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• Fire extinguishers are essential fixtures of the home and place of business, as they make it possible for individuals to put out small fires before they spread. Most fire extinguishers used in the United States are fire engine red in color, cylindrical in shape, and contain pressurized foam-, chemical- or water-based agents discharged via a handle squeezed by the user.

• Fast Facts

  1. First recorded fire extinguisher patent: 1723 (England)
  2. 1818 fire extinguishing solution: Pearl ash
  3. 1881 fire extinguishing solution: Sodium bicarbonate and sulfuric acid
  4. 1912 fire extinguishing solution: Carbon tetrachloride

• Types of Fires and Their Symbols

  1. Class A fires burn normal combustible solids
  2. Class A symbol: Green triangle
  3. Class B fires burn flammable liquids and gases
  4. Class B symbol: Red square
  5. Class C fires burn electrical equipment
  6. Class C symbol: Blue circle
  7. Class D fires burn combustible metals
  8. Class D symbol: Yellow pentagram
  9. Class K fires burn cooking oils
  10. Class K symbol: Black hexagon

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Carbon Monoxide Detector | First Aid Kit | Smoke Detector | Water Hose | Deep-Fried Turkey | How to Make a Smoke Bomb

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