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Fire Buckets

Need help? Need help? How can fire buckets benefit your workplace? Fire buckets are a traditional and effective way to stop a fire in its tracks. Designated buckets are filled with water, sand or absorbent material and then dumped on the fire in order to smother it.

The buckets are usually bright red and labelled “FIRE” so that they are easily visible and so that they are not used for other purposes. Fire buckets also typically have slightly convex bottoms, the curve of which allows for a more effective launch of water from the bucket. Using fire buckets requires a different approach than other styles of fire extinguishers, so it is important to learn the proper procedures.

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Fire Buckets as an Effective Fire Fighting Method


Although fire buckets have been largely superseded by more technologically advanced and sophisticated types of firefighting, such as Fire Extinguishers, they retain several distinct advantages. Fire buckets are much cheaper than other firefighting products, they can be used very easily and quickly refilled. Oftentimes, a number of fire buckets will be hung near areas with potential fire risks such as gas stations, train stations, barbecues, or ovens. They can be used to contain spills of flammable liquids as well; for example, a petrol station may keep a fire bucket on hand in case there are any small leaks or spills of petrol.

Using sand for fire management

Fire Bucket Sand is a classic and effective tool for fire extinguishing. When enough sand is dumped on a fire, the fire is smothered and no longer has access to oxygen. Without oxygen, the fire cannot grow, and it is essentially extinguished. Once the flames are put out, it is important to remain vigilant and cautiously stir the sand while looking for hot spots that may need additional attention.

For certain fires, sand is much more effective than water. For example, when water is thrown on flammable liquids like oil, the water is completely ineffective. Sand can be very effective when dumped on small fires involving oil. Additionally, the importance of sand’s absorbent nature cannot be undervalued. Firefighters often incorporate sand into their arsenal of tools for absorbing flammable liquids and minimising the risk of fire.

Managing fire with absorbents

There are a variety of absorbents that can also be effectively applied to fires to control their burn including gels, clay, pads, mats, socks, pillows, and specially coated sawdust. Specially Coated Sawdust is most often used in fire buckets as it can be easily and efficiently dumped on a fire using a bucket. Absorbents other than sand are an appealing alternative as they are more absorbent, and for leaks or spills involving oil, the thicker oils adhere to the absorbents more than they do to sand. Like sand, specially treated sawdust can also smother flames when dumped on a small fire.

Disposing of used fire absorbents

After using the absorbent and ensuring that there are no hot spots or flammable liquid leaks remaining, it is important to properly dispose of the absorbent. The absorbents should be treated as hazardous waste. Checking local guidelines pertaining to hazardous waste disposal is very important. The absorbents can be collected using brooms to sweep the material into buckets, barrels, or bags. After collecting the absorbents, it is important to dispose of them properly, clean the area and the buckets, and restock the absorbents for future use.