HELP MY HOME IS ON FIRE !!! How do you put out a fire with at home?

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What is the best way to put out a fire when there is no 911 to call? Do not say it wont happen to you. A bucket of sand or water or a fire extinguisher that has a correct rating? Is their another method? Bubba can shoot and run with the worst of them but he is not fire proof. Is there a method of fire--proofing the roof and walls to prevent arson? A gas bomb can set you on fire. Should i cut back the woods around my retreat to make a fire break? Any suggestion would be welcome thank you. And i dont mean put my head between my legs and kiss my ass goodbye suggestions.

-- Bubba (Badhabbit @water.com), December 19, 1998

Answers

just like in the old days in these situations, it will pay to have containers of water readily available.

-- a (a@a.a), December 19, 1998.

If you have a large body of water nearby (pond, pool), there are pumps especially for the purpose- hook up to generator. Around here in s. Calif. they are sold for those with pools near dry brush. Also- a metal roof helps, as does a strawbale-plastered/stuccoed house- they burn badly. And yes, a firebreak would be good- so would planting things that burn badly and are low the 20 yds. around your retreat. Besides well-watered veggies, the local fire department can undoubtedly give you a list of suggestions for your area.

-- Maria (encelia@mailexcite.com), December 19, 1998.

Yo, Bubba...we have a fire extinguisher in our kitchen and one in the garage. I also know about the lid on the frying pan thing (you know dinner's done when the smoke alarm goes off), and baking soda will also extinguish smaller kitchen fires.

Learn which fires are most of a threat to you. If you are in the woods, you should have a firebreak, no matter what, and if you do a firebreak/nature path around your place, no vegetation should grow in it.

Check to see that you have nothing growing near your house that is a fire hazard (like very pitchy/oily plants or plants with lots of dead/dry branches or leaves). Trim bushes so that they don't directly touch your house and trees so branches don't overhang your roof. Rake up all needles around the house and off of the roof, and don't bark around things that are close to your house...use gravel or something if you want to keep weeds down, but a cigarette and cedar bark can start a fire (three fire engines responded to such a fire started at an apartment complex I used to live at).

Learn which fires respond to which extinguishing materials, and don't forget not only externally induced fires but accidents like kitchen grease fires and chinmey fires and fires started because somebody fell asleep with a lit candle near flamable items.

-- Karen Cook (browsercat@hotmail.com), December 20, 1998.


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