You have seen them. They are everywhere. And they are a fundamental characteristic of a shelter. Zombies No. Extinguishers. All places need them. And not just one you pulled out of the back of your garage. They must be positioned correctly, in good working order, and most importantly, the staff / crew must know how to use them.
What are the top five things every tracker should know about fire extinguishers? It’s funny you ask. Are here:
5. Fire extinguishers should be placed at each exit. It is always better to have too many than not enough.
4. There should be a flashlight attached to each fire extinguisher. Preferably a glow-in-the-dark flashlight so it’s easy to find during a power outage. Strategically placed glow-in-the-dark tape can also help in this regard. Each actor and team member should also carry a small flashlight on their person in the event of a power outage.
3. Haunts need to have 2A10 BC fire extinguishers. They can be purchased at a hardware store like Lowes and / or Home Depot. They also need an annual service. The fire marshal will likely (hopefully) check the date on the extinguisher to make sure it is code compliant. If you buy them from Home Depot or Lowes, be sure to affix a copy of the receipt to the fire extinguishers, which makes them good for one year. After they are serviced, the extinguisher company will tag them with an update.
2. Fire extinguishers must be easily accessible. They should be placed just above the height of the doorknob so that everyone can reach them and in a place where people will not put things in front of, on top of or around them. Shelter staff / equipment need to know how to use them. They are also familiar with the following PASS fire suppression operations system.
- PSqueeze the pin to discharge the extinguisher.
- FORI am at the BASE of the flames.
- Sturn off the top handle or lever to release the extinguishing foam.
- Scry from side to side in the fire until it goes out.
1. The most important thing about fire extinguishers is to make sure everyone on site knows that the first rule of fire safety is that leaving the premises is much more important than fighting a fire. Leaving the building is the first priority and they should only try to put out the fire if it is small and manageable.
