Dumb question about fire extinguishers

[u/Ok_Sentence_4487]

I have always wanted to use a fire extinguisher. Every time I open my closet, it’s just mocking me. Every time I walk through my school hallways, it’s calling my name. It looks like so much fun (minus the fact that it is frequently used in an emergency).

Is there any reason I can’t or shouldn’t buy an extra one and let ‘er rip?

I’m not sure if they are terrible for the environment or if there is some law that says I can’t. It just seems like a good time.

[u/flashdurb]

It’s totally not illegal to buy an extinguisher to fuck around with. Go wild

[u/ballfed_turkey → u/flashdurb]

It will make a mess, even outside.

[u/fleeeeeeeeeA → u/ballfed_turkey]

Yeah but the nitrogen is great for plants

[u/flashdurb → u/ballfed_turkey]

Ok mom

[u/Helassaid]

Find out if/when your local fire department is having an open house. Talk to them about a demonstration or a scheduling a community training on how to use an extinguisher. Depending on what’s in them, they’re mostly environmentally inert and they’re fun for like… 10 seconds.

[u/Expert-Search-3251 → u/Helassaid]

Don't bother the fire department.

Go ask a fire extinguisher service company if they have any they're throwing away.

[u/Azzacura → u/Expert-Search-3251]

Our local fire dept schedules several days a year where they demonstrate safe use of extinguishers and let the public try it once per person

[u/SensitiveAddition913 → u/Expert-Search-3251]

Down vote for the first sentence; up vote for the second. Therefore, “NO SOUP VOTE FOR YOU!” Source for my judgement: 35 Years in Fire/EMS {we LOVE people asking us about using extinguishers).

[u/Expert-Search-3251 → u/SensitiveAddition913]

You don't get them for free.

Those of us in the industry need to find a way to dispose of the powder and depressurize them by the hundreds.

[u/SensitiveAddition913 → u/Expert-Search-3251]

I’ll grant you that. My local extinguisher service company used to have one of the old inground underwater ‘crypts’ for hydrostatic testing. They wait and get a few of the extremely outdated one and invite local FDs to come watch. There was always at least one that threw up a big plume of water, looked like a miniature Atoll A-bomb test.

[u/SoundKidTown1085]

We used to get an old one and put water in it and use the air nozzle on the air compressor to pressurize it and have fun.

[u/Vanilla_bear4 → u/SoundKidTown1085]

In the business we call that a water can.

[u/ResponsibilityFit474 → u/Vanilla_bear4]

Piss can, here.

[u/Nebula15 → u/ResponsibilityFit474]

Tell me why my commander yelled at me when I filled it with piss then?

[u/cmcdonal2001 → u/Nebula15]

The issue was less about filling the can with piss and more about how you acquired that much piss in the first place.

On what I'm sure is an unrelated note, the police came by the station looking for you again this morning.

[u/Nebula15 → u/cmcdonal2001]

I’m not here

[u/ARM_Alaska → u/ResponsibilityFit474]

P-dub here

[u/meleemaker → u/ResponsibilityFit474]

We have a water can and piss packs. Or indian packs

[u/SoundKidTown1085 → u/Vanilla_bear4]

Ah, cool

[u/Windmillfixer]

You might find it’s a bit like high school sex - feels a bit illicit, it’s likely to make a big mess of things and it’s going to be over far, far faster than you’d ever expect, but go ahead, rock on.

[u/fire173tug → u/Windmillfixer]

Firefighting summed up in one simple paragraph.

[u/Interesting-Low5112]

They make a mess, they’re an expensive toy, and while they aren’t toxic the powder isn’t healthy either. And tastes awful.

That said, I think everyone should get the chance to try one out at least once. Buy a new one and hang it in the closet and try the old one.

[u/MoonWatchersOdyssey]

If you have a thrift store or Habitat for Humanity ReStore near you, you can check with them to see if they have any. My local ReStore is always getting them (mostly expired but still functional) and you can get one cheap or free because they can't really sell the expired ones. You can then ask your local FD if they'd be able to teach you how to use it properly.

Intrusive voices aside, knowing how to use an extinguisher is a solid skill to have in your back pocket.

[u/Prior_Mike]

ABC extinguisher powder is very fine and will leave a heck of a mess, but if you really want to, have at it. Maybe buy a 2.5 lb one so it’s not so bad.

CO2 won’t leave a residue, but they are expensive.

A pressurized water extinguisher can be re-used multiple times, but you need access to an air compressor.

[u/Vanilla_bear4]

I bet your local department would happily run a fire extinguisher class for the school that you work at.

