What would you do if the bedroom curtains caught fire from a candle, an oil fire ignited on your stove, or your car's engine caught fire?
Instead of panicking and reaching for a tea towel or racing for a bucket of water, a fire extinguisher is the safest and quickest way to fight a fire.
Fight a Fire Safely with a Fire Extinguisher
A fire extinguisher is an essential safety tool for your home. According to the firefighting experts, it takes less than 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a major fire which can ultimately destroy your home. But fire can break out anywhere. On a barbecue grill in the garden, in the car, the office, or in a warehouse.
Wherever you are faced with a fire-related emergency, there is no need to fear. Stay calm and reach for your reliable fire extinguisher. Within seconds, this highly efficient firefighting tool will effectively extinguish the flames. It will save your life and home.
The 7 Best Fire Extinguishers
- Kidde 21005779 Pro 210 Fire Extinguisher
- First Alert 1038789 Standard Home Fire Extinguisher
- First Alert AF400 Tundra Aerosol Spray Fire Extinguisher
- First Alert AUTO5 Car Fire Extinguisher
- Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher
- ELIDE FIRE Fire Extinguisher Ball
- AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball
Our Top Pick for the Best Fire Extinguisher
Our top pick for the best fire extinguisher is the Amerex Fire Extinguisher.
We highly recommend the Amerex Fire Extinguisher as a must-have fire emergency tool for your home.
Amerex is one of the largest and most highly regarded distributors of fire fighting products. So whether you face a fire in your kitchen, loungeroom, or round the barbecue, you can rely 100% on this popular firefighting dynamo to extinguish the flames fast!
Where Do I Place a Fire Extinguisher?
It is not enough to own one fire extinguisher, you need to have a few extinguishers installed around your home. Install one in the kitchen, the patio, inside a garage, near your barbecue, and keep a smaller one in the car. If you have a multi-story house, a fire extinguisher should be placed on every level.
You also need to install the fire extinguisher in an unobstructed area where it can be easily seen. Fortunately, most models come with mounting brackets that allow the unit to be attached to the wall.
How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher
Not all fire extinguishers are designed to fight the same types of fires, and they use different types of propellant agents like dry chemicals or foam.
A fire extinguisher may be specifically designed to fight flammable liquids and electrical fires while others are designed for multipurpose like the Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher, which can be used for paper, wood, fabric, flammable liquid, and electrical fires.
To help you to find the right type of fire extinguisher, consult the fire extinguisher guide below which contains the most commonly used fire ratings.
Fire Extinguisher Category Guide
| Class A – Combustibles: | Paper, Wood, Rubber, Plastics, Cloth |
| Class B – Flammable Liquids: | Gasoline, Grease, Oil, Paint |
| Class C – Electrical Equipment: | Appliances, Transformers, Motors |
Size
Fire extinguishers come in small, medium, and large-sized cylinders.
A 14-ounce aerosol can or a small 2.7 lb canister like the First Alert Car Fire Extinguisher is perfect for keeping in the car or around the barbeque.
If you looking for an extinguisher for your next camping trip, consider a fire extinguisher ball. A smart approach to fighting a small fire, a fire extinguisher ball, like the Elide Fire Ball Extinguisher, has a self denotating design and it explodes once you throw the ball into the flames. These devices are designed only for outdoor use and cannot be used inside your home, or in a very small garden.
Medium-sized canisters that weight 4 or 4.5 lbs are quite lightweight and easy to hold as you spray a fire.
Larger 5 or 7 lb cylinders can be heavy to carry, but as they contain more propellent, they offer more firefighting power.
Discharge Time and Range
Depending on its design, propellant agent, and psi, a fire extinguisher will have a discharge time of between 10-15 seconds and a spray range of 10-18 feet. Before you buy a fire extinguisher, consider the size of each room and how quickly a fire may spread from room to room. To make sure you are 100% prepared for any emergency, it is best to have multiple fire extinguishers around the house.
Using a Fire Extinguisher
The National Fire Prevention Association recommends using the PASS (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) method when using a fire extinguisher. Pull the pin; aim low towards the bottom of the fire; squeeze the lever slowly and sweep the fire extinguisher from left-to-right.
To help you use the fire extinguisher correctly, the manufacturer will also include a helpful 3 or 4-step guide that is displayed on a label on the cylinder.
It is frightening when a fire starts, so it is best to familiarize yourself with the instructions before using the extinguisher.
Safety Seal
Some fire extinguishers may include a safety seal on the metal pull pin that deters accidental discharge or tampering like the First Alert Home Fire Extinguisher.
Rechargeable
Most fire extinguishers can be recharged by the manufacturer or a recharging professional. If your fire extinguisher is not rechargeable, do not use it again after the first use – even if you have accidentally used it during installation.
