Extinguisher Training
Extinguisher Types
Different classes of fires require different types of extinguishers. It is important that you know the types of extinguishers that are kept near you so you can appropriately fight the fire you are dealing with. Each type has a label to indicate what class fire it is for.
Water Extinguishers: Air-Pressurized Water extinguishers are designed for Class A (wood, paper, cloth) fires only. These are large silver fire extinguishers that stand about 2 feet tall and weigh about 25 pounds when full. Filled with ordinary tap water and pressurized air, they are essentially large squirt guns.
These extinguishers ONLY put out Class A fires and will NOT put out Class B, C, D or K fires.
Carbon Dioxide Extinguishers: CO2s are designed for Class B and C (flammable liquid and electrical) fires only.
Carbon Dioxide extinguishers are filled with non-flammable carbon dioxide gas under extreme pressure. You can recognize a CO2 extinguisher by its hard horn and lack of pressure gauge. Be sure to hold the extinguisher by the handle, not by the cylinder.
These extinguishers ONLY put out Class B and C fires and will NOT put out Class A, D or K fires.
Dry Chemical Extinguishers: An "A,B,C" extinguisher will have a label like this, indicating that it may be used on class A, B and C fires.
Dry chemical extinguishers put out fire by coating the fuel with a thin layer of powder, separating the fuel from the oxygen in the air. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire, so these extinguishers are extremely effective at putting out fire.
These extinguishers ONLY put out Class A, B, C and D fires and will NOT put out Class K fires.
Wet Chemical Extinguishers: Wet Chemical extinguishers are specially designed for commercial cooking oils.
Wet Chemical (potassium acetate) is highly effective in extinguishing K class fires, particularly those found in deep, fat fryers. These fire extinguishers are typically required in a commercial kitchen setting.
These extinguishers ONLY put out Class A and K fires and will NOT put out Class B, C or D fires.