Skip to main content
Home
  • Home
  • About us
    Back
    About us
      • Our people
      • Our fire stations
      • Fleet and equipment
      • How we respond to emergency calls
      • Community Risk Management Plan
      • Information and data transparency
      • What we spend
      • Our performance
      • Request information
      • Have your say
        Back
        Have your say
        • Complaints
        • Compliments
      • Developing our Service
      • Our environmental strategy
      • Equality and diversity
      • Work with us
      • Covid-19 response
      • Fire Authority
      • Fire, rescue and safety training (Red One)
      • Firefighters' pensions board
  • Newsroom
    Back
    Newsroom
    New Medium Rescue Pump
    News
    24 May 2022

    Investing in our fire engines for our communities

    The Chief Fire Officer and colleagues with the flag
    News
    11 May 2022

    Service looking forward to return of Exeter Pride

    • Incidents
    • Featured news
    • News
    • Events
    • Social media
  • Safety advice
  • Careers
    Back
    Careers
      • The role of a firefighter
      • Become an on-call firefighter
        Back
        Become an on-call firefighter
        • Application process (on-call)
        • On-call firefighter pay
        • How on-call firefighters benefit businesses
      • Become a wholetime firefighter
        Back
        Become a wholetime firefighter
        • Application process (wholetime)
      • The role of a fire control operator
        Back
        The role of a fire control operator
        • Become a fire control operator
      • Support staff roles
      • Looking after our people
        Back
        Looking after our people
        • Embracing equal opportunities
        • Supporting women in the Service
      • Vacancies
      • Benefits
      • Pay rates
      • Request a careers talk
  • Education and young people
    Back
    Education and young people
      • Early years, reception and year one
      • Primary schools
        Back
        Primary schools
        • Fire and road safety resources
        • Great Fire of London
        • Primary school fire safety visits
      • Secondary schools
      • Fire starting behaviour in children
      • Young drivers
      • Join the fire cadets
      • Work experience
Search

People often search for...

When should I test my smoke alarm?
Home safety visits
Chimney fires
Report a problem with a fire hydrant
Wildfires

Contact

  • Contact us
Accessibility Tool
  • Zoom in
  • Zoom out
  • Reset
  • Contrast
  • Accessibility help

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. What safety advice are you looking for?
FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsappMessenger Share

Fire safety equipment

You might be considering putting safety equipment such as a fire extinguisher in your home to help you feel more reassured if a fire occurs.

You might think you can deal with it yourself, but even the smallest of fires can rapidly get out of control.

If a fire starts in your home:

  • get out
  • stay out
  • call 999 and ask for the fire and rescue service.

Smoke alarms

See our smoke alarms guidance to find out about installing smoke alarms in your home.

Fire blankets

Fire blankets are designed to put out small fires by smothering them. They’re good for extinguishing chip pan fires or to wrap around someone whose clothing is on fire. They’re made from a specially woven fabric that is fire retardant.

If you choose to buy a fire blanket, make sure to follow this safety advice.

  • Keep it in the kitchen. Over half of the fires we attend start in the kitchen.
  • Only use it to smother small fires.
  • Use it to put out fires on clothing by wrapping the blanket around the person on fire.
  • Always look for the British Standard mark (BS EN: 1869:1997 or BS 7944:1999).
  • Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Carbon monoxide alarms

See our carbon monoxide information to find out about carbon monoxide alarms.

Fire extinguishers

If you decide to buy a fire extinguisher, follow this safety advice.

  • Make sure that it has a Kitemark of British Approvals for Fire Equipment mark.
  • Keep them stored away from cookers, heaters or other extreme heat sources.
  • Recharge it after use.
  • Have your extinguishers regularly serviced by a qualified person.

Fire extinguishers need to be disposed of carefully as they contain hazardous substances. Find your local hazardous waste disposal service.

Types of fire extinguisher

There are four types of fire extinguishers, and each contains different substances to deal with different types of fires. There are six types of fires, which can be divided into classes from A-F.

