Most of us have one of these in our home: a portable fire extinguisher. Hopefully most of us have more than one in the home. It is easier than ever to purchase a portable fire extinguisher for the home and they now even come small enough for a compact vehicle.

How hard could it be to use one of these? Don’t you just point and shoot? Well, it takes a little bit more than just that. The FDNY gives us this acronym to remember how to properly use this device: P.A.S.S.

• Pull: Holding the extinguisher upright, pull the pin from the extinguisher.
• Aim at the base of the fire while standing 20 feet away.
• Squeeze the lever
• Sweep side-to- side across the base of the fire.

The FDNY also provides these tips on their site:

• “the portable fire extinguishers are properly located and in working order.
• the portable fire extinguishers are of the correct type.
• the fire is discovered while still small enough for use of the portable fire extinguishers to be effective.
• the fire is discovered by persons who are ready, willing, and able to use the portable fire extinguishers.

Also, you should know that portable fire extinguishers are valuable for immediate use on small fires. They contain a limited amount of extinguishing material and need to be used properly so that this material is not wasted.”

Learn more about New York fires.

Graphic from the FDNY