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The 5 types of fires and how experts say you should put them out
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Fires can be classified in five
different ways depending on the agent that fuels them
Using water on some fires, like
Class B and C fires, can actually make them more
dangerous.
If a fire can't be put out, leave
the area as quickly as possible and alert everyone nearby.
Contact emergency services as soon as you can safely do so.
When faced with a fire, knowing
how to extinguish it can come in handy. That being said, always
use your best judgment and proceed with caution, especially
because when it comes to
extinguishing a blaze, identifying the type of fire can be
incredibly important.
Here's how to put out the most
common types of fires and which fire extinguishers to use for
each.
There are actually five main types of fires.
Most of us probably don't think
much about the distinction between different types of fires, but
knowing the difference could be life-saving.
Each type of fire involves
different flammable materials and requires a special approach. In
fact, trying to fight a blaze with the wrong method might make
the situation worse.
In most cases, knowing which type
of fire extinguisher to use is crucial. Fortunately, using one
can be pretty simple - the Fire Equipment Manufacturers'
Association suggests
remembering the acronym "PASS": Pull the pin, aim the nozzle from a safe
difference, squeeze the handle slowly, and sweep the nozzle from
side to side until the fire is out. When using an extinguisher,
you'll want to aim low at the base of the fire.
That being said, if you keep a
fire extinguisher in your home or place of work, you'll want to
check its gauge monthly and
be sure it is in working condition, Atlanta fire chief
Dennis L. Rubin told Real Simple. You'll also want to
check the extinguisher for damages and get it inspected if
necessary. The worst time to find out your fire extinguisher's
pressure is too low is when you need it the most.
Most importantly, you'll want to
use the proper extinguisher when putting out a fire.
Class A fires are the easiest to put out. They involve solid materials like wood, paper, plastic, or clothing.
Class A fires are the most common
type of fire and the kind that most of us are familiar with. They
involve
solid combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, trash, or
plastic.
You might start Class A fires
intentionally when lighting a match or starting a bonfire. An
unintentional Class A fire could result from knocking over a
candle, a stray spark from a fireplace, or a lightning strike on
a tree.
Luckily, Class A fires are the
easiest type to extinguish. The Fire Equipment Manufacturer's
Association recommended using
a water or foam fire extinguisher on Class A fires. You can also use
water to douse the fire, as it can remove the fire's heat
supply.
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Class B fires involve flammable liquids like oil, alcohol, or gasoline.
According to the US Fire
Administration, Class B fires involve
ignitable liquids or
gases like petroleum
grease, alcohol, paint, propane, or gasoline. But, this
classification typically does not include fires involving cooking
oils or grease.
It's very important not to use a
water extinguisher on a Class B fire - the stream of water might
spread the flaming material rather than extinguish it.
Class B fires should be
extinguished using
foam, powder, or carbon dioxide
extinguishers,
according to the Fire Equipment Manufacturer's Association. These
types of extinguishers work by cutting off a fire's oxygen
supply.
Class C fires involve a source of electricity.
Class C fires, referred to as
Class E
in Australia, involve
electrical equipment.
This type of fire might be started by old wiring in walls, frayed
electrical cords, worn-out breaker boxes, or faulty
appliances.
Electrical fires are very common
in both homes and industrial settings. According to Strike First,
the first thing you should try to do if an electrical fire starts
is to
disconnect the appliance or
item from its power
source only if it is safe to do so.
Do not try to put out an
electrical fire with a water or foam extinguisher, as both of
those materials can conduct electricity and potentially make the
situation more dangerous.
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Class D fires are rare, but can happen when a metal ignites.
It takes high levels of heat
to ignite most
metals, which makes Class
D fires pretty rare outside of laboratories and industrial
settings. According to University of Massachusetts Boston's
Office of Environmental Health and Safety,
Class D fires are oftentimes caused by alkali metals such as
potassium, magnesium, aluminum, and sodium, as these can ignite
when exposed to air or water.
Although you're unlikely to face
a Class D blaze in your home, the Fire Equipment Manufacturer's
Association advised extinguishing these types of fires with
a
dry powder extinguisher only.
Dry powder extinguishers work on
metal fires by separating the fuel from oxygen or removing the
heat element of the blaze, but foam or water extinguishers
can potentially increase the intensity of the
flames and cause
dangerous explosions, according to Imperial Systems.
Some fires might also be termed Class K or Class F if they involve cooking oils such as vegetable oil or animal fats.
Because of the high flash point
of cooking oils and fats, Class K fires often start when a pan is
left unattended for too long on a stove. If possible, you'll want
to turn off the heat on your cooking appliance and remove the
fire from the heat source as soon as possible.
Just as you shouldn't use water
to try and extinguish a Class B fire, dousing a cooking oil fire
with liquid is likely to create a dangerous splatter effect and
spread the flames.
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Here's what to do if you can't extinguish a fire.
If you have any doubt at all
about your ability to quickly and safely extinguish a fire, you
should immediately evacuate. According to the Department of
Homeland Security, it can take just 30 seconds for a small flame to turn into a major
blaze.
In the event of a fire, the Red
Cross recommended
leaving the area or
building as quickly as
possible after yelling to alert anyone nearby. Always use stairs
rather than elevators, stay low to the ground, and use the back
of your hand to feel if closed doors are warm to the touch, as
you should never open doors that do not feel cool. Call 911 or
your local emergency number as soon as it is safe to do
so.
If your clothes catch on
fire, the Red Cross
suggests you
drop to the ground
and cover your face before
rolling back and forth until the flames go out.
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