Fire Extinguishers
If there is a fire in the lab room, you might need to use a fire extinguisher. Remember, it is more important to get to safety than it is to put the fire out. If you do decide that it is feasible, you must know where they are, what types they are, and how to use them. To use a fire extinguisher, pull the pin, point the nozzle at the base of the fire, and hold down the trigger, covering the fire with a sweeping motion.
There are two fire extinguishers in each lab: one at the front of the lab near the blackboard, and at the back near the main hood.


Each of these fire extinguishers is safe for use on chemical fires, since the only fire extinguishers in the labs are "Dry Chemical" (the two on the left in the picture below) or "CO2" (the one on the right). CO2 extinguishers can be identified by their large nozzles. In almost all cases, the best choice is a CO2 extinguisher, since it does not leave a residue on the equipment when the fire is out. But do not hesitate: grab the closest fire extinguisher in an emergency. Never use a water fire extinguisher in the organic chemistry labs (there is one in the hallway for fireman use only).

Detailed web pages on fire safety in the chemistry lab and the use of fire extinguishers are available on the following web sites:
- Fire Safety and Fire Extinguishers on the Interactive Learning Paradigms Inc. site