On Jun 28, 11:17*pm, "Polly Esther" wrote:
In the dozen years since we've been in the Swamp, there have been 3 home
fires. *This area is so remote that all the fire department can do mostly is
bring sympathy cards.
* * Back when I was gainfully employed we used to have fire drills and
(better yet) lessons from the fire guys to teach us how to use a fire
extinguisher. They actually set the statue of General Somebody ablaze out in
the courthouse front lawn and gave everybody a turn at putting him out.
* * At the time, I was too little to even lift the fire extinguisher down
from its mount. *Couldn't possibly have carried it to a fire.
* * It always delights and comforts me about the far-ranging expertise of
our quilting group. *Anybody know anything about being prepared for a fire?
(And I will tolerate no smart 'coming from afar' quips.) * I really need to
get / know *how to be prepared. *So do you. *Polly

Polly,
I just checked with DH - who has been a firefighter for over 25
years. He said you should have an 'ABC' or 'Dry Chemical' fire
extinguisher for home use. This takes care of all of the various
components in your home, which CO2 does not. Halon, he does not
believe, is no longer commercially available. It has been replaced by
Halite (sp) which is specifically for use in computer server room and
similar settings but due to the way it fights fire is not to be used
with people present.

I would agree with many of the suggestions of others here as to
multiple units - that you can handle - in various parts of your home.
We, however, have only one in the kitchen under the sink. Then again,
we are one block from the fire house. It is, however, all volunteer
and it does take a few minutes for trucks to respond. I'm perfectly
comfortable with this arrangement. I'm also of the belief that it's
all just 'stuff' and as long as we and the dogs are out of the house,
the rest can all be replaced.

I would second the suggestion of a fire safe box for your important
documents. I've had one of these for decades. When my in-law's home
burned to the ground just before I met my DH, they had nothing but the
clothes on their backs and no way to reconstruct driver's license,
credit cards, insurance documents, etc. It was beyond tiresome for
them to reconstruct all of that documentation and try to buy clothes,
building materials and furnishings in the process. Put copies of the
expendible type infor (cc; license, etc.) and originals of the really
important stuff in there. (I now need to go take my own advice).

So, off you go to the local home supply store to get your fire
extinguisher(s) and BE SAFE.

Kim in NJ

I have been to many devastating fire scenes and it's not pretty. But
as long as all the living creatures - either 2 legged or 4 - are safe,
that's really all that matters.