Page 33 - Fourways Gardens June 2021
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Lifestyle






           Always make sure that your appliances   the  site  of  the  fire  and  store  them  in   with water, although you can also use a
           are unplugged when you’re not using   a cool place, well away from where   Class A fire extinguisher if you have one.
           them  –  this  also  helps  to  save  on   the fire took place – and DO NOT USE
           electricity if your appliances have   WATER  TO  TRY  AND  EXTINGUISH  THE   The  most  important  response  to  a  fire
           always-on stand-by modes.           FIRE. If you suspect any possibility that   incident  is  –  if  you  cannot  control  and
          2.  A grease or cooking oil fire. If this fire   there  has  been  a  gas  leak,  DO  NOT   completely extinguish the fire – leave the
           is in a pan on a stove top, cover the pan   attempt to light the gas appliance. Try   building immediately and call your local
           with a metal lid to seal off the oxygen.   to shut off the gas supply and, if it’s a   fire rescue service.
           Turn  off  the  heat  source.  AGAIN, YOU   gas cylinder, take it outdoors well away
           SHOULD  NEVER  TRY  TO  EXTINGUISH   from  any  structures.  Remember  that   Sources:
                                                                                https://fireopssa.co.za
           THIS  TYPE  OF  FIRE  WITH  WATER  –   LPG gas is heavier than air, so do make   www.firesafe.co.za/2019/04/17/which-fire-extinguisher
                                                                                www.afrox-gas.co.za
           WATER WILL JUST MAKE THE SITUATION   sure toddlers and babies are lifted off
           A  LOT  WORSE.  If  outdoors,  you  can   the  floor  and  open  all  windows  for   Whilst every effort has been made to
           throw sand on the fire to starve it of   ventilation.                ensure the accuracy of this information,
           oxygen.  A  Class  B  fire  extinguisher  is   6.  Wood, paper, most fabrics and some   readers  should  seek  professional  advice
           best suited for dealing with this type of   plastics. These are classified as Class A   when sourcing firefighting equipment or
           fire, or you can use salt or bicarbonate   fires and they actually can be put out   employing fire prevention methods.
           of  soda  (baking  soda)  –  which  is  not
           stored above the stove!!
          3.  A petrol, paint, solvent or paraffin fire.
           As with a grease or cooking oil fire, you
           should  use  a  Class  B  fire  extinguisher
           and  NEVER  TRY  TO  EXTINGUISH  THIS
           TYPE OF FIRE WITH WATER.
          4.  Combustible metals such as titanium,
           magnesium, lithium and aluminium.
           Although it normally takes a lot of
           heat before these metals will ignite,
           once they are burning, this type of
           fire  is  incredibly  dangerous.  This  is
           categorised  as  a  Class  D  fire  and  the
           advice is to only use a fire extinguisher
           suited to Class D fires to extinguish this
           type of fire. Yet again, the advice is to
           REFRAIN FROM USING WATER.
          5.  LPG gas fire. If possible, cut off the gas
           supply.  Carefully  smother  the  fire  –  it
           is  important  to  completely  extinguish
           the fire to prevent the possibility of a
           ‘flash back’. Remove all cylinders from
































                                                   Fourways Gardens • 31 • June 2021
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