Fire extinguisher?

[jgg85234]

Hose nearby, and Kidde Extinguisher (replaced under recall) bolted to post right next to cooker.

Had one from the 1980s, no recall.
Had one from the 1990s, recalled.
Had one from the 2000s, recalled.

Who says they don't keep making things cheaper

Best regards,
Jim

[Attjack]

I keep a fire extinguisher around my outdoor kitchens and indoor kitchens. I also have hoses directly by my outdoor kitchens. Never had to use the extinguishers. I do use the hoses to wet the area around where I am using a chimney starter when it's dry since I often do that on the ground.

[EdF]

I've never needed to use one - kitchen, outdoor kitchen, woodshop. But it's good know you're ready if you do.

[Mosca]

Yep! I don't want to need one! But I do want to be prepared!

[Mudkat]

In Maryland this year rain is only a few seconds away if it ain't raining already so that'll cover the time it takes to get to the hose. 😊

It's a good point though. Funny thing is that I have one but never think to bring it outside with me. Should be a habit I get into.

[MBMorgan]

I keep a First Alert extinguisher (3-A:40-B:C for CaptainMike ) about 15 ft. from the kitchen and no more than about 30 from the deck. Thankfully (knock on wood), there's been no need for it yet ... although this post did inspire me to haul it out and give it a thorough (and belated) once-over.

[CaptainMike]

Have it serviced as well. It's not expensive.

[Danjohnston949]

Great Post‼️ My Extinguishers Are Long Overdue For Service‼️
Thanks One And All❗️
From A Backyard Cremator In Fargo ND, Dan

[Larry Grover]

One of the reasons I joined this site is because I had a bad grease fire in a gasser. Black smoke rose up high like a mini-nuke and (to the scared neighbors) it looked like a helicopter crashed in my back yard! So I figured I better quit or get my act together and learn how to do things right. I don't like to quit so here I am, but one thing I learned is that salt suffocates grease fires. We all have loads of salt right? And if that don't work I also have a fire extinguisher but what kind of chemicals are in that stuff? I'd rather smother with lid or use salt first if possible.

I have a friend that lost their house in a fire (his neighbor's dryer lint caught fire.) He told me how surprised he was at how fast things went from "Hey I smell smoke" to "Holy Hell, get 'outa dodge!" Best to be ready for the worst.

Funny thing is even though my Weber gasser looked like it was cremated it turned out ok. I cleaned it up and it runs like new!

[Danjohnston949]

(larry) Grover, I'm Glad All Came Out Well For You‼️ Sorry For Your Neighbors Loss❗️ CaptainMike Can Tell You More But There Is Nothing More Flamible Than Dryer Lint❓❗️❓ Dan

[scottranda]

I have one!

[Danjohnston949]

Mosca, Tom I Must Have Had My Head Where The Sun Doesn't Shine When You Started This
"GREAT THREAD"‼️❗️‼️ "FOOD FOR THOUGHT FOR ONE AND ALL"❓‼️❓ 🤗 😇 🤗 Dan

[HawkerXP]

On our aircraft, cabin / cockpit fire extinguishers are inspected monthly. Weighed annually. Refilled (serviced) at 6 years. Hydrostatically tested at 12 years. These are just aircraft grade halon portables like you have at home. We also carry a water one in the cabin.

The latest concern on board is personal device batteries going onto thermal discharge. We have two thermal bags that will contain a devise with battery overheating or fire. The lavatory and galley trash containers have there own small fire bottles that will discharge automatically. In case you wanted to know.

[Mr. Bones]

As mentioned earlier in this post, I keep one handy.
It helps me hold down th fort, til more qualified folks can arrive!

In th neck of th woods where I growed up, we always referred to th local VFD as "Th Basement Savers"

[N227GB]

I have extinguishers available both at home and my office where I cook, and they all get inspected on a regular basis.

I think fires can be mitigated by proper maintenance of your grills and cookers and using the right equipment.

Around 25 years ago I bought a propane grill from a wholesale club that had lava rocks in it. Those things were awful with flare ups! I replaced them with ceramic perforated blocks, but they weren't much better. This was before Weber came out with their flavorizer bars, or I didn't know about them yet.

A few years ago I was volunteering at my EAA chapter's food tent at Page Field's Aviation Day event. After a day of cooking burgers and brats the grill I was using developed a good fire. I slammed the lid shut and turned off the propane. One of the other chapter guys comes over with bottled water. I'm saying "Hey, don't throw water on a grease fi...." and the fires out.

I didn't know it at the time, but he was retired NYFD. I chalk this up to "Don't try this at home, I'm a professional."

[Mr. Bones]

Ya jus gotta love Th Pro's, brother! Much Respect to FDNY!!!

[Mr. Bones]

All kiddin aside, I will add th followin: I'm countin on th wonderful resource we have at hand, in CaptainMike to correct me, if I stray offa th path, or things have changed, since...TIA, Cap'n!

I used to be responsible, comprehensively, fer ~600 Residential units, at work... no pressure, right? ~2400 lives, at any given time.

One of my (many) responsibilities was to check an service their fire extinguishers. It is required by law to be done annually. We did it quarterly, because it is imperative that nobody got hurt.

I ain't advocatin that yerselves, or myselves are an expert in this field, an perhaps it is best to take yer extinguisher to a certified (yes, ya haveta be, an yes, I am) professional to be serviced.

