How is a fire extinguisher used? The PASS method

Fight a fire only when it is small, everyone is getting out, and your exit is at your back; otherwise, leave.

Using a fire extinguisher: PASS. Pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and sweep from side to side. Only use an extinguisher on a small fire that is not growing, after warning everyone and calling 911, with a clear exit behind you. — **Fig. 5.10** Pull the pin, aim low at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and sweep from side to side. Only use an extinguisher on a small fire that is not growing, after warning everyone and calling 911, with a clear exit behind you. Source: NFPA; U.S. Fire Administration.

Area: SafetyFrom age 14Time to learn: 10 minutes to learn; hands-on practice in a class if you canPractise in a class

To use a fire extinguisher, follow PASS: Pull the pin, Aim low at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly, and Sweep from side to side. Do this only on a small fire, with a clear way out behind you.

SafetyIf you are in any doubt, get out and call 911 from outside. NFPA advises that only adults who know how to operate an extinguisher should use one; in a fire, a teenager's first job is to warn others and get out. For hands-on practice, ask your local fire department or your employer whether they offer extinguisher training.

Why it matters

Portable extinguishers are designed for small fires, and fighting one that is already spreading uses up the minutes you need to escape. In 2023 there were an estimated 344,600 residential building fires in the US, and they killed 2,890 people. Knowing when not to fight a fire, and which extinguisher type matches which fire, is as much a part of the skill as the PASS technique.

In 2023, an estimated 344,600 residential building fires in the US caused 2,890 deaths and 10,400 injuries.

Source: US Fire Administration: Residential fire estimate summaries, 2023.Measured

How to do it

Decide first. Use an extinguisher only if all of these are true: everyone is leaving, someone is calling 911 from outside, the fire is small and not spreading, and you have a clear exit behind you. Small means contained to one object, such as a wastebasket, with flames no higher than your head.
Know the types. A home extinguisher should be rated at least 2-A:10-B:C and carry a UL or ULC listing label. Class A is for ordinary materials such as wood, paper and cloth. Class B is for flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil and oil-based paint. Class C is for plugged-in electrical equipment. Class K is for cooking oils and fats, and Class D is for burning metals.
Stand back from the fire with your back to the exit, close enough to reach the fire with the spray. Check the label or manual for your extinguisher's range before you ever need it.
Pull: hold the extinguisher upright with the nozzle pointing away from you, and pull the pin.
Aim: point the nozzle or hose low, at the base of the fire, not at the flames.
Squeeze: squeeze the lever slowly and evenly. The fire may flare up briefly when the agent first hits it; this is expected.
Sweep: move the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire, stepping carefully closer as the fire shrinks, until it is out.
Back away while you keep watching the area. If one extinguisher does not put the fire out, leave at once, close doors behind you, and do not go back in.
Replace or recharge the extinguisher after any use, even a short one.
Keep an extinguisher on every level, within 40 feet (12 m) of where you might need it, and not next to the stove or another fire hazard. Check it regularly, for example when you test your smoke alarms each month. The gauge should be in the green, the pin and tamper seal in place, and the can free of damage or rust. Replace disposable extinguishers within 12 years of the manufacture date on the label.

Common mistakes

Fighting a fire that has spread beyond one object, or staying when heat stops you getting within 10 to 15 feet or smoke forces you to crawl. In those cases, get out.
Aiming at the flames instead of at the base of the fire.
Letting the fire get between you and the exit.
Spraying a pan of burning oil at close range. Cover the pan and turn off the heat. If you do use an extinguisher on a grease fire, stay at least 6 to 8 feet (1.8 to 2.4 m) away, and remember that only Class K extinguishers are rated for cooking oil and fat fires.

You can do this when …you can say the PASS steps in order, read the class rating on your own extinguisher, and name the four conditions that must all be true before you use it.

Reading is not training. Practise on a manikin or in a supervised class with the American Red Cross or the American Heart Association, or in Canada with the Heart and Stroke Foundation, St John Ambulance or the Canadian Red Cross.