Author Archive: Mark Wagemaker

5 types of fire extinguishers

Discover 5 Types of Fire Extinguishers to Handle Any Fire Emergency

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Do you know how to work a fire extinguisher in case of a fire? To be prepared for unpredictable emergencies, Northland Fire recommends familiarizing yourself with your fire extinguisher, as well as the different types of fires they are used to put out.

If you look at a fire extinguisher, you'll notice there are a series of symbols denoting what type of fire that particular model can extinguish. Depending on what kind of facility you work in, your fire extinguisher will have the following types of fire listed on its label:

Class A: This type of fire is caused by combustible materials like paper, cloth, and wood.

Class B: More serious than a fire involving wood or paper, a Class B fire is fueled by flammable liquids like oil or gasoline.

Class C: If you experience an electrical fire, it's a Class C fire. Your extinguisher will work for flames occurring on fuse boxes, appliances, and wiring.

Class D: This fire is caused by combustible metals like sodium or magnesium.

Class K: For fires that occur on the stovetop, like burning oil or grease, a fire extinguisher must include a Class K symbol.

In addition to these single use extinguishers, some fire extinguishers carry multiple symbols representing the different types of fires they can handle. Once you've determined the type of fire you are experiencing, verify you have the correct fire extinguisher to douse that particular fire.

For help selecting the right fire extinguisher for your office or to install a fire alarm or suppression system, contact Northland Fire today. To see a full list of their products and services, visit the website.

women learning how to use fire extinguisher

A Look at Northland Fire’s Extinguisher Training Course

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Do you know the basics of fire extinguishers and how to use them?

Northland Fire & Safety offers hands-on fire extinguisher training for businesses to help answer these questions and to help fulfill training requirements for employees. Here’s what their course covers, as well as important details about why fire extinguisher training is an important part of your safety plan.

Fire Extinguisher Training From Northland Fire

Contrary to what you might have seen in the movies, using an extinguisher isn’t as simple as pointing the nozzle. Most people have never used a fire extinguisher or even picked up a fire extinguisher. Northland Fire’s hands-on training course will teach you how to safely and effectively extinguish a small fire at your workplace or at home. You’ll begin your course with a brief video and a basic quiz about information covered in the video, followed by hands-on instruction that explores the rules of fighting fires. Each person will have the opportunity to use a fire extinguisher provided by Northland Fire & Safety to extinguish a small fire in a burn pan. Upon completion of the fire extinguisher training, Northland Fire will provide a Certificate of Completion for each employee that went through the training. Business owners appreciate the certificates because they usually go in the employee’s personnel file as proof of safety training. The video, quiz, question-and-answer and hands-on training generally takes less than 45 minutes depending on the amount of people in attendance.

A fire extinguisher is one of those necessary safety items you hope you never have to use—but you should still know when and how to use it. By the end of your course, you’ll be more comfortable to deal with a situation if one arises. To get more information on a fire extinguisher training course with Northland Fire.

lit exit sign in long hallway

3 Safety Benefits of Exit Signs & Emergency Lighting for Businesses

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No matter the size of your business enterprise, it is essential to have exit signs and emergency lighting present. Both are part of a comprehensive safety system that keeps your employees, clients and your business safe. Northland Fire provides commercial and industrial clients in Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Upper Michigan with the exceptional products they need to guarantee safety and security.

Illuminated exit signs offer several important benefits for any business, including:

Easy Way Out: Use exit signs equipped with emergency lighting to provide employees and anyone else in your commercial building with an easy way of leaving the premise. These signs clearly show where exits are located in the event of a fire, gas leak, or other dangerous situation. Signs must be clearly visible at all times.

Regulations: Keep up with federal and state safety regulations via exit signs featuring emergency lighting. Signs must be at least six inches tall and two inches wide according to federal regulations and feature a reliable illumination source. Failure to install illuminated exit signs may result in fines and other problems with your local safety inspector.

First Responder Assistance: Install exit signs with emergency lighting to help first responders find their way in and out of your building during a fire or other dire situation. Illuminated signs help ensure everyone gets out of the building quickly and safely.

