During a fire, what distance should you position yourself from the fire when using an extinguisher?

Positioning yourself eight feet from a fire when using an extinguisher is standard practice that balances safety and effectiveness. At this distance, you maintain enough space to be out of immediate danger from flames and heat while still being close enough to effectively apply the extinguisher's contents to suppress the fire.

Being too far away would reduce the effectiveness of the extinguisher, as the agent may not reach the base of the fire effectively. Conversely, being too close to the fire increases the risk of injury from heat, flying debris, or rapidly spreading flames, which can be unpredictable. Therefore, the eight-foot distance maximizes both safety for the individual using the extinguisher and the likelihood of successfully extinguishing the fire.