Environmental Health & Safety

Portable Fire Extinguishers

Portable fire extinguishers are provided throughout the campus and may be utilized, as needed, to aid in escape.

Portable fire extinguishers may also be utilized to extinguish a small incipient fire provided you:

  • Never endanger yourself or others.
  • Act within your scope of knowledge/training
  • Always have an exit – ability to get out quickly.
  • Treat the situation with respect.
  • Initiate fire notification protocols.

At no time is a MICA employee, student or visitor required to fight fires.

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher 

P.A.S.S. is a helpful acronym to remember the steps to using a fire extinguisher.

  • Pull the Pin of the fire extinguisher
  • Aim the Nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the base of the fire, standing 8-10 feet away
  • Squeeze the levers together to discharge the fire extinguishing agent
  • Sweep from Side to Side going 3-6 inches beyond either side of the base of the fire, until the contents of the fire extinguisher are completely exhausted

How to use a fire extinguisher training video