Most people are familiar with fire, but did you know that there are several types of fires? These types of fires vary in terms of how they start, the materials involved in them, and how best to extinguish them. Here are four fire types and how to handle them.
1. Class A Fires
Class A fires are the most common type of fire and are started with solid materials like paper, wood, plastic, or cloth. Examples include outdoor bonfires and a candle that has been knocked over onto the bed. Fortunately, these are the easiest to extinguish, with water or foam from an extinguisher usually doing the trick.
2. Class B Fires
These fires involve flammable liquids such as propane, alcohol, and gasoline. Class B fires much be extinguished by cutting off their supply of oxygen, and the ways to do this might be taught at one of the many EMT training courses Texas around the country. One important distinction to make regarding these fires is to never use water to extinguish them, as this may only serve to spread the flammable liquid around.
3. Class C Fires
Class C fires happen when electricity is involved, such as in the case of faulty wiring, electrical cords, or appliances. If you are able to disconnect the source of the fire from its power source, that should usually be the first thing you do, before using a dry powder extinguisher.
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4. Class D Fires
Class D fires occur when a metal ignites under high amounts of heat. They can be caused by metals such as magnesium, aluminum, or sodium in a laboratory or industrial setting. Dry powder extinguishers are best for putting out these fires.
Knowing how to handle various types of fires is crucial for making your home or workplace setting safer places to be.
