Gator rider2, Thanks for the reply! This will give me some info to start with. "Time slips away". I let too many years pass w/o evaluating my extinguishers. IÂll hope to check all and upgrade as needed very soon. As an example, I have an old steel vs plastic CO2 General Extinguisher in the bedroomÂs closet, 5 pound class with a steel/plastic combo movable nozzle, no gauge and heavy heavy (25-30 Lbs). ThatÂs from the late 70s from what I can remember and probably needed hydro testing in the 80s. I do have other later small plastic extinguishers in the kitchen and boat. loger

My newest one is white. Not nearly as noticeable as the old red one. I had thought I might put it on the wall but it didn't have a bracket to hang it with so maybe not. I guess after I get the new kitchen situated I'll find a good place. I'm sure there will be a little space somewhere. I wonder if there is any kind of little basket that would attach to the inside of a cabinet door.......I'll have to look around. I don't want it to get shuffeled around and not be able to find/reach it if/when I need it!

That's the door out of the kitchen toward the rear hall of the house and about 10' from the range. We also had one in our rear hallway near the laundry. When my insurance inspector came he said that he could count on both hands how many people actually have fire extinguishers where they belong, but everyone says "yes" on the application. We also had heat and smoke detectors hardwired. It seemed like we had at least 10 in our house because they have to be in and immediately outside, every bedroom. And we had heat detectors in the kitchen and attic. Then, two houses back: This location, while better than nothing, really isn't too hot. ;-)

Another thought on having a fire extinguisher - have you ever actually used one? I worked at a private school where the admin arranged a whole class for the staff on using a fire extinguisher. I couldn't believe it, but what the heck? It turned out to be pretty interesting. One surprising thing was how my fellow teachers managed the kind of extinguisher with a hose: Every single person who used that extinguisher sprayed their shoes before spraying the target, even after watching the person beside them do the exact same thing. So that's probably not the kind to get if you only use it for real once in your life. Using this kind everyone could hit the target first time out. Also, actually take a look at the top of the thing to see where the pull ring is and a take mental walk through what you'd have to do to make it spray. It's not at all difficult (except for the shoe spray thing), but it does require you to figure it out ahead of time. Another thought: if you have small hands (that would be me) or limited strength (arthritis?), be sure that the extinguisher you choose you can actually use. I frequently find that tools and what-all are designed by Godzilla who figures everyone has baseball mitts for hands. If the squeezy parts of the extinguisher are set so far apart that your thumb and baby finger can't get a grip, you might as well not have the thing. Choose one from a more enlightened manufacturer or go for the kind that has a trigger set not too far from the handle. When you really need a fire extinguisher, you probably won't be in your most calm and analytic frame of mind, so be sure that the design of the equipment itself won't add to or even create feelings of panic.