I am surprised this is news. Of course you should be using a standard extinguisher, unfortuantely people want a short cut, or a perceived easier way to do things. I am surprised the United States Fire Administration is not mentioned in this article as they are the fire experts within the federal government.

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First Alert affirms Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray is less intimidating and an ideal supplement to traditional fire extinguishers. It is not intended to replace a traditional fire extinguisher. This award-winning product, like all First Alert fire safety products, is tested to national and international safety standards set forth by internationally accredited laboratories. This product has been rigorously tested to the Residential Cooking Fires Standard and it met or exceeded all parameters of that test, which resulted in an official Classification Mark by ETL Intertek Laboratories. This stamp of approval is on every single can of Tundra Fire Extinguishing Spray.

It is regrettable that Consumer Reports has chosen to group all aerosol-type fire extinguishing products in their “Don’t Buy” rating. Many of these products, including Tundra, differ from one another both chemically and mechanically. Tundra has many patented features that make it an ideal, effective and easy solution to putting out small kitchen grease fires. We feel it is also important to note that when a fire is determined to be large and unmanageable, First Alert has always recommended leaving the home immediately and dialing 911.

Having had first hand experience with the First Alert Tundra spray, I totally disagree with your "don't buy" recommendation. Over a year ago I went to make toast in a newly purchased toaster. I walked out of the kitchen and started smelling smoke, when I came back I saw flames coming out of the top of the toaster just inches away from the kitchen cabinet. I grabbed the Tundra I kept on the counter, took off the cap and sprayed. It immediately put out the fire. When I emptied the toaster to see what was the problem, I found an instruction pamphlet inside and it had caught fire. It sounds comical but it's a true story. I know if I tried to use a regular fire extinguisher it would have cost me valuable time locating it and trying to figure out how to use it. Tundra doesn't replace a traditional fire extinguisher but I feel it is an excellent supplement because it's light, small enough to keep out on a counter (the size of a can of hairspray), and so easy to use. I gave away over 10 cans for gifts because I thought it was such a practical and life saving product. I hate to think what would have happened if I didn't have it.

I'm upset & disgusted with your 'report' on TUNDRA. I had a fire in my kitchen and really thought my home would burn down. I used Tundra and the fire was put out...immediately! I would recommend (and have many times) that this product is wonderful, efficient, and easy enough to use by anyone. I'm a 75 yr old widow, and this fire was in the middle of the night. TUNDRA does not require knowing how to use a regular fire extinguisher, and at a time of panic, such as a fire, this was a life saver to me.

Even the firemen that came to my home on another emergency (I had a stroke), when I told them about TUNDRA, and were very interested in the product. They each said they would buy TUNDRA for their wives, and also to put them in their cars.

Please, don't cut down a product that is safe to use. Does the extinquisher companies pay you for your 'report'?

This review struck me as unfair and misleading. First off, Tundra is not a traditional fire extinguisher so why is it being compared with those? Second, wouldn't anything used on a grease fire cause it to flare up at first? Using this factor as a strike against Tundra seems very misleading to me.

I continue to think that Tundra is a worthwhile purchase. I have given it to every member of my family and am comforted knowing that they have access to something so easy to use and effective should they need it. I urge Consumer Reports to reconsider its review and how it is categorizing this truly unique product.

As a firefighter for the past 41 years and a nationally certified Fire & Life Safety Educator who teaches 2 to 3 fire extinguisher classes per week for the past 25 years, I have to say I totally disagree with Consumer Reports on their report about the Tundra extinguisher.

When I first heard about the Tundra, I was interested and decided to purchase one at a local craft store and test it out. I tried using it a number of ways. I was impressed in what I found.

In my classes I show all the different types of fire extinguishers and the consumer can make the decision themselves. Personally myself, I have replaced my pervious fire extinguishers in my home with the new Tundras and I sent them to all of my extended family for the holidays. This is why I feel that way:

It is easy to use. It takes no training. Read the directions, point and shoot. If you can spray paint, or use hair spray, you can put out a fire.

It is easy to clean up. I find this to be very attractive.

I found them to be inexpensive. If I use the Tundra, I will discard the used unit and purchase another. If you have a regular extinguisher, it can only be used on a fire once and then it must be refilled by a qualified technician (by calling a fire extinguisher repair service found in the Yellow Pages).

In respect to the standard A-B-C Dry Chemical extinguisher, some factors that were not mentioned in Consumer Reports. The gauge is only reliable if the fire extinguisher is tested and maintained once a year. You cannot leave it there forever without maintenance. The Tundra has an expiration date of two years and must replace. I have talked to people who had fire extinguishers in their homes for over ten years without any maintenance. There is no proof that a fire extinguisher even sitting for three years without inspection and preventative maintenance is going to work. I have seen gauges that were stuck and the extinguisher did not work.

You should use the fire extinguisher which is required by the local "fire code" where you live. If you have a business, school, gas station, many other type commercial buildings, day cares, adult care center, hospitals and the like, the Tundra will not meet the code requirement. You will have to have a specific fire extinguisher as required by the local fire code and will probably have to have it maintenance once a year according local fire code requirements by a fire extinguisher technician in most cases.

But there are no codes for private homes in most cases, only recommendations. Check with your local fire department for the local fire code requirements for portable fire extinguishers in a private one or two family residential building. The local fire code will dictate which type of extinguisher you should have, if there is no requirement, then it is up to you to decide.

Most people do not have fire extinguishers in their home. According to the National Fire Protection Association, kitchen fires (food on the stove) is one of the leading causes of fires in the United States and the leading cause of fire related injuries. They can get out of control quickly, cause significant damage, injuries and even death. A fire extinguisher can put out a stove fire quickly if used properly.

I recently had a student from one of my classes decide to buy the Tundra and put it in their new home. They even bought it the night after the class. A few weeks later they had a stove fire, used it. The fire was out in a few seconds, and clean up was very easy. She came to one of my classes recently to thank me for telling her about the product, she was so happy.

It also said that the fire flares up when it is first used. This is typical in any fire situation (at the beginning of the video, the fire also flares up with the dry chemical extinguisher outside). As the extinguishing agent (water, dry chemical, or aerosol) is first introduced, air will be pushed toward the fire and a small flare up for a second or two is possible. In the video it showed the dry chemical demonstrations being held outside, while the aerosol inside. I believe all of the demos should have been shown under the exact conditions.

It is suggested that everyone have a fire extinguisher in their home, especially the kitchen area. I recommend any of them, but for the Tundra, I personally use them in own home and give it a five star rating.

Is is just me, or does the comment section seem to read like a gigantic ad? I mean, come on. Tundra, disagree if you want, but don't pretend you're an unbiased third party. It's possible that maybe one (or MAYBE two) of those were genuine comments, but when you clog the place with obvious advertisements, it just makes me disregard all of them, even the ones that might be genuine.

I watched the Tundra video at Fire Rescue International last year in Dallas and it enticed me to buy the product for my personal use. They are small, clean and an easy point and shoot. If you can use an aerosol can like Raid or cooking spray, you can use Tundra. It’s very convenient — unlike the big 20-pound fire extinguisher, plus you don’t get the mess from all the powder (I hate powder). I think as people get older, they are looking for things that are easier to use and are less intimidating. Since it looks like a standard aerosol can, people are more likely to use a can of Tundra than a normal dry chemical fire extinguisher, which can be intimidating.

Chief Hank Clemmensen
Palatine Rural Fire Protection District, IL