Fire in the lab! What to do? Welcome to the Safety Q & A series, fire edition: the Laboratory Safety Institute's answers to your most burning questions.
Q1: What if the fire is small and contained? Do you always need a fire extinguisher?
If the fire is small and manageable, you can try smothering it with a wet towel or by placing a large beaker over it. No running, no screaming—just a controlled glass-on-glass move may be all that is needed to cut off oxygen and calmly extinguish the flame.
Q2: What should you do if a fire breaks out on the lab bench and isn’t contained?
If the fire is neither small nor contained, it's time to fight or flee. Ask yourself:
- Am I authorized by my employer and trained to use an extinguisher? OSHA (29 CFR 1910.39) requires employers establish and maintain written fire prevention plans. Even if you think you know how to use an extinguisher, have you ever actually used one or just read about it?
- Am I calm?
- Is my escape route behind me?
If the answer is "yes" to all the above questions: Grab the appropriately rated fire extinguisher and remember P.A.S.S: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, and sweep from side to side. The extinguisher’s blast might blow things around, so aim wisely.
If the answer is "no": Pull the alarm and get out fast. Don’t try to be the hero. Fast warning action saves lives. You frantically fussing with an extinguisher doesn't.
Q3: Is it okay to have a few gallons of flammable liquids outside of a flammable storage cabinet in a lab?
In a high school classroom, you should have only have the minimum amount of flammable liquid needed at the moment for your activity, according to NFPA 45. In other labs, the NFPA limit may vary, but generally no more than 1 gallon per 100 square feet. But even if you're in the clear from a regulatory perspective, thinking about it from a not-getting-third-degree-
The Takeaway
Having a fire extinguisher doesn't mean you're all set. Fire safety in the lab is about clear-headed thinking and knowing when to fight or flee. Please share this blog with your colleagues, discuss as safety meetings, and drill, baby, drill. (By that, we mean practice responding to an emergency.) Our Lab Safety Drill Cards are a fun way to prompt such exercises in your lab.