Have you ever used a fire extinguisher? It’s not something that you get to do that often, but fire extinguishers can definitely save lives. Did you know, though, that there are different types of fire extinguishers for different types of fires? If it comes as a surprise to you, don’t feel bad, it isn’t something that everyone else knows, but it is good to be aware of in case you’re in a situation where you need to use a fire extinguisher. Why is that? Well, there are some fires that can be made worse by using the wrong type of extinguisher, so knowing the right one to use in a certain situation would prove essential.

Fortunately, most of us will only deal with what you could call “standard” fires, and you should find a combination of letters listed on the fire extinguisher that lets you know that it is safe to use for those. The letters A, B, and C on your fire extinguisher mean that it is manufactured to be used on fires in wood products, gasoline-based products, and electrical fires.