Best Fire Extinguisher Reviews
1. Kidde 21005779 Pro 210 Fire Extinguisher
Portable and powerful, the Kidde 21005779 Pro 210 Fire Extinguisher is perfect for the home, office, or a small warehouse.
A multipurpose firefighting tool, the Pro 210 contains a CO2 extinguishing agent that can be used on Class A trash, wood & paper fires, Class B liquids and gas fires, and Class C electrical equipment fires.
With an extra high operating pressure of 100 psi, the Kidde extinguisher has a quick discharge time of 13 to 15 seconds and a long range of 10 to 15 feet.
The UL-listed fire extinguisher has a lightweight but durable corrosion-resistant powder-coated aluminum cylinder, a tough aluminum valve assembly, and metal levers.
Simple to use, the PRO 210 is fitted with an easy-to-read integrated pressure gauge. An instruction label clearly shows a step-by-step guide on how to operate the extinguisher safely. As the cylinder only weighs 4lbs, it is quite easy to hold and use as you fight a fire.
You can have the extinguisher recharged, and it comes with a bonus wall hanging bracket.
Kidde offers a 6-year limited warranty on the fire extinguisher.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Portable and powerful
- Ideal for home, office, or common industrial applications
- Multipurpose design can be used for Class A, B, and C fires
- UL listed
- Durable corrosion-resistant powder-coated aluminum cylinder
- Tough aluminum valve assembly
- Strong metal levers
- Lightweight
- Simple to use
- Easy to read integrated color-coded pressure gauge
- Clear step-by-step instruction label
- Wall mount included
- Rechargeable
- Available in a 1-pack or 6-pack
- 6-year limited warranty
Cons
- Not well suited for large commercial applications
- It does not have a discharge pin that prevents tampering
- Wall bracket is not overly strong
- Some complaints about the product being partially discharged before use
2. First Alert 1038789 Standard Home Fire Extinguisher
The First Alert 1038789 Standard Home Fire Extinguisher will help you be super-prepared for any fire-related emergency in your home.
This multipurpose UL-listed fire extinguisher is designed for A, B, and C fires, so you can use it to fight wood, paper, plastic, gasoline, oil, and electrical fires. You can even use the 1038789 to put out a fire on your boat, but for it to be US coast-guard approved, the extinguisher must be bracket mounted.
Highly responsive, the 1038789 shoots out a powerful jet of mono ammonium phosphate that quickly suppresses and extinguishes fire.
Designed for demanding household use, the fire extinguisher features a durable commercial-grade metal construction, which includes a corrosion-resistant aluminum cylinder, a metal valve, and a metal trigger and pin.
Slim and lightweight at 4.5 lbs, the fire extinguisher is very easy to use. The easy-to-read gauge allows for accurate pressure measurement at a glance. A simple 4-step instruction guide is clearly displayed on the waterproof label.
One of the outstanding features of the First Alert extinguisher is its metal pull pin that has a safety seal to prevent accidental discharge and tampering.
The extinguisher also comes with a secure mounting bracket and strap for secure placement on a wall. You can also have the cylinder recharged.
First Alert offers a 10-year limited warranty on the fire extinguisher.
Pros
- Very good quality
- Good value for money
- Extremely affordable price
- Ideal for home use
- U.S. Coast Guard approved for marine use
- Multipurpose fire extinguisher is designed for Class A, B, and C fires
- Powerful performance
- Highly effective dry chemical agent
- Durable all-metal construction
- Commercial-grade metal valve and trigger
- Corrosion-resistant aluminum cylinder
- Metal pull pin has a safety seal to help prevent accidental discharge and tampering
- Slim and lightweight
- Easy to read metal gauge
- Waterproof label with simple 4-step instructions
- Comes with a mounting bracket and strap
- Rechargeable
- 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- The locking pin might fall out if not inserted correctly
- Can lose pressure quickly
- Some cylinders had been discharged before delivery
3. First Alert AF400 Tundra Aerosol Spray Fire Extinguisher
Whether you encounter a fire in your house, car, or dorm room, the First Alert Tundra Fire Extinguisher Aerosol Spray will stop a fire fast!
Instead of lugging around a heavy cylinder and struggling with levers and pins, the First Alert AF400 Tundra is lightweight and incredibly easy to use.
More effective than traditional fire extinguishers, the Tundra is a fast-acting spray that works amazingly well on small fires.
Highly versatile, you can use the Tundra on fabric, grease, wood, or electrical fires.
Thanks to its intuitive wide spray nozzle, the AF400 can cover a surface area that is three times greater than a typical actuator and has a four times longer discharge time. Its smart design also features an internal pouch that isolates the pressure, so when the nozzle is pressed, the propellant is sprayed directly onto the fire and makes sure that it does not get out of control.
