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Do you have a fire extinguisher in the immediate area of your radio equipment and have you familiarized yourself on the proper way to use it?
Posted: Oct 13, 2008 (438 votes, 13 comments) by KA5JRX

Survey Results

Yes, within 10 feet & I know how to use it...	36% (158)
Yes, but it is in another room & I know how to use it...	37% (161)
Yes, I have one in the house but have never read the directions or used one...	3% (11)
No fire extinguisher here...	25% (108)

Survey Comments

Fire Extinguisher
Back in 1979 when I got my ticket, this would be a stupid question. But now days I'm positive it's a good one. We also carried an extinguisher in our car trunks in 1979. Posted by K4SFC on October 15, 2008
This is KARMA!
I swear this question MUST have come up because of an incident that happened to me last week. I use marine deep cycle batteries for my qrp gear and receivers. I had a DC adapter connected to one of the batteries. Luckily I was here in the shack when it happened. I started smelling burning plastic, and then noticed smoke bellowing out from underneath the workbench. My DC adapter was in total meltdown and glowing like a molten lava bed! I had a heck of a time getting it unplugged from the battery. Stunk up the house for days. I ditched the marine battery concept. Don't really need them. I have plenty of power supplies and will keep the marine batteries on the shelf in the garage for emergencies. I have a fire extinguisher upstairs by the wood stove. However, after this experience, I'd better get one for down here too! 73, Bill - WA8MEA Posted by WA8MEA on October 15, 2008
Fire Extinguisher
"You don't want to use Halon unless you have SCBA. You might as well breath methyl-ethyl-killya. CO2 is best for a ham shack. -KR4WM" YES CO2 would be best for the electronics vs Dry Chemical. Dry Chemical is such a fine powder that makes it impossible to clean out but the it's actually corrosive to certain materials. My concern is along with KR4WM, which he is correct somewhat about the need of a SCBA (Self Contained Breathing Apparatus) is if your shack is in a small room like mine in the garage or other area and even with a CO2 you could put yourself in danger. CO2 DISPLACES the oxygen in the area and when it removes the O2 the fire dies out.. now if you dicharge a CO2 in a small room (DISPLACING the oxygen) you may not realize it but you are removing the oxygen that you need. Just a note to not discharge a fire extinguisher without knowing a little more about it. 73 John KO4XJ retired firefighter On the job 22 years Posted by KO4XJ on October 15, 2008
Fire Extinguisher
Garden hose and good insurance. :-) Posted by N9ABG on October 15, 2008
Fire Extinguisher
Garden hose and good insurance. :-) Posted by N9ABG on October 15, 2008
PASS
Pull (pin) Aim Sweep from Side to side Posted by KG9E on October 14, 2008
Halon not safe to breath
You don't want to use Halon unless you have SCBA. You might as well breath methyl-ethyl-killya. CO2 is best for a ham shack. -KR4WM Posted by KR4WM on October 14, 2008
Fire Ext.
Non powder types in electronic areas. Halon and CO2. Geo>K0FF Posted by K0FF on October 14, 2008
Safety is one thing.....
.....but being obcessed with it is another. Yes, there is a chance that something may happen that will require use of an extinguisher in the shack, but that is true of many other places in the house as well. If you wanted an extinguisher at every area that there was a risk of danger you would need one in the kitchen, in the entertainment area, (plenty of electrical connections there too) in the basement near the furnace, another near the workshop, one in the living area, (wood stove or fireplace) one on the patio, (grill and firepit there) and the list would just keep growing. I've one extinguisher near the first to second floor stairway and one in the basement. Any more, in my opinion, is overkill. Posted by K1CJS on October 14, 2008
Useless After Expiration Date
No fire extinguisher, but I it would be wise to have one in the kitchen at least. Like smoke detectors most and my guess 90% + would never replace them by date due so when they need it 5 years after expiration date it is useless. Posted by KA5ROW on October 13, 2008
fire extinguishers
I keep one in the same room as the radios are in, and keep it clean and fully charged. Almost to the point of buying a new one every year . Posted by AI4EP on October 13, 2008
Fire EXT
Yes, I keep a 10# Carbon Dioxide close by. I would NEVER discharge a dry chem on my equipment. You would NEVER get it clean again. It's worth it to save the mess. Halon is even better if you can find it anymore. Posted by AD5TD on October 13, 2008
Fire Extinguisher
I have a 5lb dry chemical fire extinguisher located in our kitchen. This is about a 25ft walking distance from the shack. This type of unit is suitable on paper/wood, chemical, and electrical fires. It was purchased for whole-house protection and kept in the kitchen, a higher fire risk area. The only bad thing about this type of extinguisher is it leaves a real mess after using it. So far, I've been lucky. Those of us who do alot of home projects may want to consider having one near by. I can still remember like it happened yesterday, about 45 years ago unknowingly dropping a soldering iron on the floor. It didn't start a fire but burnt a hole in the carpet. Boy, were my Mom & Dad mad. 73 Ken KK4BH Posted by KK4BH on October 13, 2008

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