Not All Fires Are The Same

3/2/2021 (Permalink)

Soot Damage in Kitchen.

There are five main categories of fires and their extinguishers. As a homeowner or a business owner it is important to be aware in order to prevent fire damage. 

Class A

These are the most common type of fires. They involve combustible materials such as wood, paper, cloth, trash, or plastic. Fire extinguishers under Class A use a water and or various types of dry chemicals to either absorb heat or coat the fire. These are the easiest of the classes to extinguish.

Class B

These involve ignitable liquid or gases such as grease, alcohol, paint, propane, or gasoline. Fire extinguishers under Class B work best on oil or fuel-based fires.

Class C            

These involve electrical equipment such as old wiring in walls, frayed electrical cords, worn out breaker boxes, or faulty appliances. Fire extinguishers under Class C release materials that stop the conduction of electricity.

Class D

These are fairly rare. They involve metals igniting commonly in laboratories and industrial settings such as potassium, magnesium, aluminum, and sodium.

Class K

These involves cooking oils and fats and usually occur when a pan is left unattended for too long on a stove. They are often lumped in with Class B, however the US Fire Administration states that it is in a category of its own. Fire extinguisher under Class K release an alkaline agent to create a foam that traps vapor to put out the fire.

Make sure that you properly use a fire extinguisher with the PASS Method. 

Make sure that you use the RACE method 

RESCUE, ALARM, CONFINE, EXTINGUISH/EVACUATE.

If you experience any fire damage in your home and need remediation give SERVPRO of York, James City, and Poquoson a call at 757-229-3442 of toll free at 1-800-889-5002.

SERVPRO is here to help in your time of need

Sources:

https://www.safety.com/types-of-fires-and-extinguishers/