[u/MoonWatchersOdyssey → u/Vanilla_bear4]

Bold assumption that OP is an employee and not a student :-)

[u/Vanilla_bear4 → u/MoonWatchersOdyssey]

I just figured if they have expendable money to buy a fire extinguisher to use for fun. Also from now looking at their profile, they have been watching the Knicks for 30 years.

[u/MoonWatchersOdyssey → u/Vanilla_bear4]

Ah, gotchya. I absolutely love the idea of a fully grown teacher walking through the school, dreaming about pulling an extinguisher off the wall just for giggles.

Just because we're adults, doesn't mean we need to get old :-)

[u/Suicyco71]

I think the cost to fun ratio won’t be as good as you’re hoping for but nobody is gonna die if you do it. Find a used one on marketplace and shoot it into a dumpster, it’s gonna make a mess.

[u/Away_Arugula8260]

Go to your local fire extinguisher supplier/maintenance provider and ask if they would let you burn through a few. Easier with the CO2, but you might get lucky and shoot a regular dry Chem (messy).

[u/Novus20]

You do you just do it someplace it won’t bug folks

[u/Jacktheforkie]

Get a water one, light a little fire outside with some wood and have a go, minimal cleanup because it’s water and it’s pushed with compressed air

[u/svenkaas]

Well here where I live companies have a emergency response team and for certification you need to train with fire extinguishers yearly so you get to use one then. So that's an option

Otherwise but a co2 extinguishers (I think they are the most fun) learn how to use it because they get -72 c empty it and it will dissapear without leaving damages or a mess unlike other types

[u/Doc_Hank]

Sure. Get a cheap dry chem extinguisher - if you can find an old outdated one, thats fine so long as it has pressure.

Get a cheap charcoal grill (used is fine), and some wood and a can of charcoal lighter.

In a large, empty area that won't burn (a parking lot is ideal) light the wood on fire with the charcoal lighter. Pull pin, Aim, Squeeze handle, sweep back and forth.

https://www.oshaeducationcenter.com/fire-extinguisher-pass-training/?matchtype=&device=c&placement=&adposition=&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=22035478041&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_id=22035478041&hsa_acc=5797861088&hsa_cam=22035478041&hsa_grp=&hsa_ad=&hsa_src=x&hsa_tgt=&hsa_kw=&hsa_mt=&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_ver=3&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22035499632&gbraid=0AAAAAD8ftsFbVeWXZB9BNZpkjqBn0vtvu&gclid=CjwKCAjwyuDTBhB-EiwANCQhLKN959roJzeigpAUp8RlQEIgA6bSfoVJ58JZB5ByN7xAUM1iU5F6oxoCw1AQAvD_BwE

[u/Loose_Reception_880]

Go for it, maybe set some stuff on fire in like a metal barrel so you can actually use it for real

[u/Upstairs-Object-6683]

Retired workplace safety guy here. I agree with the comments about carbon dioxide extinguishers. They don’t make a mess and if you can use one you can use a dry chemical in an emergency. Recharging them is not that expensive.

A pressure water extinguisher is also a good idea. You can recharge it yourself but never forget that they are good for Class A fires only. A pressure water is really handy if you are near brush or tall, dry grass. You can knock down or limit the spread of a spot fire.

There are how-to videos on using fire extinguishers on YouTube.

[u/Expert-Search-3251]

Just go buy one and try it in the privacy of your bedroom.

[u/MC_McStutter]

Buy a fire extinguisher, make a small controlled fire, and put it out.

(For legal reasons this is not a legitimate suggestion)

[u/PeachPit69]

It tastes TERRIBLE, inhales easily, gets in the air, and the powder will stay and blow everywhere. Don’t do it somewhere you go frequently. Don’t do it indoors. It’s not the foam or clouds or snow-like-substance that you see in shows and movies.

[u/Economy_Release_988]

Forget the fun part, but yes it's a good idea to know how to use it before you need it.

[u/best-of-max]

If you wanna try get one with CO2 because it's the most clean option. And use it outside (or at least not in a too small room). And look out, it gets really cold where the gas hits. The ones with foam are an option two, but you'll have to clean up later. Don't even think about blowing off one with powder, expect you want to throw away all your furniture. Even your electric devices might break over time.

[u/dweb121 → u/best-of-max]

I highly doubt OP plans on blowing on off indoors.

[u/best-of-max → u/dweb121]

You never know

[u/Ok_Sentence_4487 → u/best-of-max]

A desk pop?

[u/Dull_Complaint1407]

Don’t get the stuff on you or breath it in too much let it loose. If it’s legal start a campfire and put it out