Fire Extinguisher Basics

Firefighters are familiar with using hoses and master stream devices for fire attack. But there are times when these aren’t the right tools for the job or they aren’t immediately available. In these cases, fire extinguishers—“handheld firefighters”—might be the way to get the job done. Incipient-stage car fires, appliance fires, incipient-stage kitchen fires, equipment fires, electrical fires, small contents fires in a home or commercial occupancy and even laboratory fires may be handled with fire extinguishers under the right conditions.

Fire extinguishers are, or should be, carried on every piece of fire apparatus. Although every fire apparatus may not carry each type of extinguisher, there should be an A-B-C extinguisher and/or a water extinguisher on every fire department vehicle, even utility vehicles. Extinguishers are also required by code in almost every sort of building. Generally, extinguishers located in buildings are appropriate for the hazards present, but in some cases, building owners purchase extinguishers as cheaply as possible to meet basic code requirements. Firefighters, therefore, can’t count on extinguishers to be stored adjacent to the threat they face. Remember: Proper fire attack requires that you use the correct extinguisher, and use it properly.

Fire Basics

To understand extinguishers, you must understand the different classes of fires:

Class A: Ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, rubber, plastics, etc. Class B: Flammable and combustible liquids such as gasoline or oil. Class C: Energized electrical equipment. Class D: Combustible metals such as magnesium, sodium, potassium and lithium. Class K: Fires in cooking appliances that involve combustible cooking media (vegetable or animal oils and fats). Note: Extinguishers rated for Class A, B, C and K fires are generally suited for any fire in the class, but Class D fire extinguishing agents are specific to the particular metal involved.

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