How to properly use Fire Extinguishers to extinguish incipient fires?

When responding to an incipient fire, the correct use of Fire Extinguishers is crucial. The steps below to put out an incipient fire will help you take quick and effective action when faced with a fire.
First, ensuring your own safety is the top priority. Smoke, heat, and other hazards may be present at a fire scene, so be sure to assess the size and safety of the fire before attempting to use a fire extinguisher. If the fire is too large or there are other uncontrollable dangerous situations, please evacuate immediately and call the fire alarm.
Next, choosing the right fire extinguisher is key to putting out an incipient fire. Different types of fires require different types of fire extinguishers. Therefore, when selecting a fire extinguisher, the most appropriate fire extinguishing agent should be selected according to the type of fire source. For example, for solid material fires, such as wood, paper, etc., dry powder or foam fire extinguishers are usually more suitable; while for liquid or gas fires, carbon dioxide fire extinguishers are more suitable. Understanding the applicable scope and characteristics of different fire extinguishers can help you make the right choice when facing a fire.
Before preparing to use the fire extinguisher, be sure to remove the safety pin. The safety pin is a safety device of the fire extinguisher to prevent misuse. After removing the safety pin, you can press the handle to release the fire extinguishing agent.
Next, aim the fire extinguisher nozzle at the base of the flame. This is a very important step because the base of the flame is the source of the fire, and only by cutting off the source of the fire can the fire be effectively extinguished. Therefore, make sure to aim the nozzle at the base of the flame and keep spraying the extinguishing agent until the flame is completely extinguished.
When spraying fire extinguishing agent, please spray it back and forth. This ensures that the fire extinguishing agent can cover the entire fire source area and improves the fire extinguishing effect. At the same time, please keep a certain safe distance to avoid being injured by flames or heat waves.
Finally, once the fire is under control or extinguished, do not leave the scene immediately. You need to continue to observe that the fire source is completely extinguished and keep an eye out for the possibility of re-ignition. If you find that the fire has rekindled or there are other safety hazards, please immediately use the fire extinguisher again or evacuate the scene and call the police.
In addition, after using the fire extinguisher, please report it to the relevant departments in time for follow-up processing. There may be some safety hazards at the scene after the fire, which require professional cleaning and inspection. At the same time, the fire extinguishers used also need to be inspected and maintained to ensure that they can work properly the next time they are used.
In short, the correct use of Fire Extinguishers is an important means of extinguishing early stage fires. By following the steps above and being flexible based on the situation, you can effectively control the fire and keep yourself and others safe. But remember, if the fire becomes too large or uncontrollable, evacuate immediately and call the fire department.