Before you decide to fight a fire
- Raise the alarm and make sure someone calls the fire service.
- Only tackle a fire that is small and just starting — no bigger than a waste-paper bin.
- Keep a clear exit behind you, and never let the fire come between you and the way out.
- Use the right extinguisher. Read the label: water and foam are not for electrical fires; CO2 suits electrical equipment; wet chemical (Class F) is for cooking oil fires.
PASS
- Pull the safety pin (break the tamper seal).
- Aim the nozzle or hose low, at the base of the fire — not at the flames.
- Squeeze the handle steadily.
- Sweep from side to side across the base of the fire until it is out.
Get out if…
- the fire is not going out after a few seconds or the extinguisher is empty;
- smoke is building up or the room is getting hot;
- you are unsure of the extinguisher type.
Leave, close doors behind you to slow the fire, and go to the assembly point. Report every use so the extinguisher can be refilled or replaced.
General guidance for awareness only. It does not replace hands-on training, your organisation's procedures or advice from emergency services. In an emergency in Pakistan call 1122 (Rescue), 16 (Fire brigade) or 115 (Edhi ambulance).
Source: PHSO · Last updated 11 Oct 2026
