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en-Gauge is dedicated to improving life safety, and for years we have been discussing the dangers related to uninspected and empty, missing and blocked fire extinguishers.  Still, it never fails to distress us when we learn about a situation where uninspected fire extinguishers are a contributing factor to the loss of life.  

A recent report from KOB Eyewitness News in Albuquerque, NM highlights just the kind of danger that unispected extinguishers can pose to families.  In this situation, the extinguisher inspections were negelected in an apartment complex and the results were fatal for a little girl.  According to kob.com:

There are many Albuquerque apartment complexes with big problems. What landlords and tenants may not realize is that some problems could be a matter of life or death.

A fire ripped through one Albuquerque apartment, killing one-year-old Malia Mitchell last September. The girl's mother tried using two different fire extinguishers but said neither of them worked.

Watch the full report here to learn more.

Fire Extinguishers are the first line of defense when a fire incident occurs.  For the extinuisher to do its job, it must be available, accessible and function properly - all things the en-Gauge electronic fire extinuisher monitoring solution insures. 

With that said, we love to read stories about Fire Exinguishers doing their job and putting out fires or helping people control fires until help arrives or they can evacuate.

Here is a list of Fire Extinguisher Success Stories from the last few days:

Smith and Wesson Employee Uses Fire Extinuisher to Save Building From Burning

In Springfield, MA an employee at Smith and Wesson quickly put out a fire at one of the gun manufacturers buildings.  According to the article by Channel 22 News at WWLP.com:

Captain Mike Richard of the Springfield Fire Department told 22News that the employee used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire, which started at Smith & Wesson Building R around 6:00 A.M. ...

Richard says the employee’s action saved the building. He also said that the employee had received training on the use of the extinguisher, which is very important.

Great story, made better by the fact that the employee was part of the S&W emergency response team and had been trained in the proper use of Fire Extinguishers.

Assistant High School Principal Tackles School Fire in Pennsylvania

On Veteran's Day, an assistant High School Principal - a veteran himself - extinguished a fire with a fire extinguisher at Whitemarsh High School in Pennsylvania.  According to The Times Herald:

Assistant Principal Dan Balek, a veteran, was on hand to save the day at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School (PWHS) after part of the east wing faculty kitchen area caught fire Thursday afternoon.

While the cause of the fire remains unclear, school spokesman Dave Sherman said Balek happened to be in the area at the time.

"The school was evacuated briefly and (Balek) used a fire extinguisher to put out the fire before the fire department arrived," said Sherman.

It is common to hear about fires put out prior to the fire department arriving.  This emphasizes the importance of consistent monitoring of the fire extinguishers to be confident that they are available and ready to work.

Boston Subway Fire Subdued with Fire Extinguisher

A small fire on the Orange Line in the Downtown Crossing MBTA Station in Boston caused disruption of service and the evacuation of the station, but no injuries were reported.  According to Boston.com:

A small fire in the Downtown Crossing MBTA station Saturday night disrupted subway service, but caused no reported injuries, Boston Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said.

Officials evacuated the station as a precaution after the fire, which occurred about 10 p.m., MacDonald said. The flame started around the wheel of a Orange Line train, and firefighters quickly put it out with a fire extinguisher before it could make a lot of smoke, MacDonald said.

Intentionally Set School Fire in Washington State Supressed with Fire Extinguisher

A fire intentionally set in the 3rd floor girls bathroom at Kitsap High School in Kitsap, Washington was identified and extinguished by school officials after smoke was reported.  According to the Central Kipsap Reporter:

School officials were alerted to the fire and used a fire extinguisher to snuff out the small blaze, according to a statement from the fire department. No one was injured.

Estimates put the damage at about $2,000.

District spokesman David Beil said about 1,200 students were temporarily evacuated.

According to a student at the school who commented on the article: 

omg me and my bros and my friendsgo to this schoolitwas so creepy!! there was smoke everywhere!! 

We love this comment and think that the english teachers at the school probably will too.

Fire Put Out with Fire Extinguisher at Washington Manufacturing Plant

According to the Kitsap Sun - yup, the same Kitsap - a fire at a manufacturing plant on Bainbridge Island experienced an electric fire:

Employees at the rod-and-reel plant noticed sparks and a flame coming from the wall socket about 8:30 p.m., according to a report from Bainbridge Island Fire Department. An alert employee grabbed a fire extinguisher and put out the blaze.

As a precaution, the building was evacuated.

When firefighters arrived, they checked the outlet and surrounding wall with a thermal imaging camera and found no lingering heat. Employees were allowed to go home, and maintenance staffers took over repairs.

 This is a perfect example of why you call the Fire Department, even if you think you have fought the blaze successfully.  Fires that may look like they have been extinguished can smolder for hours and come back to life later.  The Fire Department knows what to look for and should always be contacted in any fire emergency.

Remember, make sure you perform your yearly fire extinguisher inspections and to ensure that your extinguishers are available, accessable and ready to use 24 X 7, 365, rely upon en-Gauge.  The only electronically monitored fire extinguisher solution.  Contact Us today to Learn More

A very sad story.  In Albuquerque, NM a 1 year old toddler was killed in a fire that was started when her 4 year old sister was playing with a lighter.  Unfortunately, it is possible that this tragedy did not need to happen.

According to KOB.com, the website of Channel 4 news in Albuquerque:

The city found 30 units without working smoke detectors in the complex located near Topke and San Mateo in Northeast Albuquerque.

Officials say that while all units were equipped with a fire extinguisher, every one had expired tags.

The new apartment managers have assured the city that they are working to get all extinguishers checked.

Mitchell’s mother Tataneisha told KOB Eyewitness News 4 that she had tried to put the fire out using the extinguisher but she couldn’t get it to work.

These types of stories are all too common.  When a fire is in its early stages, we rely on fire extinguishers to be available and functional.  When they don't work, the ability to manage the fire is greatly compromised, sometimes with tragic consequences. 

Fire extinguishers must be monitored, maintained and accessible in order to ensure this type of terrible story doesn't keep repeating itself.

An apartment complex manager told police she wanted several teenage suspects that allegedly damaged a laundry room criminally prosecuted, according to a police report.

On Wednesday morning the manager discovered the damage, which included a table and a fire extinguisher case. The laundry room also had been sprayed with the fire extinguisher. The total damage was estimated at $450, according to the report.

Police are investigating the manager’s claims.