Sheila Falls, the cafeteria manager at Blacksburg High School, gets some pointers from Blacksburg firefighter Cline Gore on how to use a fire extinguisher during a safety class on fire emergencies. Sheila Falls and her co-workers were able to smile when each was given an opportunity to activate a fire extinguisher outside the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department on Tuesday.

"I never messed with one," Falls said with a laugh. "You can tell."

While Falls and her co-workers were able to smile, they hope they'll never have to do anything but practice with the equipment.

"It's a scary thing to think about," said Falls, the cafeteria manager at Blacksburg High School. She and her co-workers are constantly around hot grease and hot stoves. And statistics show kitchen fires are the number-one cause of residential fires.

The cafeteria workers just wanted to be prepared in the event of an emergency and the Blacksburg Volunteer Fire Department was happy to help out, holding a training session for the school employees.

"We don't want anyone to try to be a hero," said Blacksburg Fire Chief Clay Greer. "If the situation is dangerous, we want them to get out. But if they have an opportunity to react, we want them to do it in a safe manner."

Blacksburg firefighter Cline Gore presented a safety class to the cafeteria workers, walking them through the various types of fire extinguishers and what each is designed to handle.

Some fire extinguishers are designed for specific types of fires. Using the wrong kinds can exacerbate the situation.

"It (the wrong kind) will make the fire mad and feed it," Gore warned.

An ABC-type fire extinguisher is fine for most home uses, he said.

Gore then walked the cafeteria workers through the appropriate ways to get a fire extinguisher ready, how to operate it, and how best to aim it.

"If you have any doubt," he told them, "get out (once a fire has erupted)."

Gore advised that you should never turn your back on a fire, which can double in size every 60 seconds.

"And once outside, stay outside," he said.

And even if the cafeteria workers are able to snuff out a fire on their own, Gore said they should still call E-911 to have firefighters investigate.

While the Blacksburg Fire Department is always glad to help out with such training sessions, the cafeteria workers had a little extra pull. Greer's mother is a longtime cafeteria employee who took the class as well.