Fire Classifications

CLASS A: Ordinary combustibles or fibrous material such as Wood, paper, cloth, rubber and some plastics.

How to extinguish a Class A Fire:

Extinguish ordinary combustibles by cooling the material below its ignition temperature and soaking the fibers to prevent re-ignition.

Use pressurized water, foam or multi-purpose (ABC rated) dry chemical extinguisher. DO NOT USE carbon dioxide or ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical extinguisher on Class A fires.

CLASS B: Flammable or combustible liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinner and propane.

How to extinguish a Class B Fire:

Extinguish flammable liquids, greases by removing the oxygen, preventing the vapors from reaching the ignition source or inhibiting the chemical chain reaction.

Foam, carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical, and multi-purpose dry chemical, may be used to fight Class B fires.

CLASS C: Energized electrical equipment, such as appliances, Switches, panel boxes and power tools.

How to extinguish a Class C Fire:

Extinguish energized electrical equipment by using an extinguishing agent that is not capable of conducting electrical current.

Carbon dioxide, ordinary (BC-rated) dry chemical and multi-purpose dry chemical may be used to fight Class C fires.

DO NOT USE WATER EXTINGUISHERS ON ENERGIZED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

CLASS D: Certain combustible metals, such as magnesium, Titanium, potassium and sodium. These metals burn at high temperatures and give off sufficient oxygen to support combustion. They may react violently with water or other chemicals, and must be handled with care.

How to extinguish a Class D Fire:

Extinguish combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium and sodium with dry powder extinguishing agents specially designated for the material involved.

In most cases, they absorb the heat from the material, cooling it below its ignition temperature.