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Fire Bucket

By Tabitha Mishra
Last updated: June 17, 2024

What Does Fire Bucket Mean?

A fire bucket is a bucket designed to help suppress or contain fires during a fire incident.

While fire buckets are rarely sufficient to deal with large fires, they can help slow the spread of an uncontrolled fire until firefighters arrive.

The exact design of a fire bucket will depend on the type of fire that may be expected at a facility. They are usually made of metal or plastic, bright red in color, and have the word “FIRE” written across them in white.

Safeopedia Explains Fire Bucket

Fire buckets are highly effective, handy, cheap, easy to operate, and can be easily refilled.

The standard fire bucket size is 9 liters (2.3 gallons) and they typically have a convex-shaped bottom to prevent it from being stolen or used for any other purpose. Unlike some other fire extinguishing equipment, fire bucks can be used immediately without needing to be hooked up to a water source or prepped in any way.

Types of Fire Buckets

There are two basic types of fire buckets:

  • Sand fire buckets that are used for Class B fires. The sand is thrown directly on the flames and acts as an absorbing agent.
  • Water fire buckets that are used to put out fires on combustible materials like wood, paper, and rubber.
Two fire buckets hung on a metallic stand

Fire buckets on a stand (Source: EDM Metal Projects)

Which Fires Can a Fire Bucket Handle?

Fire buckets are very effective against Class A and Class B fire:

  • Class A fires: Ordinary combustibles, like wood, paper, cloth, and plastic
  • Class B fires: Burning liquids and gases, such as gasoline, grease, and oil

Fire buckets filled with sand are also effective against some Class E electrical fires. Water should never be used on electrical fires.

Fire buckets can be used to extinguish small fires or to create a barrier of sand or water to slow the spread of the fire until firefighters arrive on the scene. They are, however, entirely ineffective for combating large fires. Attempting to suppress a large fire with a fire bucket will only put the user at greater risk.

A vintage plastic fire bucket

A vintage fire bucket (Source: eBay)

How to Use a Fire Bucket

The fire bucket should be kept in a strategic location – somewhere easily accessible, well-marked, and near any areas where the fire risk is elevated.

When a fire breaks out, lift the bucket by handle and keep a good grip on it while throwing the extinguishing agent (sand or water) from the bucket. A loose grip might cause the bucket to be thrown with its contents, which makes it less effective and will prevent it from being retrieved safely.

Aim the extinguishing agent at the base of the fire, on top of the burning material, or toss the contents in a sweeping side-to-side motion.

If the fire hasn’t been completely extinguished, repeat this with the contents of another fire bucket or refill the one you’re using and throw the contents on the fire again.

Fire buckets must be inspected regularly to ensure they are in good condition, located in an appropriate area, and that sufficient extinguishing material is available. If water is stored in the buckets, it must be replaced regularly to prevent the breeding of bacteria or mosquitos.

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