Fire extinguisher helps put out blaze - damage listed at $10k

A fire extinguisher helped mitigate damage of a fire this past Monday with the Amherstburg Fire Department giving extinguisher tips.

“We were dispatched to the 100 block of Lake Erie Drive for a structure fire, and by the time our crews arrived it was already out,” said deputy fire chief Dan Monk. “The fire started with the dryer.” 

Monk said a young man had gotten to it early with a household extinguisher, knocking down flames from outside the house after the fire breached the dryer vent. 

“The fire still did about $10,000 in damage, but the house was saved. Crews remained on scene for about an hour to check for extensions and to ventilate the house,” said Monk.

Monk added there are tips that the Amherstburg Fire Department wants to share with the public.

“We do want to remind people that reaching for an extinguisher should be a calculated decision. Fire can quickly spread across rooms or floors, taking it beyond what a household unit can handle, and nothing inside is worth a life. When there’s doubt, the answer is to get out and stay out,” said Monk. “Where you keep your extinguisher matters too. The best spot is next to an exit. That way you retrieve it from a safe place and you’re already standing at your way out when you decide whether to put out the fire or leave.”

Another tip is for people to use an extinguisher if they know how to use it and be sure to call 911 first so the fire department can get rolling. 

“Finally, as always, ensure that you have working smoke and CO alarms in the home to give you the time to do any of this. It is the law,” said Monk.

Fire extinguisher helps put out blaze - damage listed at $10k