MARIPOSA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINS ITS VOLUNTEERS ON THE USE OF FIRE EXTINGUISHERS EACH YEAR. As an annual refresher, Mariposa County Fire members are required to attend a fire extinguisher refresher class. The objective is to practice extinguishing fires, refresh skills in the different types of extinguishers and to practice safety procedures.

Fires are classified based on the type of fuel involved. Likewise, the type of fires they are designed to extinguish classifies portable fire extinguishers. There are five basic classifications of fuel and extinguishers, and extinguishers are labeled with either letter-shaped or pictorial symbols that indicate what types of fires they are intended for. For home use, most extinguishers will be ABC classification.

Class A fires involve ordinary combustible materials, such as cloth, wood, paper, rubber, and many plastics. Extinguishers with an A rating are designed to extinguish fires involving these ordinary combustible materials.

Class B fires involve flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline, alcohol, oilbased paints, lacquers. Therefore, extinguishers with a B rati are designed to extinguish fires involving flammable and combustible liquids.

Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment. Extinguishers with a C rating are designed for use with these fires.

Class D fires involve combustible metals, such as magnesium, titanium, and sodium. Extinguishers with a D rating are designed to extinguish fires involving combustible metals.

Class K fires involve vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats in cooking appliances. Extinguishers with a K rating are designed to extinguish fires involving vegetable oils, animal oils, or fats utilized in commercial cooking appliances.

Most portable extinguishers are rated for use with more than one classification of fire. For example: An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type.

When properly used, fire extinguishers can help extinguish a potentially dangerous fire, but the first thing should do is call 911. Contact Mariposa County Fire at www.mariposacounty. org/fire or call 966-4330 for more information about fire extinguishers in the home.