A fire extinguisher is an important tool for helping to prevent or control a fire from spreading until emergency services arrive. Fire extinguishers are typically stored in a convenient location at home or work and are often fitted to motor vehicles, boats, aircraft, or other machinery — both for fire protection and as a standard safety requirement. Fire extinguishers are available in a variety of sizes and ratings, and they are labeled with a standard symbol or letters to indicate the types of fires they can extinguish.

CLASS A fires involve ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber and many plastics. These types of fires are extinguished by removing oxygen from the fire, which starves the fire of the fuel it needs to burn.

CLASS B fires are fueled by flammable liquids or vapors such as gasoline, oil, petroleum grease, tars and solvents. These types of fires are extinguished with a dry chemical agent that separates the three parts of the fire triangle: heat, fuel and oxygen.

CLASS C fires are fueled by live electrical equipment such as computers, appliances and switches. These types of fires can spread very quickly and must be smothered before they can affect other items in the area. These are extinguished with a dry powder agent that interrupts the chain reaction of electricity in the fire, or with a non-conductive chemical such as graphite, copper, and sodium chloride (ansul).

The fifth classification of fire is a Class K fire, which is a fire that involves cooking oils and fats. These types of fires are usually extinguished with a liquid agent that creates a foam blanket or seal over the fire, which traps the flames and keeps them from burning. Class K extinguishers are often found in restaurants and other food service establishments, but they are also increasingly being used at home.

All types of fire extinguishers require at least a basic inspection every year to check their weight and externally validate the correct pressure. Water, wet chemical, and foam extinguishers require a more detailed examination every five years, including a test discharge and recharge. All extinguishers need to be inspected and serviced by a qualified technician. In addition, certain states and jurisdictions regulate the number of times an extinguisher can be serviced. Regardless of the type of fire extinguisher, it is important to keep it close at hand and have an unobstructed escape route in case of an emergency. Whether you are using a fire extinguisher at home or at work, it is important to follow all manufacturer instructions and maintain proper maintenance.

A fire station, also known as a firehouse or fire hall, is a facility for storing and maintaining fire engines and other equipment. A fire station is usually located in a busy area close to the places where emergency calls are received, so that firefighters can quickly arrive at an emergency scene. The building may be equipped with living quarters for full-time firefighters. Firefighters on a call are typically summoned to the fire station by siren, radio or pager. The living areas of the fire station will have sleeping quarters for the firefighters, and may also have offices and a library of reference material. The building may also contain a trophy wall to display memorabilia of past firefighters and their accomplishments.

The buildings at most fire stations are equipped with a garage to house the fire engines and other equipment. The garage will usually have doors to allow for easy loading of the vehicles. The approach to the garage may be posted with warning signs and traffic signals to stop or warn traffic when the fire trucks are leaving or returning to the fire station.

Depending on the local government regulations, the fire department may also be responsible for providing EMS services, such as ambulances. Some fire departments provide this service as a separate division of their operations, while others are cross-trained to also perform these tasks and provide them as part of their regular duties.

Most cities have fire departments that are run by the local government. Some are organized as “fire protection districts” that cover a large geographical area. In the United States, there are many fire departments at the municipal level, while in some countries, the fire services are grouped into national organizations that operate at the regional or state level.

Some fire departments are primarily volunteer, while others are entirely professional, and still other services are combination of both. The administration of a fire department is concerned with supervision, budgets, policy and human resources. The service side is concerned with protection, safety and education of the public, while the operations are responsible for rescues and other emergency responses.

The smallest fire departments have only one fire station that is the headquarters for the entire department, while larger ones have multiple locations that are strategically placed to respond to emergencies as quickly as possible. These facilities are usually managed by a Fire Chief who is in charge of the operation and has the authority to assign personnel and equipment to an incident as needed. The Fire Chief will often be on-call for 24-hour shifts, and if called to an emergency will direct the activities of all on-duty personnel at the scene.