That bein said, if ya are remiss, or ain't gonna/caint afford (?) to do so, I most highly recommend that ya do at least th followin, at a bare bones minimum:

First off, go check yer pressure guage. If th needle still falls within th green area, yer good to go, with one caveat, which I will git to shortly. Do this monthly. Religiously.

Pick yer extinguisher up. Imagine it is a grenade, an ya don't want th pin to become dislodged (they do), an go kerblooey all over th inside of yer house. Don't ask me how I know this, please. Better yet, take it outside, fer th next steps...

Kinda shake it gently, upside down, side to side, all around, a bit....

Do ya hear/feel anything kinda movin around, inside it? If not, it's past due fer servicin.

Th next step involves a rubber mallet, which I imagine many of yall have one handy, right? If ya don't, go an git yerselves one; don't try to riff on this with another bludgeon, okay? Bad juju.

Since I'm (predominately) right-handed, I pick up said extinguisher in my left hand, an cradle it, upside-down, in th crook of my arm, kinda like a football...did I mention, watch out fer that pin to become dislodged?

With my trusty rubber mallet (wore out many of them, doin this), repeatedly whack, somewhere between, firmly, an authoritatively, all around th lip, an rounded bottom of yer extinguisher. Watch that pin.

Keep yer fingers an thumb well clear of th end of th extinguisher, so's ya don't accidentally give yerself a very painful injury. Please, don't ask me how I happen to know this, as well.

It will make a kinda strange sound, normal enough. As ya continue, th sound should, ideally, change subtly...hard to explain, but y'all will hear it, if all goes as it should...

Next, turn it right-side up, hold by th handle, with yer thumb holdin th pin in, an gently, firmly whack th bejeebers outta it, all up an down th length of th cylinder, rotatin it as ya go. Watch th pin. (Yall are outside, right?!?!?!?)

After a few minutes, or so, or whenever yer whackin arm gits a lil bit winded, then set down yer big ol trusty rubber mallet, an repeat the topsy turvy shake/rotate test from th initial part of this instructional.

Ya should be able to perceive a shiftin of th contents, now. If it is still nada, zero, zilch, etc. ya likely need a new extinguisher, cause th fire retardant is caked in th bottom, an ain't gonna come outta th nozzle, when ya desperately need it to do so!!!!! Very, very BAD JUJU, indeed!!!!!

Lastly, but equally important, is: check th cylinder date stamped on yer extinguisher, especial if ya cain't even remember how many years ago ya got it/bought it. There are regulations an mandates in place, that require PROFESSIONAL testin, an re-certification of these cylinders, due to th pressure involved.

I hope this will help at least re-enable, or replace some of yer dormant, potentially useless, aged extinguishers...

I also fervently hope that CaptainMike will step in, an correct me, if I have, in any way, shape or form, misspoken, an elaborate on more current details/regulations that I may be behind th times on..

Happy Saturday, yall!

Let's be safe, out there, an make Great Food!

[Danjohnston949]

Mr. Bones, "Cuz" Your Detail Sounds Exactly Like The Training I Was Given Back When All Airports Served By A Commercial Air Carrier Had To Have An Active "FIRE DEPT"‼️ 1968 - 1969❓
Thanks For The Trip Down Memory Lane‼️ Dan

[CaptainMike]

Got nuthin' ta add, edit, nor elaborate on. I will reinforce getting them serviced annually though.

[JimLinebarger]

Mr. Bones CaptainMike Man am I glad I went back in this thread and read this. I have had my FE for 12+ years next to the back door where I grill. All this time I thought it was good. I just checked and it is caked since it has been in the same position all of this time.Read label and found that is must be removed from service after 12 years! So, need to get a new one. Thanks, gents.

[JimLinebarger]

I cook on an old untreated wooden deck (which has a couple of small charred spots on it) so I have a fire extinguisher nearby and during the summer a water hose that is primed and ready to go all the time. I also water the herbs on the deck with it. on some really hot days I water down under the cookers. But I also have the cookers on cement board to help with the heat and some sparks.

[CaptainMike]

Just don't leave them too long unattended, it's amazing how fast a fire can grow. I don't use my charcoal grills on windy days either.

[JimLinebarger]

CaptainMike Yes, that has been a real concern lately. I set a timer so that I don't forget. Most is 20 minutes but usually less than 10 for both checking the cook and the flame.

[Mosca]

I'm glad to see this topic revived. I don't recall ever seeing anything about fire safety in any of the BBQ books I've read, and taking care of it is a one-time purchase that costs next to nothing. Buy the extinguisher, then go about your business. You will probably never need it. But if you do, you're prepared.

[Danjohnston949]

Mosca, "WELL DONE"‼️ Let's Keep This One Going If Possible❗️❓❗️ Meathead, Huskee, @ ETAL: Tom, I Noticed
You Mentioned Thet Your Wife Couldn't Handle The Weight Of The
Fire Extinguisher You Had Posted❓ Would An Oxygen Tank Cart
Make It Easier For Her❓❗️❓ Dan

[panteracfh3]

Not sure why this didn’t occur to me beforehand but I think it’s a solid investment to protect people we care about and the property as well

[Huskee]

On this "safety" page, if you scroll down to the "Grill, Smoker & Oven Safety" subheading, the first bullet point that Meathead mentions is have a fire extinguisher nearby, and which types of extinguishers to use. I'm not sure if this tidbit is in his book, but yes fire extinguisher education definitely deserves a wider broadcast to prevent or at least minimize needless tragedies.

[Mosca]

It’s mentioned in passing in the "build a pit" section of how to cook a whole hog.