Which fire extinguisher classification covers ordinary combustibles such as paper and wood?

Which fire extinguisher classification covers ordinary combustibles such as paper and wood?

• A. Class A
• B. Class B
• C. Class C
• D. Class K

Answer: (A)

Fires are categorized by what is burning, and the extinguishing method depends on the fuel. Ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, and cloth belong to Class A. So the extinguisher labeled for Class A is the best fit because it’s designed to remove heat from these fuels, typically with water-based agents that cool the material below its ignition temperature. Using a different class would not effectively handle these fuels and can even worsen the situation: extinguishers for flammable liquids (Class B) don’t remove heat from solid fuels, electrical fires (Class C) can be unsafe on non-electrical fires, and cooking-oil fires (Class K) are specialized for kitchen oils. You might see multi-class extinguishers like ABC that cover several hazards, but for ordinary combustibles specifically, Class A targets that type of fire.

Fires are categorized by what is burning, and the extinguishing method depends on the fuel. Ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, and cloth belong to Class A. So the extinguisher labeled for Class A is the best fit because it’s designed to remove heat from these fuels, typically with water-based agents that cool the material below its ignition temperature. Using a different class would not effectively handle these fuels and can even worsen the situation: extinguishers for flammable liquids (Class B) don’t remove heat from solid fuels, electrical fires (Class C) can be unsafe on non-electrical fires, and cooking-oil fires (Class K) are specialized for kitchen oils. You might see multi-class extinguishers like ABC that cover several hazards, but for ordinary combustibles specifically, Class A targets that type of fire.