When using a fire extinguisher, what should you aim at?

Aiming at the base of the fire is the most effective technique when using a fire extinguisher. The base is where the fuel source is located, and by targeting this area, you can disrupt the fire's combustion process more effectively. Fires require three elements to continue burning: heat, fuel, and oxygen. By aiming at the base, you are tackling the fuel source directly, which helps to eliminate the fire more efficiently.

This approach allows the extinguishing agent to make contact with the materials that are actively burning, rather than just displacing flames or heat. When attempting to put out a fire, it's crucial to eliminate its source rather than focusing on the flames themselves.

Other potential targets, such as the center or the top of the fire, won't effectively extinguish the flames because they might not impact the burning materials directly. Aiming at smoke is not practical either, as it does not address the actual fire and can even be dangerous without providing any benefit, as it is the fire that needs to be put out. Consequently, targeting the base of the fire is the most strategic and effective method.