by S. J. Reid

Created on: September 19, 2008   Last Updated: September 25, 2008

Sitting around the hearth with your love ones can be the perfect picture of a winter's night. However, people often forget to consider the dangers of a fireplace and how easy it is to take simple precautions to keep your home and family safe.

Your home fireplace, although beautiful and comforting, still has the potential to be a fire hazard. Anything from an equipment malfunction to your Christmas decorations hanging from the mantel could cause your home to go up in flames. All of these dangers can be easily neutralized with the careful selection and placement of one piece of equipment - a fire extinguisher.

Fire extinguishers come in several varieties, all of which are good for their specific purpose, but not all of which are used to treat the same type of fire. It is important to understand the various types of fire extinguisher you may have the need to use in your home, and what kind of fire they are able to keep under control.

Water Fire Extinguishers

Use a fine spray of water as their extinguishing method. They are for use on fires initiated by solid organic materials, such as wood, straw, textiles, and coal . This is the most common type of fire and the one you are most likely to encounter in your home.

Foam Fire Extinguishers

Emit a foam which coats the surface of the fire's origin in order to extinguish. They are suitable for fires started by combustable liquids such as oil, paint and petrol. Foam extingishers will also extinguish a fire caused by organic solids.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishers

Are specifically formulated to stop electrical fires, and pose no risk to electrical equipment. They are also used for fires caused by flammable liquids. The CO2 extinguisher is considered a suitable replacement for the halon fire extinguisher which is now deemed, by most authorities, to be unsuitable for household use.

Powder Fire Extinguishers

Are appropriate for environments in which you run the risk of fires started by organic solids, liquids, electricity, or any mixture of the three. These are the most versatile of fire extinguishers and may be the best choice for your home and fireplace use.

An antique fire extinguisher or a vintage fire extinguisher can be a beautiful decoration for your mantle. While many people find these brass or copper showpeices appealing, antique fire extinguishers are not a reliable source of protection during a fire. You can, however, store your working fire extinguisher in a fire extinguisher cabinet nearby and have your antique piece adorning your hearth.

Once you have your fire extinguisher in place, it is essential that it be inspected at least once a month to ensure that it is easily accessible, pressure is at the correct level, it has sustained no damage, and all of the parts are in proper working order. Upon inspection, if an extinguisher is damaged or needs recharging it should be replaced immidiately. Refer to manufactures instructions for specific details on inspecting your extingisher.

Overall, a fireplace can be a beautiful addition to any room, a warm place to read a book, and a cozy place to spend time with the family. Just remember, you can significantly reduce your risk of danger simply by keeping a working fire extinguisher nearby.

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