Once the fire has been extinguished, the biodegradable and non-toxic spray can be wiped off a surface with a damp cloth. It will not damage appliances, equipment, or counter surfaces.
With a compact design, you can keep the 14-ounce aerosol can in the kitchen cupboard, near the grill, the fireplace, in your boat, and camping gear.
The Tundra is available in a 1-pack or 2-pack.
First Alert offers a 3-year limited warranty on the fire extinguisher.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Affordable price
- Fast-acting propellant
- Ideal for the home, car, RV or camping
- Lightweight and incredibly easy to use
- Extinguishes small fabric, wood, grease, and electrical fires
- Intuitive wide spray nozzle and overall smart design
- Can cover a surface area that is three times greater than a typical actuator
- Four times longer discharge time than traditional fire extinguishers
- Smart internal pouch design stops propellant from spreading a fire
- Biodegradable, non-toxic foam is easy to clean-up
- Foam will not damage appliances, equipment, or counter surfaces
- Compact design
- Available in a 1 or 2-pack
- 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- This item is not for sale in CA, NV, and NY
- The small white nozzle on the top turns and does not indicate the direction of spray
- For one time use only
- Not designed for large fires
4. First Alert AUTO5 Car Fire Extinguisher
Specially designed for your car, the First Alert AUTO5 Fire Extinguisher will give you total peace of mind when faced with a fire in your vehicle.
This multipurpose fire extinguisher has a B and C fire rating so it can be used to fight flammable oil, grease, gasoline, and electrical fires. Ideal for rough traveling conditions, the fire extinguisher has a durable metal head and a corrosion-resistant red aluminum cylinder.
To help prevent accidental discharge and tampering, the extinguisher has a metal pull pin with a safety seal. Even though this extinguisher does not have a pressure gauge, you can easily check the pressure of the extinguisher by pressing the one-touch green button on the top of the unit.
Featuring a compact space-saving design, the AUTO5 can be stored easily in the trunk of your car. It also comes with a heavy-duty quick-release bracket that keeps the extinguisher securely mounted inside your vehicle.
Easy to use, the lightweight 2.2 lbs extinguisher comes with a chemical-resistant and waterproof label that has simple 4 step instructions.
The rechargeable extinguisher can be refilled by a certified professional.
First Alert offers a 10-year limited warranty on the fire extinguisher.
Pros
- High quality
- Great value for money
- Very affordable price
- Specially designed for vehicles
- Can be used to fight flammable oil, grease, gasoline, and electrical fires
- One-touch green button to check the pressure
- Designed for rough traveling conditions
- Durable metal head
- Corrosion-resistant aluminum canister
- Heavy-duty quick release bracket
- Metal pull pin has a safety seal to help prevent accidental discharge and discourage tampering
- The waterproof label has simple 4-step instructions
- Lightweight and compact design
- 10-year limited warranty
Cons
- Bracket does not come with mounting screws
- No pressure gauge
- Not suitable for trash, wood, or paper fires
5. Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher
The Amerex B500 Fire Extinguisher is an efficient fire fighting tool for any home, garage, office, or warehouse.
Made in the USA, the UL-listed fire extinguisher uses a specially fluidized and siliconized mono ammonium phosphate dry chemical that is extremely efficient at fighting and suppressing substantial Class A paper, trash, and wood fires, Class B flammable liquid fires, and Class C electrical fires.
Any fire will be extinguished quickly as the B500 has a fast discharge time of 14 seconds and a long range of 12-18 feet.
Perfect for residential and light commercial applications, the B500 has a durable all-metal design which includes a metal valve, a metal trigger, a metal pressure gauge, a corrosion-resistant bright red aluminum cylinder, and a super-strong hose nozzle.
Deploying the fire extinguisher is very easy as the lightweight cylinder only weighs 5 lbs. It has an easy-to-read pressure gauge and simple 3-step instructions are clearly displayed on the label.
The fire extinguisher also comes with a wall bracket for safe and secure storage in your kitchen, hallway, or near the barbecue.
You can have the cylinder recharged by a certified professional.
The fire extinguisher comes in a 1-pack or a 3-pack.
Amerex offers a 6-year warranty on the fire extinguisher.
Pros
- Great quality
- Excellent value for money
- Good price
- Made in the USA
- Highly reliable
- Dry chemical agent is extremely efficient at suppressing a fire
- Can be used for residential and commercial use
- Multipurpose extinguisher
- Can be used for Class A, B, and C fires
- Fast 14 second discharge time
- Long range of 12-18 feet
- All metal construction
- Corrosion-resistant bright red aluminum cylinder
- Lightweight
- Rechargeable
- Wall bracket included
- Available in a 1 and 3-pack
- 6-year warranty
Cons
- Heavy
- Can lose pressure quickly
6. ELIDE FIRE Fire Extinguisher Ball
A brilliant yet simple approach to fighting a fire, the Elide Fire Extinguisher Ball is your best defense against any small outdoor fire.