Just like fire extinguishers, emergency exit lighting is required to inspected and re-certified on an annual basis. Northland Fire has trained technicians to satisfy this requirement.

Keep employees safe and pass safety inspections with exit signs and emergency lighting from Northland Fire. Northland Fire offers everything you need to maintain a safe facility, including fire alarms and extinguishers, fire systems, hood cleaning services, and more. Learn about their safety products by exploring our website.

drawing of home fire exit plan

5 Things to Include in Your Fire Safety Plan

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When there’s a fire in your home, quick thinking and preparation will save your family, which is why it’s prudent to have a detailed fire safety plan. The fire protection equipment experts from Northland Fire are committed to your safety, so they’ve compiled items to add to your plan.

1. Keep Items Away From the Stove

Most fires in the home begin in the kitchen due to carelessness; an overhanging towel near your burner can ignite and spread, or a wooden spoon falls out of a pot and catches fire. Keeping flammable items away from the oven and stove is key.

2. Don’t Overload Power Outlets

Another common cause of household fires is overloaded power circuits. When using a power strip or connecting chords to your outlets, less is more. Keep an eye out for any frayed extension or appliance chords and replace them immediately to minimize chances of an electrical fire.

3. Always Keep a Fire Extinguisher at Home

A fire can break out unexpectedly in any area of your home, which is why keeping accessible fire protection equipment on hand is important. Northland Fire & Safety Inc. suggests storing a fire extinguisher in the kitchen to keep you and your family protected.

4. Inspect Furnace & Water Heater Annually

Like most household appliances, your furnace and water heater need to be properly maintained to function their best. Since they’re fuel burning appliances, they can pose a fire hazard if they’re not properly serviced.Inspect your furnace and boiler annually.

5. Plan a Family Fire Drill

Planning a family fire drill is a great way to practice fire safety in the home. Sit down with the family and create an escape plan and then put it into action one weekend or evening.

For those who want to prevent fires and keep their family safe, contact Northland Fire today to learn more about their fire protection equipment. They also specialize in emergency lighting and fire alarms, so visit them online for a closer look at their inventory.

stainless steel kitchen hood

Keep Your Kitchen Safe With Proper Hood Cleaning Practices

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Having an exhaust hood in your kitchen is the first step towards safety. But, if your exhaust hood isn’t clean, you are putting your staff, your customers, and yourself at risk. The team at Northland Fire & Safety of Superior, WI, performs professional exhaust hood cleaning for commercial kitchens.

Even if you have top-of-the-line equipment, it is still susceptible to grease buildup. This collection of grease is a major fire hazard and needs to be removed promptly. For optimal safety, hood cleaning should be done regularly by both staff and kitchen exhaust cleaning professionals.

Your restaurant must perform exterior hood cleaning on a daily basis. This includes degreasing and wiping down duct work, inspecting exhaust fans, applying polish, and more. This makes for a cleaner, healthier kitchen and will help you reduce potential fire hazards.

A complete cleaning can be performed less frequently but must be conducted by a professional. The frequency of hood cleaning depends on the volume of your output. Monthly hood cleaning is required of systems providing solid fuel cooking. High-volume operations—like 24-hour service—need quarterly hood cleaning. If your output is moderate, semi-annual cleaning is sufficient. If only used minimally, one kitchen exhaust cleaning per year is enough.

For more information on kitchen hood cleaning practices, contact the experts at Northland Fire & Safety in Superior. Visit their Facebook page or website to learn about all of the fire protection equipment and services they offer. Call today at (715) 398-6643 to schedule regular or one-time maintenance services.

fire extinguisher use at home

Fire Extinguishers & Beyond: 5 Important Fire Safety Training Questions

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Ensuring your employees are well-versed in fire safety is key to preventing unwanted flames from taking over, resulting in property damage and serious injuries. A fire safety training class teaches you and your team how to use fire extinguishers and other important safety skills that keep your business standing and OSHA-compliant. Get the most from your fire safety course by asking the following questions prior to signing up.

