Fire in the Hole

Photo: MarcusObal

Fact

Fire extinguishers were invented in the 19th century when the Captain of the British militia noted that firemen in Edinburgh weren’t able to reach the top floors of the buildings. He made a cylinder of copper which contained water and compressed air. If the contents of your extinguisher have been used or are too old, it’s important to properly dispose of it or get a refill.

Get Started

• If you are positive the extinguisher is completely empty, remove the head and recycle the body. The tank of a fire extinguisher is made of highly-recyclable steel, while the spraying mechanism contains brass and plastic
• If it still contains chemicals, either call your fire department (you might be able to exchange the unit, get it recharged) or take it to a household hazardous waste event. Since the contents are under pressure, it could explode if sent out with your regular waste
• Different fire extinguishers work to remove the different ingredients of fire: Water extinguishers remove heat while carbon dioxide and dry chemicals remove oxygen. Make sure you know what type you have so you know what refill options apply to you

Become a Pro

• Going to the fire department? Invite some friends! Have a group trip to your local fire department for refills or proper disposal. You can make sure your home equipment is up to par and keep some hazardous trash out of our landfills