Forget about lugging around a heavy bulky fire extinguisher, the Elide Fire Ball is very lightweight at 3.8 lbs and you can quickly extinguish a fire with minimal effort required. It is very easy to use for a fire in your yard, a boat or car, and there is no inspection required. Just maintain a safe distance away from the fire, throw the ball into the flames and watch as the fire disappears like magic.
The award-winning Elide Fire Ball is a revolutionary self-detonating fire extinguishing device that is designed to extinguish a blaze on contact with the flames. Amazingly quick, it has a speedy activation time of 3-10 seconds and puts out a fire from 8-10 square meters.
Strong and durable, the ball is composed of rigid plastic foam and an abrasion-resistant casing that can withstand temperatures up to 200-degrees Fahrenheit.
Although it may look like a harmless volleyball, this fire extinguisher ball packs a powerful punch. Its firefighting concoction includes an explosive yield detonator and a variety of dry and liquid fire-retardant chemical agents that turns fire into smoke.
Highly versatile, you can use the Elide Fire for extinguishing and surveillance for Class A, B, and C fires, such as combustible materials, flammable liquid, and gas fires.
The ball also comes with a plastic bracket for safe storage until it needs to be used, or strategic placement around electrical equipment where fires could start.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Can be used in your yard, a boat, or car, boiler room or garage
- Award-winning innovative design
- Revolutionary self-detonating fire extinguishing device
- Incredibly effective
- Amazingly quick activation time of 3-10 seconds
- Put out a fire within 8-10 square meters
- Safe and easy to use
- Compact and lightweight
- Durable rigid plastic foam and an abrasion-resistant casing
- Contains a powerful explosive yield detonator and a variety of fire-retardant dry and liquid agents
- Can be used on Class A, B and C fires
- Storage bracket is included
Cons
- Expensive
- Outdoor use only
- Not for large fires
7. AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball
Fighting a fire in your yard, car, boat, or on a campfire is so safe, quick and easy with the AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball.
It looks just like a colorful basketball, but the advanced AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball is the simplest and fastest way to extinguish a fire.
Extremely easy to use, the AFO Fire Extinguisher Ball is very lightweight at just 3 lbs. It can be used by anyone and there is no special training required. All you have to do is throw or roll the ball into a small fire and the ball will self-detonate when it comes in contact with the flames. In just 5-10 seconds, the fire will be extinguished.
You can maintain a safe distance from the flames as the ball disperses non-toxic mono ammonium phosphate to extinguish the flames from 86 to 107 square feet away.
Safe to use, the ball has a water-proof outer layer and a thick 11mm non-toxic plastic shell, and the powder inside is harmless to humans and environmentally-friendly. The ball will not self-ignite when shaken or damaged and the outward driving force from the activation of the ball will not harm you or the environment.
This unique fire extinguisher also works as a fire alarm and it emits a loud 138 dB noise when it explodes.
Ideal for home use and camping, you can also place the ball within 30 centimeters of potential fire hazards such as flammable objects, a circuit breaker box and a gas tank.
Designed for use on a wide range of fires, the AFO ball will extinguish Class A ordinary combustible fires, Class B flammable liquid fires, and Class C electrical fires.
The fire extinguisher ball also comes with a bracket so that you can keep it safely stored until you need to use it.
AFO offers a 5-year guarantee on the fire extinguisher ball.
Pros
- High quality
- Very good value for money
- Ideal for the home, car, or camping
- Very easy and safe to use
- Fast and effective
- No training required
- Innovative self-activating fire extinguisher ball
- Unique built-in 138dB alarm
- Portable and lightweight
- Can be used on Class A, B, and C fires
- Activates within 5-10 seconds after contacting the fire
- Suitable for placement near potential fire hazards
- No need to get close to the fire
- The ball will not self-ignite when shaken or damaged
- The outward driving force from activation of the ball does not harm humans or the environment
- Ball is made from non-toxic materials
- Non-toxic environmentally-friendly mono ammonium phosphate powder
- Comes with a storage bracket
- 5-year guarantee
Cons
- Only ideal for a very small fire
Our Top Pick for the Best Fire Extinguisher
Our top pick for the best fire extinguisher is the Amerex Fire Extinguisher.
We highly recommend the Amerex Fire Extinguisher as a must-have fire emergency tool for your home.
Amerex is one of the largest and most highly regarded distributors of fire fighting products. So whether you face a fire in your kitchen, loungeroom, or round the barbecue, you can rely 100% on this popular firefighting dynamo to extinguish the flames fast!