What Course Is Best for My Team?

The best course for your staff goes over emergencies most likely to occur with your type of business. Training leaders must inspect your facility prior to the first class to create a customized course that teaches employees more about the building they work in and what to do in case of an emergency.

Where Will Training Occur?

Many classes occur outdoors due to fire pit and fire extinguisher use. However, the best courses are those that simulate emergencies and subsequent procedures on location. Digital technology avoids starting actual fires indoors and provides employees with the training they need.

Who Is Instructing the Course?

First responders and firefighters are among the best professionals to teach fire safety because of their knowledge and experience. They know how emergencies start, are experts in fire suppression systems, and share real-life experiences and stories to paint a more vivid picture of safety practices.

What Does the Course Teach?

Basic training courses teach how and when to use fire extinguishers, and how to exit buildings safely. Knowing when to use an extinguisher and when to leave the blaze to professionals can be the difference between life and death.

Are There Any Additional Costs?

Use of fire equipment can result in a higher training fee, as can obtaining a burn permit for outdoor demonstrations. Failure to use a burn permit can incur costs as well. Simulated training is arguably the best option, as it does not require equipment use or permits, nor does it result in high fees and long cleanup sessions.

Find the extinguishers, fire alarms, and other fire protection equipment you need at Northland Fire. Proudly serving industrial and commercial clients in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Upper Michigan, and North Dakota, the premier business offers a variety of fire suppression systems as well as 24-hour emergency service. Contact Northland Fire to schedule service or visit the team’s website for additional information. Like the company on Facebook for more helpful tips.

oven top pan with flames

4 Ways to Fight & Prevent Grease Fires Starting With Fire Extinguishers

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Whether you’re cooking over a hot stove at home or in a restaurant, grease fires are a serious cause for concern. The best way to avoid these dangerous outbursts is through prevention techniques and thorough preparation. That’s why locals throughout Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota depend on Northland Fire. As experts in fire protection equipment—from fire alarms to fire extinguishers—they take pride in helping customers learn how to protect themselves.

Understand Cooking With Oils

First and foremost, it’s important to understand how to cook with oils and grease. When you put oil in a pan, it should never be allowed to burn. If you notice smoke, your pan is too hot and you should reduce the heat immediately. Keep in mind, at 500 degrees, smoke from grease will ignite into fire.

Pay Attention

Most grease fires start when cooks aren’t paying close attention to their stoves. To keep you and your home safe, always have active fire alarms, and never leave your kitchen with something cooking on the stove. By keeping a close eye on your pots and pans, you can reduce the heat as soon as the grease starts smoking.

Move Combustible Items

To avoid exacerbating a grease fire, move all combustible items away from your stove before you start cooking. Keep your paper towels, dish towels, and paper cookbooks at a safe distance as well.

Fire Extinguishers

For added peace of mind, always have a fire extinguisher handy. If a grease fire should erupt, remember—water will only make it worse! Instead, use a fire extinguisher.

Are you looking for fire protection equipment for your home or business? If so, contact Northland Fire and speak with a helpful member of our team. For more information on this Superior, WI-based company, including their selection of fire alarms and fire extinguishers, check out their website.

fire alarm system components

Why Your Business Needs a Fire Alarm

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As a business owner, you have a number of important responsibilities. Foremost among these is ensuring the safety of your employees and customers, and this means making sure they are protected in the event of a fire. Northland Fire works with both commercial and industrial clients throughout the upper Midwest, and they encourage each and every one of their customers to install a fire alarm system if they don’t already have one.

Fire alarms serve a few vital functions. First, and perhaps most importantly, they let the people in the building know when a fire has broken out through siren sounds and flashing lights that are impossible to ignore. Better still, their use of both light and sound will ensure that even if your employees or customers are hearing or sight impaired, they’ll still be able to get out of the building. Simply put, having a fire alarm means you won’t have to wait until someone notices smoke or flames, and that extra time can mean the difference between evacuating everyone safely and catastrophe.

