We Tested 5 Fire Extinguishers and 2 Fire Blankets on Grease Fires. Here's How They Performed.

In the U.S., there are five classifications of fire extinguishers. The last two—D and K extinguishers—are typically used in factories and commercial kitchens, respectively. We’ll focus on the first three here—A, B, and C—because those are the classifications most useful for residential fires.

We tested five fire extinguishers—three that use powder and two that use liquid as extinguishing agents—and two fire blankets, and deployed them against a cooking fire, the most common type of fire you’re likely to face in your home. We created a grease fire using vegetable oil in a frying pan that overheated on an outdoor propane burner typically used for heating the oil for deep-frying turkeys. We let the fire completely engulf the frying pan before wielding the extinguishers.

The Kidde FA110 Multipurpose Fire Extinguisher is small and UL-rated 1A:10B:C. In other words, it works on the three main fire types and can deploy the equivalent of 1¼ gallons of water or a liquid-fuel fire covering 10 square feet. It weighs 3.5 pounds, and the gauge and pin are on opposite sides of the handle, making it a little easier to use.

We tried two liquid spray water extinguishers, the LifeSafe Technologies StaySafe All-in-1 Extinguisher and the Ougist Special Water-Based Fire Extinguisher MSWJ620. These models use water-based extinguishing agents and are claimed to be able to put out A, B, and C class fires. But they turned our grease fire “into what can only be described as a ball of fire,” Deitrick says, with the LifeSafe spray causing a bigger fireball than the Ougist. But both extinguishers did quickly put out the fires. 

Finally, we tested two nearly identical fiberglass fire blankets, the Prepared Hero Emergency Fire Blanket and the JJ Care Fire Blanket. This kind of blanket is supposed to put out fires by smothering them. We found that while they can make flames smaller, they might not completely eliminate them because air can sneak in under the blanket and keep the fire fueled. 

Generally, you’re going to want one fire extinguisher on each floor. The kitchen is a good spot for one because home cooking is the leading cause of house fires in the U.S., according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Place other fire extinguishers in easy-to-reach areas, preferably near an exit, so that you can grab and use one on your way out of the building. Don’t keep your extinguisher above the stove or near a furnace because those areas are more likely to be difficult to access in the event of a fire. Nor should an extinguisher be kept under the sink because the moisture could damage it.

Consider keeping one in your car and, if you’re lucky enough to own one, your boat. (Some boats in the U.S. are required to have one.) Check the label for the extinguisher; you want to make sure it has the correct mounting equipment and is capable of withstanding the varying conditions within your car or boat. And make sure the extinguisher is securely mounted because in the event of a collision, a flying fire extinguisher could cause serious injury or damage. Extinguishers suitable for cars and boats will be specifically marketed as being auto and/or marine extinguishers.

Using a fire extinguisher is simple—just keep your cool in the heat of the moment! An easy acronym to remember is PASS: Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the lever or handle, and Sweep from side to side. Aim carefully, because the amount of fire retardant within the extinguisher isn’t limitless, and you want to make sure you have enough to douse the fire, if possible. Still, don’t get too close, staying about 6 to 8 feet away from the fire. Spraying a grease fire, for example, could cause the grease to splatter, potentially spreading the fire more and causing burns.

As tempting as it might be to make sure your extinguisher works, don’t test it. Any discharge from your extinguisher, no matter how short, immediately reduces the pressure within and allows any remaining pressure to leak out, making your extinguisher useless in an emergency. Inspect your extinguishers monthly to make sure that the pressure is still in the “green range” and that each piece of it is in the correct place.