A fire caused by a flammable liquid should be extinguished using which type of extinguisher?

A fire caused by a flammable liquid should be extinguished using which type of extinguisher?

• A. Class B
• B. Halogen
• C. Pressurized water
• D. Class C

Answer: (A)

Fires fueled by liquids require an extinguisher designed for liquid fuels. A Class B extinguisher is built for fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and solvents, and its agents work to smother the flame or interrupt the chemical reactions at the flame surface, often by forming a barrier between the fuel and the air or cooling the liquid. This makes it the most appropriate choice for a fire where the fuel is a liquid. Water is not suitable because it can spread flammable liquids and worsen the fire, and a halogen extinguisher, while capable in some B/C situations, is not the standard choice specifically for liquid fuels. Extinguishers intended for electrical fires (Class C) are inappropriate for hydrocarbon liquids and can be unsafe if the electrical source is not involved. Therefore, for a fire caused by a flammable liquid, the best option is a Class B extinguisher.

Fires fueled by liquids require an extinguisher designed for liquid fuels. A Class B extinguisher is built for fires involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and solvents, and its agents work to smother the flame or interrupt the chemical reactions at the flame surface, often by forming a barrier between the fuel and the air or cooling the liquid. This makes it the most appropriate choice for a fire where the fuel is a liquid.

Water is not suitable because it can spread flammable liquids and worsen the fire, and a halogen extinguisher, while capable in some B/C situations, is not the standard choice specifically for liquid fuels. Extinguishers intended for electrical fires (Class C) are inappropriate for hydrocarbon liquids and can be unsafe if the electrical source is not involved. Therefore, for a fire caused by a flammable liquid, the best option is a Class B extinguisher.