Type of Fire
- Not all fires are the same. Different fuels create different fires and require different types of fire extinguishing agents.
- Type A – Class A fires include ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, trash and plastics.
- Type B – Class B fires involve flammable liquids such as gasoline, petroleum, oil and paint. They also include flammable gases such as propane and butane.
- Type C – Class C fires involve energized electrical equipment such as motors, transformers and appliances. Remove the power and the Class C fire becomes one of the other classes of fires.
- Type D – Class D fires involve combustible materials such as potassium, sodium, aluminium and magnesium.
- Type K – Class K fires involve cooking oils, greases such as animal fats and vegetable fats.
- Some types of fire extinguishing agents can be used on more than one class of fire. Others have warnings where it would be dangerous for the operator to use a particular fire extinguishing agent
