Euclid Fire Department trains residents and city workers on fire extinguishers
Aug. 7—White dust bellowed through the park as Euclid City Hall employees and city residents trained on how to use different fire extinguishers.
A practice fire last week was set outside of City Hall, giving those that might be unfamiliar with fire extinguishers a chance to use one without having to break glass in the process.
Kevin Bittner, inspector and educator for Euclid Fire Department, was on hand to help guide the residents on the practice of something many people might take for granted as being a simple task.
"Today we were giving an opportunity to give our city employees and our residents to do hands-on training with fire extinguishers," Bittner said. "We feel it's very important that you get to actually get to use them. To experience what it's like. We feel it's very valuable training."
Drew Bacik, another inspector and educator for the department, wanted to train people on the use of the extinguishers but also to guide them on if they should use them or back away to safety.
"We have been doing live fire extinguisher training for a long time," Bacik said. "It's something that we can extend out to the residents where they can actually fight a real fire in a controlled environment.
"We go over the proper use and maintenance of the fire extinguisher, their classifications and most importantly the decision of when to fight the fire with the extinguisher or leave that residence."
Fire extinguishers come in many different types, the most common that the public will see is the ABC type of extinguisher. These are designed for basic small fires that fall under "A" for Trash-Wood-Paper, "B" for liquids that can be cooking liquids, oil, gasoline, kerosene, or paint. "C" is for live electrical equipment.
These ABC extinguishers are designed for smaller fires, something that Becik wants to stress to the public.
"These are for the fires in the beginning stages," Becik said. "A fire that hasn't traveled out of one room yet, a fire that's just in the garbage can. The best thing to do would be to know where the fire extinguisher is and exit the building and close the door to try and contain the fire.
"But if you are going to fight the fire, you want to know where the fire is, where the exits are and use common sense," he said. "If your gut is telling you that you just need to get out, listen to that feeling and get out."
While inspectors carry out checks to make sure fire extinguishers are serviced and ready for use, there have been cases where people will use a fire extinguisher, sometimes for non-emergency reasons, and then place them back. That leaves a potential danger if someone needs to use the extinguisher in the future.
"For instance, one of the things is there is a gauge, and if that gauge is in the green and the pin is in place, then it's charged and it should work," Becik said. "But if you grab one and it isn't in the green then don't even bother messing with it. Just get out and call the fire department."
The Euclid Fire Department plans on having another training course for the public during September of this year. The official date will be announced at a later time and residents can check the department's website at https://www.cityofeuclid.com/fire for more information.
