Jobsite Fire Response Reference

Why this matters

Fires on jobsites happen - torch work ignites insulation, electrical short sparks dry framing, sprayed solvent ignites, soldering torch sets a roof on fire. Every service trade has fire risk. The tech who responds correctly in the first 30 seconds saves lives + property; the one who hesitates loses both. This is the field card.

Prevention first

Most jobsite fires are preventable:

Hot work (torch, soldering, grinding):

• Hot work permit (required in many commercial settings)
• Fire watch (designated person watching for sparks 30+ min after work)
• Combustible material removed from area
• Fire extinguisher on hand
• Heat shield / non-combustible barrier

Solvent + flammable use:

• Ventilation
• No open flames nearby
• Proper storage (flammable cabinet)
• Spill containment
• Rags safely disposed (oily rags can self-ignite)

Electrical work:

• De-energize before working
• Don't overload circuits during work
• Properly torque connections
• Working with energized: PPE

General:

• Site cleanliness (debris is fuel)
• No-smoking policy
• Equipment maintained
• Battery safety (lithium-ion fires increasing)

Fire classes

Different fuels need different extinguishers:

Class A: ordinary combustibles (wood, paper, cloth, plastic)

• Water OR multi-purpose extinguisher
• Most common building fire

Class B: flammable liquids (gasoline, oil, paint, solvent)

• ABC OR Class B specific
• DON'T use water (spreads the fire)

Class C: electrical (energized equipment)

• ABC OR Class C specific
• DON'T use water (electrocution)
• De-energize if possible, then often becomes Class A

Class D: combustible metals (magnesium, titanium)

• Specialty extinguisher
• Rare on residential

Class K: cooking oils

• Restaurant kitchen
• Specialty extinguisher

ABC multi-purpose: most-versatile; covers A, B, C. Common on service trucks.

Extinguisher use (PASS)

P - Pull the pin A - Aim at the base of the fire S - Squeeze the handle S - Sweep side to side

Stand 6-8 ft from fire (closer is dangerous). Most extinguishers discharge in 10-15 seconds.

If fire grows OR you're not making progress: LEAVE. Don't fight fire that's beyond extinguisher capacity.

First 30 seconds of a fire

Time matters dramatically:

Small fire (a few sq ft, contained):

1. Yell "FIRE!" alert others
2. Locate extinguisher
3. Apply (PASS technique)
4. Watch for spread; reassess

Larger / growing fire:

1. Yell "FIRE!"
2. Evacuate immediately
3. Call 911 from outside
4. Account for all workers + customer
5. Pull fire alarm if available (commercial)
6. Don't re-enter

Decision threshold:

• Can I contain this with what I have? YES → fight
• Spreading faster than I can suppress? NO → evacuate
• Fire involves chemicals / gas / electrical with unknown extent? Evacuate

Evacuation

When evacuating:

• Get out the safest route (lowest smoke, away from fire)
• Stay low (smoke rises; fresh air below)
• Close doors behind you (slows spread)
• Don't go back for tools / belongings
• Account for everyone at meeting point
• Customer + family + pets if present
• Call 911 from a safe location

Calling 911 for fire

Be specific:

• Address (complete; verify number)
• Type of fire (electrical, structural, chemical)
• Location within building
• Anyone trapped / injured
• Hazardous materials present
• Your name + callback number

Stay on the line until dispatch confirms.

Notifications

After fire / fire department arrival:

• Customer (immediately if not already)
• Company supervisor / manager
• Property management (if applicable)
• Adjacent tenants / neighbors
• Insurance (after fire department clears)

Common service-trade fire scenarios

Soldering / brazing torch fire:

• Torch ignites insulation, wood, paper near work
• Heat shield should have been in place
• Quick extinguisher response often contains
• Common in plumbing + HVAC

Electrical short:

• Wiring failure ignites adjacent material
• Often inside wall (hidden initially)
• De-energize panel; let fire department handle
• DO NOT use water (still energized)

Solvent / paint fire:

• Spilled flammable liquid ignites
• Solvent-wet rags self-ignite
• ABC extinguisher OR foam
• DO NOT use water

Lithium-ion battery fire:

• Tool batteries; growing concern
• Class D specialty extinguisher OR copious water (controlled)
• Once started, hard to extinguish
• Move away from other batteries / combustibles

Cigarette fire:

• Improperly discarded smoke
• Ignites trash, wood, mulch
• Often hours-later flare-up
• Site policy: no smoking near combustibles

