Fires fueled by gasoline or oil would be extinguished with which type of fire extinguisher?

Fires fueled by gasoline or oil would be extinguished with which type of fire extinguisher?

• A. Type A
• B. Type B
• C. Type C
• D. Type D

Answer: (B)

Fires involving flammable liquids require extinguishers that smother the fuel or interrupt the flame chemistry rather than cooling the material. Class B extinguishers are designed specifically for liquids like gasoline, oil, solvents, and greases. They work by forming a barrier between the fuel and air or by inhibiting the chemical reactions occurring at the flame, depending on the agent used (foam blankets the liquid, dry chemical disrupts the flame chemistry, CO2 displaces the oxygen). Using water on these fires can spread the liquid and make the fire worse. Other classes target different hazards: ordinary combustibles, electrical fires, or metals. So for gasoline or oil fires, Class B is the appropriate choice.

Fires involving flammable liquids require extinguishers that smother the fuel or interrupt the flame chemistry rather than cooling the material. Class B extinguishers are designed specifically for liquids like gasoline, oil, solvents, and greases. They work by forming a barrier between the fuel and air or by inhibiting the chemical reactions occurring at the flame, depending on the agent used (foam blankets the liquid, dry chemical disrupts the flame chemistry, CO2 displaces the oxygen). Using water on these fires can spread the liquid and make the fire worse. Other classes target different hazards: ordinary combustibles, electrical fires, or metals. So for gasoline or oil fires, Class B is the appropriate choice.