Know the right kind of fire extinguisher to use

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - Having a fire extinguisher handy can save your life if a fire starts at your home.

On Sunday, six people in Conway were forced out of their house after a fire . Grease on a stove caught fire, but thanks to a fire extinguisher the residents used, the house wasn't a total loss.

Firefighters say that is a great example of how you could prevent a huge fire. Fire extinguishers are easy to use: pull the pin out, aim, and squeeze. Instructions are directly on the extinguisher, too.

Still, it's also important to know what kind of fire extinguishers you can use for different types of fire, says Capt. William Millin of the Northampton Fire Department.

“If you have a chimney fire, if you try to use water to put out the fire, you'll crack your chimney and make it worse,” Millin said.

There are four types of fire extinguishers, which you can buy at your local hardware store:

• Type A is for paper and other ordinary materials.
• Type B is for liquid, gas, and oil fires.
• Type C is for electrical fires.
• You can also buy a multi-purpose extinguisher that can be used for all three types of fires.

You can tell the difference in the kind of extinguisher by looking at the label.