How to Use a Fire Extinguisher: The PASS Method Explained
Updated: November 2026 2 min readBy the Vinsafe fire safety team
Quick guide to how to use a fire extinguisher: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. Learn the four-step PASS method, when to fight a fire, and when to get out.
Most people have walked past a fire extinguisher hundreds of times without ever using one. In an emergency, you have seconds to act. The PASS method makes it simple.
Before you fight a fire: decide in seconds
Only use an extinguisher if:
- The fire is small and contained (like a waste bin or small appliance)
- You have the right type of extinguisher
- The alarm has been raised and someone is calling 101
- You have a clear exit behind you
- The room is not filling with smoke
If any of these is not true, leave, close the door behind you and evacuate.
The PASS method
P: Pull the safety pin. It breaks the tamper seal.
A: Aim the nozzle or horn at the base of the fire, not at the flames. The fuel is at the base. S: Squeeze the handle slowly and evenly to discharge the agent.
S: Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base of the fire until it is out.
Practical tips
- Stand about 2 to 3 metres from the fire and move closer as it shrinks
- Keep your back to the exit
- For CO2 units, hold only the insulated handle; the horn gets extremely cold
- Most portable extinguishers empty in 10 to 30 seconds, so don't waste agent
- Watch for re-ignition and back away if it flares up
- Report every use so the extinguisher can be refilled
Practise before the emergency
Reading about PASS is not the same as doing it. Hands-on training with a live fire tray gives staff the confidence to act. Include extinguisher training in your yearly mock drill or fire safety AMC.
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