The Methods of Extinguishing Fires

Cooling the burning material is the most common method used to extinguish fire. Water is widely available and the best cooling agent to use specially in fires involving solid materials. By evaporating in contact with fire, water also blankets the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply. However, you should never apply water to fires involving hot cooking oil or fat; water can cause the fire to spread.

Smothering agents are substances used to extinguish a fire by cutting off the oxygen supply. Foam, which is the content of some fire extinguishers, can help to cool down and isolate the fuel surface from the air, eliminating combustion and being able to resist wind and draught disruption. However, never use foam on energized electrical equipment, because it is an electrical conductor. Other smothering agents include carbon dioxide, which is found in some fire extinguishers and is ideally used in electric equipment and sand, which is effective only on small burning areas.

Another method of extinguishing a fire is to remove the fuel supply by switching off the electrical power, isolating the flow of flammable liquids or removing the solid fuel, such as wood or textiles. In woodland fires, a firebreak cut around the fire helps to isolated further fuel. In the case of gas fire, closing the main valve and cutting off the gas supply is the best way of extinguishing the fire.

Flame inhibitors are substances that chemically react with the burning material, thus extinguishing the flames. Dry-chemical fire extinguishers work in this way, and can contain monoammonium phosphate, sodium and potassium bicarbonate and potassium chloride. Vaporizing liquids, such as Halon, also have a flame inhibiting action. However, most of these substances have been phased out due to high levels of toxicity.