| Each class of fire is fought differently and requires | | | | use of water and need a foam or CO2 based |
| a different tactic and strategy for controlling it. | | | | product to extinguish it. The K Class or F class as |
| Each classification of fire is listed under wither an | | | | known to the United Kingdom is really a |
| A class, B class, C class, D class, or K class. In the | | | | subheading under the B Class of fires. This class |
| United Kingdom, Class k fires are also known as | | | | deals with the use of cooking oils as a source. |
| Class F. | | | | Fire specially designed fire extinguishers are used |
| Class A fires are the fires that are more | | | | for this. Class C fires are fires caused by electrical |
| common in today's world of firefighting. These | | | | devices such as defective appliances. The fire |
| fires are caused by combustible materials such as | | | | triangle in this classification is fueled by the |
| wood. More commonly known fires in this class | | | | electrical current applied to it. Water can not be |
| are candle fires, campfires, fires resulting from a | | | | used under any circumstances because the |
| match ignition, and also lighter ignitions. | | | | firefighters are at risk of electrocution. Many |
| A fire triangle is what causes these fires to | | | | firefighters have been killed by this type of fire |
| remain hot and consist of heat, oxygen, and a | | | | and the electricity traveling up the path of the |
| fuel source. A Class A fire requires all three to be | | | | water to the hose. |
| at the right consistency or a fire can not continue. | | | | To fight a Class C fire, the oxygen part of the |
| When the material becomes hot enough to cause | | | | fire triangle must be cut off. Firefighters use foam |
| combustion or an open flame usually caused by a | | | | consisting of protein and by removing the source |
| match or lighter, then the fire spreads to other | | | | of electricity from the fire. Fire extinguishers have |
| materials around it. Oxygen is available to the | | | | been developed to also combat this class of fire. |
| flames and allows it to grow more and more | | | | Class D fires are known as fires dealing with |
| dangerous. Campfires are usually a contained fire | | | | metals. These metals may be in the form of |
| but with eh right ingredients such as a wind gust | | | | magnesium, calcium, uranium, potassium, sodium, |
| and surrounding brush, will leave the confines of | | | | titanium, and plutonium. |
| the area and can spread through the forest at a | | | | These metals themselves are not the main cause |
| fast rate. | | | | of the ignition but Class A fire is ignited causing |
| Firefighters know that with a Class A fire; the | | | | the wood around it to heat to the metal. |
| simplest way to put it out is by removing the | | | | Magnesium and other metals are known to be |
| oxygen and heat from the fire. Water is the | | | | very hot and can become as hot as 1200 |
| common ingredient that does both. Some of the | | | | degrees. Under no circumstances can these fires |
| time a fire of this nature can be put out by using | | | | because the water will actually make the fire |
| a chemical that will ultimately smother the fire. | | | | hotter. Dry powder is used to extinguish Class D |
| Class B fires fall under the same fire triangle but | | | | fires and to smother the source of oxygen to |
| gasoline and the like are the choice of fuel and not | | | | the fire. |
| a wood product. Class B fires do not require the | | | | |
