It is critical to get the correct type of fire extinguisher for your needs when purchasing fire extinguishers for your company or house. Fires are classified into numerous types based mostly on their fuel supply. Every fire extinguisher is graded according to the sorts of flames it can put out. You can determine which fire kinds pose a safety risk at your company by learning what each fire class represents. Once you know what sorts of fires your company may face, you may purchase the appropriate extinguisher to guard against them.
Types of Fire
Class A
Class A flames are fuelled by generally combustible materials. Class A fires are frequently caused by wood, cloth, paper, rubbish, and plastics. Water or monoammonium phosphate are typically used to extinguish Class A flames.
Class B
Class B fires are caused by flammable liquids or gases as their fuel source. Petroleum-based oils and paints, kerosene, and gasoline are examples of common liquid-based fuel sources. In Class B fires, flammable gases such as butane or propane are also typical fuel sources.
Class B fires are a prevalent danger in sectors that handle fuels, lubricants, and specific types of paint. Smothering such flames to eliminate oxygen is a typical remedy, as are chemical processes that generate similar results. Cooking fires, for example, have their own categorization and are classified as Class K fires.
Class C
The fuel source for a Class C fire is electrical components and/or electrified equipment. Motors, appliances, and electronic transformers are frequently used to feed electrical fires.
Electrical fires are widespread in sectors that deal with energy or consume large amounts of electricity. To extinguish such flames, turn off the electricity and utilize non-conductive chemicals to do so.
Class D
A Class D fire is characterized as one that is fueled by a flammable metal. Titanium, magnesium, aluminum, and potassium are examples of flammable metals. Other metals having combustible qualities that you may come upon are listed below.
Class D flames pose a risk in laboratory settings. Use a dry powder agent to put out a Class D fire. This absorbs the heat required for the fire to burn while also suffocating it.
Class K
Class K fires are caused by liquids used in food preparation. Class K flames, while technically a sort of liquid fire, are unique enough to earn their own categorization. A variety of liquid cooking ingredients are used to fuel cooking fires.
Fuel sources in Class K flames include greases, cooking oils, vegetable fat, and animal fat. Wet chemical fire extinguishers have grown in popularity for extinguishing various sorts of flames.
How To Put Out A Wood Fire?
- Do: Use a fireplace poker to spread out the wood and embers.
- Do: Extinguish the flames using the ash from your embers once they cool down.
- Do: Put a layer of banking soda over the ash once the fire is out to eliminate any remaining embers. This adds an additional layer that prevents oxygen from reaching the embers.
- Don’t: Remove the burning logs. Doing so increases the risk of the fire spreading to other parts of your home as you attempt to remove it.
- Don’t: Douse the flames with water in a fireplace or in an enclosed room unless this is a serious emergency and there’s no other option. Using water creates massive amounts of smoke and can cause steam burns. It can also damage your fireplace leading to cracks and heaves due to the sudden change in temperature.
How To Put Out An Outdoor Fire Pit?
Wood burning fires are classified as Class A fires because they originate in a fireplace or fire pit and use combustible materials as fuel. Class A fires are also commonly caused by wood, paper, rubbish, cloth, and plastics.
If a fire starts in your indoor fireplace, here are some dos and don’ts for putting out a wood burning fire:
- Extinguish the fire with water. Compared to fireplaces, outdoor fire pits are often in more open spaces which allows for steam or smoke to go away when extinguished.
- Spread the wood and embers to create ash, similar to how you would handle a fireplace fire.
- Put sand over the burning embers. Make sure you spread a thin layer of sand on the embers to prevent them from having access to oxygen. Adding too much sand can cause the embers to remain lit underneath, which poses a fire hazard if they’re uncovered by wind.
- Use a Class A fire extinguisher if the fire gets out of hand. If the steps above do not take effect and the fire appears to be out of control or in danger of spreading, call 911 for help.
How To Put Out A Gas Fire?
Fires caused by natural gas, kerosene, propane or gasoline are categorized as Class B fires. These types of fires are caused by flammable liquids and best extinguished by smothering.
- Do not use water to put out a gas fire. It will only make the situation worse.
- Use a Class B fire extinguisher instead which is made to put out a gas fire.
- After the fire is controlled, shut off the gas flow on the appliance and notify your utility company.
- Do not turn back on the appliance until the situation has been properly handled.
