When a fire occurs in your home, it’s important to know the five separate classifications to help inform you of the best way to suppress or put it out. American Restoration and Fire has listed the five fire classes below to help you know what steps to take while you wait for emergency services to get to you. It is important you do not attempt to extinguish any fire that puts you or your family at risk. Evacuate the home and wait for the fire department.
- Class A: This type of fire involves ordinary combustibles like cloth, trash, wood, or paper. Essentially, it’s things that can easily ignite. They are the most common type and usually can be put out with water or ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, the compound found in fire extinguishers.
- Class B: Fires caused by flammable liquids like gasoline, paint, or certain oils. This class also includes flammable gases, although cooking/grease fires are not included in this class. Using foam or CO2 fire suppression equipment is advisable to handle these types of fires effectively. This will deprive the fire of oxygen or smother them altogether.
- Class C: These are fires started by electrical equipment like transformers, appliances, or motors. These types of fire require non-conductive materials to extinguish, so water generally won’t put out these types. Facilities with sensitive equipment, like data centers, may even prefer a clean agent to help extinguish, which won’t leave residue or damage electrical equipment.
- Class D: These fires involve combustible metals, including titanium, aluminum, magnesium, and potassium. You never want to use water on these fires, which will worsen the situation. Dry, powdery agents are your best bet to smother the flames caused by metals.
- Class K: Fires caused by cooking accidents involving cooking oils, grease, or animal fats are known as K fires. This type of fire is the most hazardous and can spread rapidly. Using a wet agent fire extinguisher or proper wet chemical/mist is the most effective solution to extinguish K fires.
Handling the situation with care and expertise is crucial in the unfortunate event of a fire. This is why seeking assistance from a professional company for effective restoration is highly recommended. At American Restoration Water & Fire, we are always ready to help and provide an immediate response to any fire-related emergencies. Our teams are available 24/7 and can extend our services from Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights to the Westside, Rio Rancho to Belen, and across New Mexico. We are committed to helping you and your family!
