What are common types of extinguishment?

Asked by: Whitney Turcotte DVM  |  Last update: February 19, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (31 votes)

Common types of fire extinguishment work by removing heat (cooling), fuel (starvation), oxygen (smothering), or disrupting the chemical reaction (inhibiting), using agents like water, foam, CO2, or dry chemicals in various extinguishers to combat different fire classes (A, B, C, D, K).

What are the 4 methods of extinguishment?

The four methods to extinguish fire are cooling (removing heat with water), starving (removing fuel sources), smothering (removing oxygen with blankets or foam), and chemical disruption (breaking the combustion chain reaction with dry chemicals).

What are the most common types of extinguishers?

Five main types of fire extinguishers

  • Water, water mist or water spray fire extinguishers.
  • Foam fire extinguishers.
  • Dry Powder – standard or specialist fire extinguishers.
  • Carbon Dioxide ('CO2') fire extinguishers.
  • Wet Chemical fire extinguishers.

What is the most common method of fire extinguishment?

Water – Pouring water on a fire is one of the most often used methods of putting it out. Heat energy is easily absorbed by water. Spraying water on flames with high temperatures successfully lowers the fire's temperature and vaporizes water.

Which of the 5 types of fires are the most difficult to extinguish?

Metallic fires can be extremely difficult to extinguish due to their special fuel type.

What Are Common Types Of Fire Extinguishing Agents? - Your Emergency Planner

38 related questions found

What are the most common types of fires?

Class A fires are the most common type of fire. They are produced from common combustible materials including wood, paper, fabric, rubber, and plastic. Class A fires have relatively low ignition temperatures, and once the fuel or oxygen has been depleted, the fire will burn out.

What is a type 5 fire?

Here is a brief summary of terms from the NPS: Type 5: (very small wildland fire only) Initial attack Short duration, seldom lasting into the next burn period Few resources assigned (generally less than 6 people) Little complexity Type 4 Initial attack or first response to an incident IC is “hands on” leader and ...

What are three ways to extinguish a fire?

The Theory of Extinguishing A Fire

  • Starving The Fire. Remove the fuel – i.e. the unburnt material. ...
  • Smothering The Fire. Prevent oxygen from combining with the fuel. ...
  • Cooling The Fire. Reduce the temperature of the burning material to below its ignition point. ...
  • Interrupting The Chemical Chain Reaction.

What is the 30/30/30 rule for fire?

The 30-30-30 rule for fire is a guideline indicating extreme wildfire risk: when the temperature is 30°C (86°F) or higher, relative humidity is 30% or lower, and wind speeds are 30 km/h (19 mph) or higher, conditions are ripe for fast, hard-to-control fires that preheat fuels and spread embers rapidly, a state sometimes called "crossover". This rule helps forecasters and the public recognize dangerous fire weather, as seen in events like the 2016 Fort McMurray fire. 

What are the 5 extinguishers?

The five main types of fire extinguishers, categorized by their extinguishing agent, are Water, Foam, Dry Powder, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), and Wet Chemical, each designed for specific fire classes (like A, B, C, D, or K) involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids/gases, electrical equipment, or cooking fats/oils. 

Is ABC the most common fire extinguisher?

The most common type of extinguisher in a home or office is an A B C extinguisher. This refers to the type of fire the extinguisher can be expected to extinguish.

What's the difference between ABC and BC types?

BC extinguishers are just that, B C. Not A. So they are rated for Type B and Type C fires. Whereas A B C are for type A, type B, and type C.

What are the 4 P's of fire safety?

The 4 Ps of fire safety generally refer to Prevention, Protection, Preparedness, and Practice, a framework for stopping fires, having tools ready, knowing what to do, and regularly drilling procedures. Other versions might use different P-words like Process or focus on cold weather protection like People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants, but the core concepts of stopping fires and being ready remain consistent across these models, with Prevention (stopping fires), Protection (equipment), Preparedness (planning), and Practice (drills) being the most common.
 

What are the 4 types of fire extinguishers?

Types of fire extinguisher & their uses

Class A - Suitable for paper, wood & textiles. Class B - Suitable for flammable liquids. Class C - Suitable for flammable gasses. Class F - Suitable for cooking oil and fat.

What is a type 5 B fire extinguisher?

Because gasoline fires are the most common type of boat fire, marine-rated Class B fire extinguishers are the class required on most boats. The number before the B, for example a 5-B or 20-B extinguisher, indicates the square footage of the fire the extinguisher can put out.

What are the 4 methods of fire extinguishment?

Common extinguishment methods are by temperature reduction, fuel removal, oxygen dilution, and chemical inhibition.

What are the 3 P's of fire?

The 3 Ps of fire safety are Prevent, Plan, and Practice, a simple framework to reduce fire risks and ensure readiness; it involves stopping fires before they start (Prevention), creating a family escape strategy (Plan), and regularly drilling that plan (Practice) to stay safe. Other variations exist, like Prepare, Plan, Practice or Prevent, Detect, Evacuate, but the core idea remains proactive safety. 

What is a type 3 fire extinguisher?

Type 3: Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

Wet chemical is a new agent that extinguishes the fire by removing the heat of the fire triangle and prevents re-ignition by creating a barrier between the oxygen and the fuel elements.

What is the golden rule of fire extinguishers?

Use an extinguisher – Remember the golden fire extinguisher rule: only attempt to use an extinguisher if you can confidently tackle it with the right equipment. Otherwise, if in doubt, get out and stay out. The PASS technique can be used for most fire extinguishers.

What are the ABC types of fire?

Class A fires, which involve ordinary combustibles like wood, paper, and cloth. Class B fires, which are fueled by flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and grease. Class C fires, which involve energized electrical equipment.

What is a 20 ABC fire extinguisher?

Multipurpose Protection – Class A, B & C Fires: 20 lb ABC dry chemical extinguisher designed to fight wood, paper, trash, flammable liquids, and electrical equipment fires with one versatile unit.

What does 5 5 5 mean to a firefighter?

It originated with the telegraph system used to dispatch fire alarms, where the code 5-5-5-5 signaled a death, usually of a firefighter or the mayor. The signal is a series of five bell strikes, repeated four times, with a pause between each set of five.

What is a Type K fire?

Class K fires are fueled by cooking oils and fats, essential substances in culinary operations but hazardous under certain conditions. They represent a unique and potentially devastating type of blaze that poses a significant threat in commercial kitchens and food service environments.

What is the deadliest fire?

The Peshtigo Fire remains the deadliest wildfire in recorded history, yet the conflagration is little known outside of Wisconsin. The reason? The fire broke out on October 8, the same night as another blaze some 250 miles to the south—the Great Chicago Fire, one of the most famous urban fires in American history.