Fire Extinguisher Service in Montebello

Ready before the fire department walks through

Opening a business in Montebello? The Montebello Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Division does new business license inspections, and it also runs fire and life safety inspections plus the state-mandated annual inspections it schedules throughout the year. An inspector will look at your extinguishers. Each one should be mounted, charged and carrying a current service tag.

To book a city inspection, call the department at (323) 887-4507 or email fireinspection@montebelloca.gov. That line is theirs. Ours is below.

Most of the calls we get from Montebello are about fire extinguishers. We handle the annual service, recharges, 6-year and 12-year cylinder work, and new units for spaces that don't have any yet, all from one call.

Fire extinguisher installation in Montebello

New tenant space? A remodel? Installation starts with what could burn. Class A covers ordinary combustibles like paper, wood and cloth; Class B covers flammable liquids; Class C covers energized electrical equipment; Class D covers combustible metals; and Class K covers cooking oils and fats. A multipurpose dry chemical unit handles A, B and C fires and suits many offices and shops.

California Fire Code Section 906 covers portable extinguishers. If your project is in plan review with the Community Risk Reduction Division, confirm the extinguisher requirements with them before move-in day so the new units match what the inspector expects to see.

Kitchens are different. A kitchen with a hood suppression system also needs a Class K portable extinguisher, and that unit gets a hydrostatic test every 5 years; our Montebello fire kitchen service page covers the hood system itself.

What annual service costs

A recent Montebello quote was $35 per extinguisher for the annual inspection. Recharges cost extra. So does other maintenance. The same quote flagged 6-year and 12-year cylinder service, which applies only to units that have reached those dates.

Count your units before you call. Note the type on each label, too.

Monthly, yearly, 6-year and 12-year work

• Monthly: someone on your staff looks each unit over. Gauge in the green, pin and seal in place, nothing blocking it.
• Every year: a licensed technician does the maintenance and updates the tag.
• Every 6 years: stored-pressure dry chemical units are emptied and torn down for internal maintenance.
• Every 12 years: dry chemical units get a hydrostatic test.
• Every 5 years: CO2, water and wet chemical (Class K) units get a hydrostatic test.

Details on each step are on our pages for annual extinguisher certification in Montebello, extinguisher refills and recharges and hydrostatic cylinder testing. Where employees are expected to use the extinguishers, OSHA requires training when they're hired and at least once a year after that; see fire extinguisher training in Montebello.

Who does the work

In California, only a firm and technician licensed by the State Fire Marshal may service portable extinguishers. Our California work is done by Hedrick Fire Protection. Hedrick holds C-16 fire protection and C-10 electrical contractor licenses and is State Fire Marshal licensed under Title 19 for extinguisher service and for inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems.

For extinguisher service in Montebello (ZIP 90640), call us at (213) 568-0188 or email us at socal@1profire.com. Other services for the city are on our Montebello fire protection page, and nearby coverage is on our Los Angeles County fire extinguisher service and Orange County fire extinguisher service pages.

Montebello extinguisher questions

What does the annual inspection cost?

A recent Montebello quote ran $35 per extinguisher. Recharges and other maintenance are extra.

What if an extinguisher needs a recharge?

Recharge is priced separately from the inspection. A unit needs one after any use, even a short burst, because the remaining pressure can leak away over the following weeks.

Who inspects businesses in Montebello?

The Montebello Fire Department's Community Risk Reduction Division. Schedule with them at (323) 887-4507.

How often does a CO2 extinguisher need a hydrostatic test?

Every 5 years. Water and wet chemical units follow the same 5-year cycle, while dry chemical units go 12 years between tests.