Having a portable fire extinguisher in your home is one step for keeping you and your property safe from a fire, but there are some things you need to know if you are planning to use one in a fire. For a portable fire extinguisher to be an effective tool for putting out a fire you must:

• Know where yours is located.
• Be sure that it is fully charged and operational.
• Know how to use it – follow the P.A.S.S. acronym.
• Understand what types of fires it will extinguish.
• Be able to control the fire with the extinguisher. They are only effective on small fires.
• Be sure that all others in the building are notified of the fire and are evacuating on their own.
• Be sure you have an exit route behind you so the fire does not block your exit path.

For more information and safety tips, visit the National Fire Protection Association website.