A DSPA-5 is a handheld firefighter’s device used to knock-down indoor or confined space fires. When a rapidly burning fire exceeds the confines of a standard fire extinguisher; DSPA-5 offers a quick and effective means to reduce the intensity of the fire. A DSPA-5 canister is easy to deploy, activated by simply pulling the initiating pin, then throwing the unit into the fire. The activated canister quickly produces an expanding cloud of fire suppressing aerosol knocking down a fire’s growing flames. A DSPA-5 can lower the risk to firefighters and dramatically reduces the water required to extinguish a fire, thus, reducing the damage to the building, as well as assisting fire investigators.