Which class of fire extinguisher is used for ordinary combustibles such as wood, cloth, paper, and rubber?

• A. Class C Fire Extinguisher
• B. Class A Fire Extinguisher
• C. Class D Fire Extinguisher
• D. Class K Fire Extinguisher

Answer: (B)

Fires are classified by the type of fuel involved, and extinguishing methods depend on that fuel. For ordinary combustibles like wood, cloth, paper, and rubber, the extinguisher designed for those fuels is Class A. These extinguishers use cooling agents—typically water-based—soak the fuel and lower its temperature, stopping the combustion. Using a Class B extinguisher would be for flammable liquids and could spread the fire if liquids are present. Other classes handle different fuels: Class C for electrical equipment, Class D for certain reactive metals, and Class K for cooking oils. Some extinguishers are multipurpose and can handle multiple classes, but the appropriate choice for solid ordinary combustibles is Class A.