Additionally, the fire alarm system in your building won’t just alert the occupants: It will also let your local fire department know they need to get over to your business right away. This quick alert system is vital: Not having to wait for someone to find the number and call the fire department could mean the fire is suppressed before it gets out of control.

Clearly, a fire alarm system is an extremely worthwhile investment for your business. If you don’t already have one, Northland Fire & Safety can help. If you’re looking for additional protection, they also offer fire suppression systems, emergency lighting, extinguishers, and much more to make sure your livelihood is as safe as possible.

Protect yourself, your customers, and your employees and install a fire alarm system today. For more information, contact Northland Fire. Visit them online to learn more about their fire suppression systems and other products and services.

different types of fire extinguishers lined up

Different Types of Fire Extinguishers

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At a glance, fire extinguishers may not seem very different from one another. While the red canister is symbolic of the profession, there’s so much more to this invaluable tool than meets the eye. In fact, firefighters are trained to use many different extinguishers.

Each style serves a unique purpose and is designed to suppress a specific type of fire:

Water & Foam: Water smothers the heat source, while foam separates the oxygen element from the fire. Water extinguishers are meant to put out Class A fires, which are caused from basic combustibles like paper and cloth. Foam extinguishers can also be used on Class B fires resulting from flammable liquids such as gas and oil.

Carbon Monoxide: Carbon monoxide extinguishers eliminate the oxygen source from the fire and suppress the heat with cold. They’re designed to put out Class B and C fires. Class C fires are caused by electrical items, such as motors and appliances.

Dry Chemical: Dry chemical extinguishers suppress the fire’s chemical reaction. They are highly effective on Class A, B, and C fires.

Wet Chemical: Wet chemical extinguishers work by deteriorating the heat source and forming a barrier between the oxygen and fuel. This prevents the fire from reigniting. It’s effective on Class K fires, or those that develop from greases and cooking oils.

Dry Powder: Dry powder separates oxygen from the fuel and kills the fire’s heat element. It can only be used to douse a Class D fire, which involves combustible metals such as aluminum and sodium.

Clean Agent: Also known as a halogenated fire extinguisher, the clean agent breaks up the chemical reaction within the fire. It’s safe to use on Classes B and C, although larger units are also appropriate to use on Class A fires.

Water Mist: Water mist extinguishers stop the fire’s heat element. They’re sometimes used instead of halogenated extinguishers and can be used for Class A and C fires.

Northland Fire is the leading source of fire protection equipment and security systems in the upper midwest. We carry a broad range of fire extinguishers and other fire suppression equipment. For more information, visit our website.

inspection tag on fire extinguisher being marked

Fire Safety: 4 Steps for a Quick Check of Your Fire Extinguishers

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You probably never think about your fire extinguisher until there’s a fire. When you’re faced with an emergency, you don’t want to discover that your first line of defense isn’t working. Northland Fire’s fire protection equipment experts recommends checking your fire extinguishers once a month to make sure they are working properly any time you need it.

These fire equipment specialists suggest the following procedures to keep your fire suppression system in working order:

Check Access: Make sure your fire extinguisher isn’t blocked by furniture or other belongings, especially if it’s kept under a sink or in the laundry room. Also, ensure that everyone in your family knows where to find it in case a fire does break out.

Check The Tamper Seal: Look for the tamper or safety seals and make sure they’re still intact. While a broken seal doesn’t always indicate a problem, it might mean that your extinguisher has already been discharged or lacks the pressure to perform efficiently.

Check The Pressure: Most fire extinguishers feature a built-in pressure gauge with the proper pressure notated. A visual inspection will probably be sufficient, but some have a test indicator you should push to get a reading.

Check The Condition: Finally, look around the outside of the canister for signs of damage, corrosion, or leakage. If the nozzle or other components look damaged or untrustworthy, you should replace it.

The specialists at Northland Fire can help ensure that your fire extinguisher is ready to assist when you need it most. With years of experience serving commercial and industrial clients throughout the upper midwest, they have the equipment to meet challenges of any size, from fire alarm systems to sprinkler system installations.