What are the different types of extinguishment?

Asked by: Amparo McCullough II  |  Last update: January 27, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (9 votes)

Extinguishment types primarily involve removing heat (cooling), fuel (starving), or oxygen (smothering) from the fire triangle, using agents like water, foam, dry chemicals (ABC, BC), CO2, or specialized powders (Class D/K) for different fire classes (A, B, C, D, K), or interrupting the chemical chain reaction with agents like Halotron or Halons. Methods range from simple smothering with a blanket to complex chemical suppression, depending on the fuel source (wood, liquid, metal, electrical).

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).

How many types of extinguishes are there?

There are five main types of fire extinguishers: water, foam, dry powder, CO2, and wet chemical. To adhere to regulations, the correct fire extinguisher (paying attention to its size and weight) must be located in the right place in your building.

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 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. 

Classes/Types of Fire and how to Extinguish

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What are four classes of fire extinguishers?

The four most common types of fire extinguishers are Water, Foam, Dry Powder, and Carbon Dioxide (CO2), each designed for different fire classes (A, B, C, etc.) involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids/gases, electrical equipment, or cooking oils, with specific agents like water, foam, powder, or CO2 tackling different fuel sources to cool, smother, or interrupt the chemical reaction of the fire.
 

What is a 5 ABC fire extinguisher?

Amerex B500C - 5 lb Chrome ABC Fire Extinguisher (with wall bracket) ABC fire extinguishers are ideal for homes, businesses, hallways, office buildings, apartment buildings, chemical storage areas, RVs, boats, and cars. ABC or Multi-Purpose Fire Extinguishers can be used on Class A, B, or C fires.

How to remember fire extinguisher types?

Class A: wood, paper, cloth, trash, plastics (remember: leaves an Ash).

  1. Class B: flammable liquids—gasoline, oil, grease, acetone (remember: can Boil).
  2. Class C: electrical—as long as it's “plugged in” (remember: carries a Circuit or Current).
  3. Class D:

What are the four types of fire?

There are typically five main classes of fire (A, B, C, D, K), categorized by fuel type, that guide extinguishing methods: Class A for ordinary combustibles (wood, paper), Class B for flammable liquids/gases, Class C for energized electrical equipment, Class D for combustible metals, and Class K for cooking oils/fats, with different extinguishers needed for each to prevent shock or spreading.
 

In what order should you extinguish a fire?

The Theory of Extinguishing A Fire

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

What is the new type of fire extinguisher?

The P50 fire extinguisher is a relatively new type of fire extinguisher that has been gaining popularity in recent years. It is a highly effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional fire extinguishers and is rapidly becoming the preferred choice for many businesses and organisations.

What are the ABC types of fire?

Class A fires – are fires involving organic solids like paper, wood, etc. Class B fires – are fires involving flammable liquids. Class C fires – are fires involving flammable gasses. Class D fires – are fires involving burning metals (eg aluminium swarf)

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 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 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 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.

What are the 5 classification of fire?

The five main classes of fire, categorized by fuel type, are Class A (ordinary combustibles like wood/paper), Class B (flammable liquids/gases like gasoline/propane), Class C (energized electrical equipment), Class D (combustible metals like magnesium/titanium), and Class K (cooking oils/fats in commercial kitchens), with Class K often replacing older systems for kitchen fires, while some regions use Class F or E (electrical). 

What is the 4 triangle of fire?

Oxygen, heat, and fuel are frequently referred to as the "fire triangle." Add in the fourth element, the chemical reaction, and you actually have a fire "tetrahedron." The important thing to remember is: take any of these four things away, and you will not have a fire or the fire will be extinguished.

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.

What is the acronym to remember fire extinguishers?

It's easy to remember how to use a fire extinguisher if you can remember the acronym PASS, which stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze, and Sweep. Pull the pin. This will allow you to discharge the extinguisher. Aim at the base of the fire.

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 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.

What does BC stand for in fire extinguishers?

Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, multi-purpose dry chemical and halon* fire extinguishers may be used to fight Class C fires.

Which is better, ABC or CO2 fire extinguisher?

ABC extinguishers are versatile for common fires (wood, liquids, electrical) but leave messy powder, while CO2 extinguishers are residue-free, ideal for electronics and liquids (B & C fires), offering a strong cooling effect but less range and danger in confined spaces due to oxygen displacement. Choose ABC for general hazards, but CO2 for sensitive equipment like servers or laser engravers where clean-up is critical.
 

Do I need a 5 lb or 10 lb fire extinguisher?

A 10lb fire extinguisher offers significantly more firefighting power, longer discharge time, and greater reach than a 5lb unit, making it better for larger spaces like workshops, garages, or commercial areas, while the lighter 5lb extinguisher is sufficient and easier to handle for average-sized rooms in homes or smaller settings. Key differences are capacity (10lb has nearly double the agent), discharge duration (10lb lasts longer, around 22s vs. 5lb's ~20s), and application (5lb for average rooms, 10lb for higher-risk or larger areas needing more suppression time).