House fire hose
Water is an effective extinguishing agent against fires in wood, textiles and paper. You can also use clean water to extinguish fires in your electrical system at home. Never use water to extinguish fires in deep fryers, other types of fat or oil. This can cause an explosive fire.
With a house fire hose, you have unlimited access to water and can extinguish a lot and for a long time. It can be used by most people without difficulty or training. If a house fire hose is the only extinguishing equipment you have, check that it reaches and can be used in all rooms. The hose should not be longer than 30 meters.
Fire extinguisher
The most common fire extinguishers can be divided into two types: foam and powder. Such devices effectively extinguish most types of fires that may occur in the home. The appliances are marked with the types of fires they can extinguish (see fact box: This is what the marking means).
There are requirements for foam and powder extinguishers sold on the market to be tested and approved. In addition, they must be red.
The pressure in both foam and powder devices is high. If you are trying to extinguish a fire in oil, such as in an air fryer, the pressure can flush the burning oil over the edge of the pan and spread the fire instead of extinguishing it.
With foam and powder appliances, you cannot extinguish for as long as with a domestic fire hose. A 6-kilogram device will be empty in 10-20 seconds. Fire extinguishers can be heavy to lift, especially for the elderly or people with disabilities.
Difference between foam and powder
Powder apparatus contains a fine powder that settles over the flames and suffocates them. A foam extinguisher contains water-based foam that suffocates and cools the fire. In the regulations, both foam and powder are equated with extinguishing equipment. Powder can be easier to use because you don't have to extinguish as precisely with powder as you do with foam.
Powder extinguishers can withstand frost without breaking. Foam extinguishers must be stored frost-free in order to retain their extinguishing properties. Remember this if you have a fire extinguisher in your cabin or other places where it can get cold.
Small fire extinguishers
Smaller extinguishing sprays or other additional products sold under the name "fire extinguisher" are not tested in the same way as the red foam and powder appliances. Therefore, you cannot know with the same certainty what extinguishing properties the product has. You should be aware of this if you acquire such equipment.
Fire blanket
A fire blanket is intended to extinguish (suffocate) smaller fires and/or protect against sparks and radiant heat from a fire. It can also be effective at quickly extinguishing fires in clothing or hair. If you have to escape through flames, wrap the blanket around yourself or others to protect your skin from heat.
Own extinguisher for deep frying
Do you use the air fryer often? There are special fire extinguishers that have been developed specifically to extinguish fires in fryers and cooking oils. These devices are marked with the letters AF.