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(Salt Lake City, KSL News) -- Salt Lake County firefighters want you!
They're offering free CERT -- Community Emergency Response Team -- training to local residents.
Participants will learn everything from CPR to how to use a fire extinguisher.
Firefighters find a lot of residents just don't know how to use extinguishers.
They suggest you use them to find your way out of fire, not become a firefighter with them. And read the directions before you use a fire extinguisher
"First you pull the pin, aim the hose, squeeze the handle and sweep at the bottom of the fire. Why the bottom of the fire? Because that's where it's burning and you sweep at the bottom to put it out," says Don Korth, a firefighter.
A five-gallon extinguisher has enough chemical in it to fight a fire for about 30 seconds. That doesn't sound like a lot, but firefighters say it's enough to get you out of the house.
And if you've had your extinguisher a while, make sure the gauge on the side has the arrow pointing to the green section. That means the chemical inside is still good.
There's a lot more to learn. For information on the CERT classes, follow the link above to the Salt Lake County Fire District Website.
