What would you do if you awakened in the middle of the night to the smell of smoke? Do you know the best way to put out a small wastebasket fire or burning pan on the stove? Do you own a fire extinguisher and know how to use it?

Protecting your home means you must be able to determine the best course of action in each individual situation should your home and its belongings catch fire.

Over 75 percent of American homes are equipped with a fire extinguisher. Not only do they lower your insurance costs, they can be used effectively on certain types of contained fires which can be blasted from between six and ten feet with the extinguisher.

But according to David Webster, a 10-year veteran of the fire department in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, portable extinguishers are only part of a complete fire-safety plan that should also include smoke detectors, an evacuation plan and even a sprinkler system.

Although sprinklers are prohibitively expensive for most homeowners, costing between $2,000 to $6,000 for a 2,000 sq. ft. new home, they do provide the best chance of survival.

Smoke alarms such as First Alert's best-selling smoke detector are easy to install and can be placed in key areas all over the home.

There is no substitute for early warning, but when a fire breaks out, you will be best protected if you do the following:

1. Call the fire department immediately. Even if you think you can contain the fire, it can sometimes escalate out of your control. Precious minutes can be wasted which can make the difference in saving all or parts of your home and belongings.

2. Keep a fire extinguisher on hand where you can reach it quickly. Don't store it in a cabinet. Not only will it lower you insurance costs, it will give you an opportunity to contain a small fire before it gets out of control.

3. Know the classes of fire. Knowing what type of fire can help you determine the right course of action to take should fire break out in your home. Your extinguisher should be marked as to which type of fire it will be the most effective. Most homeowners choose ABC-rated extinguishers.

• Class A - ordinary combustibles, such as wood, cloth or trash;
• Class B - flammable liquids, including cooking oil, gases, such as propane, and some plastics;
• Class C - fires that are heated by electrical energy.

4. Remember the PASS system. Pull the pin to unlock the handle; Aim low at the base of the fire; Squeeze the handle; Sweep the unit from side to side.

Published: July 2, 1998

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.