

If the fire is spreading, the room is filling with smoke, the fire is between you and the exit, or you are unsure of the type. Leave, close the door and call the fire service.