How To Put Out An Electrical Fire?
When it comes to appliances, if they’re plugged into an electrical outlet, they might catch fire. There are certain procedures you may take to deal with a fire caused by a faulty house wiring, a worn-out breaker box, an appliance malfunction, or a frayed electrical wire.
Here’s how you can put out an electrical fire:
- If possible, unplug the appliance. Doing so will help reduce the risk of the fire spreading while also ensuring the appliance does not pose additional risk to those attempting to put out the electrical fire.
- Use Type C fire extinguisher that has a ‘C’ on its label.
- If the electrical fire is small, smother the flames with baking soda. This will reduce the oxygen that the fire has access to, potentially putting it out. However, if the electrical fire starts to grow out of control, call 911 for help.
How To Put Out An Appliance Fire?
There are additional household appliances that aren’t plugged into an outlet but can still create a fire, such as your oven, stove, and microwave. These appliances are frequently found in the kitchen, where high temperatures put them at danger of catching fire.
If you want to know how to put out an appliance fire, you need take the following steps:
How To Put Out An Oven Fire?
- Leave the oven door closed. This prevents oxygen from fanning the flames and helps avoid flames from reach other areas of your kitchen.
- Turn off the oven. This will prevent the fire from spreading to the outlet where it can quickly spread throughout your home.
- Do not put water on the flames. If the oven is plugged in, this will cause electricity to electrocute the person throwing the water on the flames.
- Use a Class C fire extinguisher. This will help smother the oven fire and help put it out.
How To Put Out A Stove Fire?
- Make sure all burners are turned off. Having a burner on will only help fuel the stove fire, making it harder to put out the flames.
- Move everything away from the stovetop area.
- Unplug appliances near the stove. Less items near the oven means that the stove fire has less items to potentially spread to.
- Do not use water to douse the flames. Electricity travels through water quickly and may electrocute you.
- Use a Class C fire extinguisher.
How To Put Out A Microwave Fire?
- Unplug the appliance or turn off the kitchen’s circuit breaker.
- Move everything away from the microwave area.
- Use a Class C fire extinguisher.
How To Put Out A Grease Fire?
Cooking fires are the leading cause of residential fires and injuries. The majority of these fires start with oil that becomes too hot, boils, and eventually turns from smoke to flames. These are referred to as grease fires or Class K fires.
Here’s how to put out a grease fire:
- Cover the fire immediately. You can use a lid or cookie sheet to put out a grease fire. Leave this cover on until the flames are gone and the metal is cool to the touch. This helps prevent oxygen from continuing to fuel the fire.
- Turn off the heat source. Turning off the stove or burners used will prevent the grease or oil from continuing to be heated. While this will help, do not remove the pan from the stove. You may drop the pan or cause burning grease to spread throughout your home, placing yourself at risk of harm.
- Do not pour water on the fire. It can cause the grease to splash and the flames to spread. This is caused by the water vaporizing in the intense heat, causing grease to splash as the water vapor escapes.
- Using a Class K fire extinguisher should be your last resort. A grease fire can be difficult to put out without the proper tools. If you don’t have a class K fire extinguisher, call 911.
What Should You Do If You Can't Put a Fire Out?
If a fire becomes out of control, evacuate your home immediately. Close the door as you go to attempt to keep the flames at bay. Once you’re secure, contact 911 and don’t go back inside your house until a professional, such as a fireman, says it’s safe to do so.
Contact Most Trusted Fire Damage Restoration Company in Roswell, Georgia
After a devastating loss from a fire event, it is critical to deal with the damage as soon as possible. ServiceMaster Roswell offers a comprehensive range of fire damage services to bring your home or facility in Roswell, GA back to normal fast. Our team of fire damage restoration specialists provide clear direction and assistance throughout the restoration and cleanup process. We use industry-leading methods and the latest equipment to ensure a job well done. No matter the size of the project, we’ve got you covered.
Our Fire Damage Restoration Services
- Biohazard Cleaning
- Carpet, Rug, and Upholstery Cleaning
- Contents Cleaning & Restoration
- Data and Document Recovery
- Fire Damage Restoration & Repairs
- HVAC Duct Cleaning
- Odor Removal
- Packout & Storage
- Plumbing
- Smoke & Soot Removal
Call ServiceMaster Roswell at (770) 200-5111 or connect with us online to emergency fire damage / smoke damage removal.
