Unattended cooking is the leading cause of household fires and fire-related injuries in the United States. These fires result in over $1.1 billion in property damage annually. It’s easy to find yourself in a dangerous situation if you walk away from a hot pan of oil or leave a dish towel too close to a burner. This makes it essential to always have a fire extinguisher readily available in the kitchen.
Fire spreads quickly—within two minutes, a small fire can become uncontrollable. That’s why it’s crucial to have a fire extinguisher that is easy to use, even with no prior experience, and one that can act fast when every second counts. To find the best option, we tested eight fire extinguishers designed for home use at a firefighter training facility in Worcester, Massachusetts, under the supervision of the local fire department.
ABC Fire Extinguishers
We tested several types of fire extinguishers on typical kitchen fires, using skillets, dish towels, oil, and portable electric burners. There are two main types of fire extinguishers for home use: those rated ABC and those rated BC. ABC-rated extinguishers are multi-purpose and can handle paper, cloth, flammable liquids like grease and gasoline, and electrical fires. BC-rated extinguishers are designed for flammable liquids and electrical fires. For our test, we selected two models from each type and opted for the smallest size of traditional extinguishers. A compact, lightweight extinguisher is easier to handle in an emergency, and bigger is not always better.
We also tested non-traditional options, including two aerosol sprays, a fire blanket for smothering flames, and an automatic system called the StoveTop FireStop, which is designed to detect fire and release a suppressant. The StoveTop FireStop was particularly intriguing because it would allow us to avoid fumbling with an extinguisher during a crisis.
For the first round of tests, we intentionally ignited oil in a skillet and quickly grabbed a fire extinguisher to put it out. We timed each step, including how long it took to understand how to use the extinguisher and how long it took to extinguish the fire. We repeated the process with a dish towel fire, left to burn on a hot stove coil.
The results were mixed. Some fires took anywhere from two seconds to over a minute to extinguish, and some reignited after we thought they were out. The StoveTop FireStop was a complete failure; despite following the instructions and waiting for the system to activate, the fire continued to grow, and the extinguisher never engaged. Even when the fire finally reached the canister, the wick’s ignition system triggered too late to be effective. This system simply isn’t reliable in an emergency situation.
- The First Alert EZ Fire Spray Portable Fire Extinguisher discharges 4 times longer than a traditional fire extinguisher,…
- Light aerosol can is easy to hold, carry, and use; ideal for kitchen, garage, boat, RV, dorm, and more
- Extinguishes paper, fabric, wood, grease, and electrical fires, Light aerosol can is easy to hold, carry and use
Aerosol spray extinguishers showed promise, but not all performed well. The FireGone spray had too much text and color on its label, making it hard to read. When we sprayed it on a fire, the flames actually grew larger before going out. The First Alert Tundra spray, however, worked faster but still had some issues—fires reignited after we thought they were extinguished, and it left a mess.
The fire blanket was somewhat effective but posed a challenge. Walking toward a fire to cover it with a blanket felt risky, and unless left in place long enough, the fire would reignite once the blanket was lifted.
One BC-rated extinguisher showed promise in the first round, but in the second round, the brand-new model failed because it had lost pressure and didn’t work. A reliable fire extinguisher is essential, and this one wasn’t up to the task.
Among the more traditional extinguishers, an ABC-rated model by Amir worked well but left a cloud of fumes, making us retreat from the area. Despite this, it successfully put out the fire and might be a good option for those who can handle the side effects.
- Multipurpose Dry Chemical
- UL rated 1-A,10-B:C
- Supplied with retention strap bracket
After testing all the options, we found a clear winner: the K ABC multi-purpose home fire extinguisher. It was easy to use, took just 15 seconds to figure out, and extinguished both the grease and dish towel fires in just two seconds. This fire extinguisher was fast, effective, and reliable—exactly what you need when your safety is at stake. Priced at $25.99, it proved to be the best choice for home fire safety.
