It was a hot afternoon in the north parking lot at Fuller Industries west of Great Bend Wednesday, and it was about to get hotter.

Employees there participated in their annual fire extinguisher training in that sizzling patch of asphalt. They took turns putting lessons into practice to put out a staged gasoline fire.

They stood back about eight feet from the flames, squeezed the trigger and a cloud of white fire-suffocating powder shot onto the blaze. The heat radiating from the fire only added to stifling afternoon air.

“The training ensures that employees are familiar with various types of fire extinguishers, basic fire safety principles, and how to safely operate the equipment,” said Joe Cannon, owner of Fireball Fire Extinguishers and Equipment, who services fire extinguishers for the commercial cleaning product manufacturer. He volunteered to lead the exercise.

The mandatory refresher course is required by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The session covered fire prevention, detection, evacuation procedures, and the PASS method — pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, and sweep slowly from side to side — for using an extinguisher.

“The training is designed to provide Fuller Industries employees with the knowledge and skills needed to respond effectively to small workplace fires and maintain a safe working environment,” Cannon said.

There were giggles and laughter, but Cannon said this is a serious topic. He stressed if someone isn’t comfortable using one of the devices in an emergency, they would be safer not doing so. “Just use common sense.”

In addition to the fire extinguishers, company safety officials reminded the staff about evacuation routes and meeting places in case of an emergency. They were told to check in with their supervisors so an accurate headcount could be taken.