Most of the seventh-graders in Ken Arbaugh's life science class said they owned fire extinguishers. Very few had actually used one.

That explains why firefighters from the Nevada City fire station were pouring fuel on a trough of water alongside Seven Hills School and igniting it with a flare Friday morning.

“I'd never used one before, but now I know how to put fires out,” said Conner Upton, 12.

The supervised practice coincides with a unit on lab safety, where students learn how to handle chemical spills, shattered glass and lab fires.

“As opposed to showing them where [the extinguisher] is at, we want to show them how to use it,” Arbaugh said.

They also learned the best ways to maintain their home extinguishers – pick it up and shake it once a month, and have it serviced yearly.

Nevada County Consolidated firefighter Kelley Craig coached students to aim for the base of the fire and sweep back and forth, but one lesson they had to learn on their own – don't open your mouth when near a cloud of fire redardant.

“It tasted horrible,” said Colton Childs, 12. “It did not taste like cotton candy.”

To contact Staff Writer Michelle Rindels, e-mail mrindels@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4247.