School fire extinguishers hit by vandals, 30 day fire extinguisher inspections can't stop this problem,

Vicksburg-Warren School District Superintendent Price estimated the district has spent $25,000 to $30,000 on vandalism-related repairs and cleanup this year. "Those dollars have to come out of the general fund," Price said. No money is set aside for potential vandalism incidents and those costs are not covered by insurance, he said. As a result, Vicksburg-Warren School District officials are stepping up security and police are increasing patrols. Read More

This latest incident of extinguisher theft brings the total to 20 stolen/missing fire extinguishers in the Town of Dickinson, ND.

A couple have been found discharged and strewn about town, but those that need to be replaced -- will cost $100 each.

The vandals in this case have yet to be caught.

There is an option to help prevent further vandalism -- electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers deters vandalism because the instant notification of removal means that authorities can respond quickly -- perhaps catching the bad guys in the act.

Electronic monitoring of fire extinguishers and annual inspections make schools safer.

We run across these stories ALL the time.  Fire extinguishers are the first response against indoor fires. Properly functioning fire extinguishers can put out the majority of early stage fires. In order to protect the lives of those who you are responsible for it is important to ensure that your fire extinguishers are working properly. Here are 10 recent incidents in which fire extinguishers were stolen or vandalized leaving a building at risk in the case of Dickenson High or and in extreme cases like the motel fire in Hoover Alabama, resulted in loss of life.

1. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/06/08/extinguishers-stolen-high-school-again 
2. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2009/11/17/fire-extinguisher-and-related-vandalism-costs-mississippi-school-district-30000 
3. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/03/08/vandals-set-extinguisher-fl-elementary-school 
4. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2009/12/17/extinguisher-vandalism-results-6000-fine-drew-university
5.  http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/05/24/miami-students-cause-10k-extinguisher-vandalism-damage 
6. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/03/23/extinguisher-used-possible-bomb-boise 
7. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/02/12/boston-city-and-ma-state-buildings-not-following-codes 
8. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/01/31/tragic-hotel-fire-leads-four-student-deaths-nearby-extinguisher-was-operable 
9. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2010/01/31/cayce-sc-high-school-sustains-75000-damage-vandalism 
10. http://www.engaugeinc.net/blog/2009/12/17/i-only-wanted-make-it-snow-0

Stories like these are testament to the fact that in this day and age, there is no excuse for not monitoring fire extinguishers. A thirty-day checkup is simply not good enough, especially when we have the option to monitor extinguisher’s 24 hours a day.

ASBURY, Al. (WAFF) - Children will return to class Friday at a Marshall County school after a fire forced school leaders to close up early Thursday.

The blaze occurred at Asbury Middle School near Albertville. Teachers said it started in the counselors office. A plant was placed too closed to a lamp, and when it overheated it caught fire. 

Tracey Wigley is still shaken from what happened Thursday morning at the school, when she and another teacher put out the fire.

Or so she thought that by using a fire extinguisher she'd get "a poof." Instead she got a big blast. Vandalism doesn’t always mean malicious, but the consequences of extinguisher vandalism are real.  Fines, evacuated dorms, clean up and in some cases … guilt. Warning: TV MA L