HVAC equipment fire:

• Capacitor failure
• Compressor fire
• Disconnect power; ABC extinguisher
• Equipment may need replacement after even minor fire

Specific fuel responses

Roofing tar / kettle:

• Hot tar pot ignites
• Class B extinguisher
• Have water source AND foam available
• Don't pour water on hot tar (steam explosion)

Sprayed flammable:

• Stop spraying immediately
• Ventilate
• Apply extinguisher
• Customer evacuation if indoor

Welder / cutter sparks:

• Hot slag falls into combustible
• May smoulder hours before flame
• Fire watch (after work ends) catches these

Smoke + CO

If structural fire:

• CO levels rise
• Visible smoke = significant CO
• Stay low; cover face with cloth
• Get out

After fire is out:

• Building may have CO + other gases
• Ventilate before re-entering
• Fire department determines safety

Damage minimization

Once fire is out:

Water damage minimization:

• Cover undamaged items if water still falling
• Pump water; mop
• Open windows + ventilation
• Restoration company may help

Documentation:

• Photo before AND after suppression
• Note time + cause
• Insurance evidence

Returning to work

After a fire incident:

• Fire department clearance
• Insurance assessment
• Cause investigation
• Repair / cleanup
• Resuming work in same area: extra precautions

Some incidents trigger OSHA investigation; document fully.

Liability + insurance

When fire occurs while you were working:

• Was it caused by your work?
• Was prevention adequate (hot work permit, fire watch, extinguisher)?
• Was customer negligent (combustibles you couldn't have known about)?

Outcomes vary:

• Tech-caused: company's general liability
• Customer-caused: customer's homeowners
• Equipment failure: manufacturer
• Combination: complex

Don't make admissions; document; let insurance handle.

Customer property after fire

Even small fire (extinguisher only):

• Soot damage to surrounding surfaces
• Smell impregnates fabrics
• Cleanup of extinguisher residue
• Insurance often involved

ABC extinguisher dust = corrosive; gets into electronics + HVAC. Cleanup is significant.

Fire extinguisher maintenance

An extinguisher you have not checked is a fire extinguisher shaped object. The whole point of the preceding pages fails if the unit does not discharge.

Monthly visual check, by the tech who carries it. It takes under a minute:

• Gauge needle in the green. Low means it will not throw, high means the gauge or the valve is suspect.
• Pin in place, tamper seal unbroken. A broken seal means it may have been partially discharged and it needs recharging regardless of what the gauge says.
• Shell free of dents, gouges, and corrosion. Damage to the cylinder takes it out of service.
• Nozzle and hose clear, not cracked, not plugged with dirt or insects.
• Label legible and the unit is the class you actually need for the work you do.
• Present, accessible, and mounted where it belongs, not buried under the truck load.

Annual maintenance by a qualified service company. They inspect internally per the schedule, verify the mechanical parts, and re-tag it. The tag with the date and the servicer's mark is what an inspector or an insurer looks for.

Periodic internal examination and hydrostatic testing. These are on longer cycles set by the extinguisher type in the fire code, and they are done by the service company, not on your tailgate. Track them by date on the tag rather than trying to remember.

Recharge after any use, no matter how small. A one-second burst on a small flame drops a stored-pressure unit's ability to do it again. There is no partial use. Tag it out and swap in a spare.

Truck-specific realities:

• Secure the unit with a proper bracket. A loose cylinder in a van is a projectile in a crash and it will lose its charge from vibration and rattling.
• Vehicle vibration packs dry chemical over time. Inverting and tapping the unit on a routine schedule keeps the powder loose. It is not a substitute for annual service.
• Heat and freeze cycles in a truck box are hard on gauges and seals. Check yours more often than a unit hanging on a wall.
• Carry the class you need for the work. Hot work and solvents need more than a small kitchen-grade unit, and one small extinguisher on a big job is not a fire plan.

Log it. Monthly check initialed, annual service date recorded, and the unit tracked to the vehicle. That record is what shows you were not negligent if a fire ever does get away from a crew.

References

• NFPA 10 (Fire Extinguishers)
• NFPA 51B (Fire Prevention in Cutting + Welding)
• OSHA 1910.157 (Portable Fire Extinguishers)
• OSHA 1926.352 (Fire Prevention - Welding + Cutting)
• Manuall internal: Hot Work Permit Reference, Customer Property Protocol