As I sit to write this, the weather people are predicting a foot of snow. This late in the season, I like to watch the snow melt and go to sugar houses. Though I very much look forward to snow in the fall, by April I am ready to take the snowplow off the tractor and get the garden patch ready. Time to start thinking spring.

Almost every fire in a home starts small. The fire is looking for fuel, air, and additional heat in order to grow. As it consumes fuel, some of the material will be given off as smoke, not something that you want to occur in your home.

As there are very few homes in Andover equipped with a sprinkler system, most people have portable fire extinguishers. I recommend that every home have at least one on every floor.

Your fire extinguisher is designed to put out small fires quickly. Time spent running to find your device will allow your small, controllable fire to get larger. Ever wonder why the fire trucks go fast? Well, now you know. Time is your enemy.

There are several types of extinguishers available. They are designed to handle different kinds of fires. Wood, paper, or common building materials are a Type A fire. Oil or grease is a Type B fire. Electrically charged devices are a Type C fire. A metal fire is a Type D.

Are you confused? Well, you should be. The fire fighter who arrives on that fast truck should know this stuff; you need to understand only three letters. The letters are ABC. That type of extinguisher is designed to handle any fire you are likely to encounter in your home.

Look at your device; it will list the types of fires it was manufactured to handle safely. Most sold to consumers will say ABC. If not, then you must pay attention to the rating.

When it comes to fire extinguishers, size matters. The larger the unit, the more firefighting agent it will hold. A five- to ten-pound size is good.

Try to purchase a unit with a gauge. It is best to mount it on the holder it came with, in a location that is easy to see and near an exit, if possible. Remember, you may need that extinguisher in order to evacuate your home.

Date the unit with the month and year purchased. Every month, check the gauge to be sure the pressure is in the “Good” range. It is best to keep track using a check sheet wired to the extinguisher. We have the check sheets at the fire station if you need them.

Once a year, turn your extinguishers upside down and shake them to keep the powder inside from caking. It is very important that you replace your extinguisher if you use it. Once you break the seal by activating the agent, it will quickly lose pressure and become unusable.

You have been given a lot of information — let’s quickly review:

• Place a Type ABC fire extinguisher on every floor of your home.
• Purchase a five- to ten-pound unit.
• Mount it near an exit in a way that the gauge can be easily seen.
• Check the gauge once a month.
• If you use it, replace it.
• Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

Use a fire extinguisher only if you can do so safely. Remember that smoke is going to be present and may be one of the greatest dangers you face. Please call 911. If all we do is remove smoke, great. If we need to do more, well, that’s what we do.