There is no single type of fire extinguisher that can deal with all types of fire.

Important things to know

CO2 - Gas from CO2 extinguishers can be harmful if used in confined spaces, as they displace oxygen in the air. Make sure to ventilate the area well after extinguishing the fire.

Dry powder fire extinguishers should not be used in enclosed spaces. The powder can affect your breathing and reduce visibility for a safe evacuation.

Never hold the horn while using the extinguisher. The dry ice will cause your skin to stick to the horn with a burning sensation.

Fire extinguishers to use for different types of fire

Wood, paper, plastics, soft furnishings etc.

Grey
  • AFF foam
  • Water
  • Wet chemical
  • Dry powder

Flammable liquids, petrol, oil etc.

Grey
  • AFF foam
  • CO2
  • Dry powder

Flammable gases, propane, butane, methane etc.

Grey
  • Dry powder

Metals: aluminium, magnesium, titanium, swarf (metal shavings) etc.

Grey
  • L2 and M28 powder

Electrical apparatus, computers, phone chargers etc.

Grey
  • CO2
  • Dry powder

Cooking oils and fats

Grey
  • Wet chemical

Cooking oil fires

Never use a fire extinguisher for a chip pan fire. The jet from the extinguisher can force burning fat out of the pan and spread the fire.

You can find out more information about fire safety equipment for a commercial premises or public building in our business safety section.

Common questions

How do I dispose of a fire extinguisher?

Grey

Fire extinguishers need to be disposed of carefully as they contain hazardous substances. Find your local hazardous waste disposal service. 

What is an ABC fire extinguisher?

Grey

An ABC fire extinguisher is one that is suitable for extinguishing the fires in the A, B and C categories, as detailed in the section 'fire extinguishers to use for different types of fire'.

Can a fire extinguisher explode?

Grey

Fire extinguishers can explode if they have not been maintained properly. If the case has been damaged, this can cause pressure to mount inside, making it more likely to explode.

How do you know if a fire extinguisher is still okay to use?

Grey

Most fire extinguishers come with a pressure gauge that indicates the pressure level inside. If the gauge is too low, then you need to replace your extinguisher.

What to do if there’s a fire

  1. Get out of the building, closing any doors behind you.

  2. Stay out of the building.

  3. Call 999 and ask for the fire service.

Home safety visits

Find out more

What to do if there's a fire in your home

Find out more

How to make an escape plan

Find out more

Footer menu

  • Home
  • About us
      • Our people
      • Our fire stations
      • Fleet and equipment
      • How we respond to emergency calls
      • Community Risk Management Plan
      • Information and data transparency
      • What we spend
      • Our performance
      • Request information
      • Have your say
      • Developing our Service
      • Our environmental strategy
      • Equality and diversity
      • Work with us
      • Covid-19 response
      • Fire Authority
      • Fire, rescue and safety training (Red One)
      • Firefighters' pensions board
    • Newsroom
      • Incidents
      • Featured news
      • News
      • Events
      • Social media
    • Safety advice
    • Careers
        • The role of a firefighter
        • Become an on-call firefighter
        • Become a wholetime firefighter
        • The role of a fire control operator
        • Support staff roles
        • Looking after our people
        • Vacancies
        • Benefits
        • Pay rates
        • Request a careers talk
    • Education and young people
        • Early years, reception and year one
        • Primary schools
        • Secondary schools
        • Fire starting behaviour in children
        • Young drivers
        • Join the fire cadets
        • Work experience

Translate the website

Footer contact

  • Contact us

Staff login

Always call 999 in an emergency

Did you find this page useful

  • Yes
  • No

Follow us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Follow us
  • Print this page

Footer bottom

  • Our website
  • Sitemap
  • Cookies
  • Privacy notices
  • Modern Slavery Act 2015
  • Accessibility

Mindful Employer logoDisability Confident employer logoEmployers Network for Equality and Inclusion logoBritish Quality Foundation logoEmployers network for equality and inclusion logoFire pride and allies logo