A portable (or mobile) fire extinguisher is an effective first line of defense in controlling small fires within your home or business. Fire extinguishers can be an effective tool, but only when you select the correct type for your needs. For maximum effectiveness, choosing the right extinguisher for your situation is very important. In fact, determining what kind of fire is burning is the initial step in figuring out which fire extinguisher to use. Many people assume that a fire extinguisher will put out any type of fire and this is not the case. Specific types of fires require a specific type of fire extinguisher. Some fire extinguishers will leave a mess behind and damage sensitive equipment, while other fire extinguishers will leave hardly a trace and not damage sensitive equipment such as computers.