Most fires don’t start with drama. They start small. A spark, a short circuit, a forgotten appliance. What happens in the first 30 seconds determines whether it becomes an incident or a disaster.
Fire extinguishers exist for that narrow window of opportunity. They are designed to stop a fire while it is still controllable, before heat, smoke, and panic take over.
In South Africa, legislation and standards require that portable fire extinguishers be installed wherever fire risk exists. This applies to offices, factories, warehouses, retail spaces, vehicles, and construction sites. Compliance aside, the real value lies in response time. Waiting for emergency services means waiting minutes. A correctly placed extinguisher means action in seconds.
Fire extinguishers also protect more than buildings. They protect people, continuity of operations, insurance validity, and legal standing. After a fire, insurers and inspectors will always ask the same questions:
Were extinguishers present?
Were they compliant?
Were they serviced?
A missing or non-compliant extinguisher often costs far more than the fire itself.
Fire safety is not about assuming the worst. It’s about being prepared for the unexpected.
