You don't have adequate or appropriate equipment. If you don't have the correct type or large enough extinguisher, it is best not to try fighting the fire.
- You might inhale toxic smoke. When synthetic materials such as the nylon in carpeting or foam padding in a sofa burn, they can produce hydrogen cyanide, acrolein, and ammonia in addition to carbon monoxide. These gases can be fatal in very small amounts.
- Your instincts tell you not to. If you are uncomfortable with the situation for any reason, just let the fire department do their job.
- The final rule is to always position yourself with an exit or means of escape at your back before you attempt to use an extinguisher to put out a fire.
- In case the extinguisher malfunctions, or something unexpected happens, you need to be able to get out quickly. You don’t want to become trapped.
