It's important to note that while ABC extinguishers are versatile, they are not suitable for fires involving cooking oils and fats (Class K fire extinguishers are suited for this) or combustible metals.
Other ways to put out grease fires…
Use a class B or BC or ABC fire extinguisher. A Fire Extinguisher will release a-lot of pressure, so start at a distance away and move towards the fire, rather than up-close spraying directly on to the burning grease which could tip the pan and spread the fire.
You should not use a B:C fire extinguisher on a wood fire. B:C fire extinguishers are designed to extinguish liquid and electrical fires, such as those caused by grease, gasoline, and electrical equipment. Using a B:C extinguisher on a wood fire may not sufficiently extinguish the fire and could be hazardous.
When NOT to use a fire extinguisher. If the fire is too big or would require more than one fire extinguisher. On fires involving escaping gases or high voltage electrics. You feel that you are at risk from any smoke or heat present.
An extinguisher with an ABC rating is suitable for use with fires involving ordinary combustibles, flammable liquids, and energized electrical equipment. An extinguisher that is rated for use with multiple hazards should include a symbol for each hazard type.
It's important to note that while ABC extinguishers are versatile, they are not suitable for fires involving cooking oils and fats (Class K fire extinguishers are suited for this) or combustible metals.
ABC extinguishers are not appropriate for metal fire or class D fires because they combine a projectile blast from the extinguisher with an agent it is incompatible with. This will spread and intensify the fire. Researchers are responsible for following best practices to prevent laboratory fire and prepare for them.
Use: Water fire extinguishers are best for combatting Class A fires, for example fires involving organic solid materials, such as wood, cloth, fabric, paper and plastics. Dangers: Do not use on burning fat or oil and also never use on fires involving electrical appliances.
The golden rule is that only one extinguisher is used. If that fails to extinguish the fire, STOP and leave.
Red – Water Extinguishers
These water extinguishers work by cooling the flames and reducing the fire's temperature to extinguish it effectively. It's important that these types of fire extinguishers are not used on any electrical fires, kitchen fires, flammable liquids, or gas fires.
For a kitchen fire, an ABC fire extinguisher is recommended. This type of extinguisher is suitable for fires caused by flammable liquids, electrical fires, and fires caused by combustible materials such as wood and paper.
Explanation: A B:C extinguisher is not suitable for Class A fires, which involve ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, or cloth. Class A fires require extinguishers that are specifically designed to cool and extinguish these types of fires.
An ABC or Multi-Purpose Dry Chemical portable fire extinguisher is useful for Class A, B and C fires. These units can be used on wood, paper, cloth, trash, flammable liquids and energized electrical equipment. The dry chemical in the units is monoammonium phosphate.
Dry chemical fire extinguishers are not sufficient to put out kitchen fires involving vegetable-based cooking oils, which carry a high risk of re-flash fires. These extinguishers should be removed from the cooking area.
Don'ts of putting out a grease fire:
Don't extinguish a grease fire with water or a wet towel. Don't use flour, baking powder or sugar to smother the fire. Don't remove the pan from the burner or place it in the sink. The oil may splash around and potentially burn you.
It is recommended to avoid the use of ABC type dry chemical fire extinguishers on aircrafts due to the risk of corrosion.
The employer shall distribute portable fire extinguishers for use by employees on Class A fires so that the travel distance for employees to any extinguisher is 75 feet (22.9 m) or less.
Here is your assessment check list: Make sure the fire is small. The flames should never be taller than you and should not cover an area that is bigger than 60 square feet. 60 square feet is about the size of a king size bed (42.15 square feet), so don't try to tackle a fire that is much bigger than that.
An ABC-rated fire extinguisher is a multipurpose extinguisher that is effective against Class A (ordinary combustibles like wood and paper), Class B (flammable liquids), and Class C (electrical) fires.
Overview: Standard dry powder fire extinguishers are also called 'ABC' extinguishers because they tackle class A, B and C fires, however, they are not recommended for use in enclosed spaces. This is because the powder can be easily inhaled, and also the residue is very difficult to clean up after.
The majority of fire-related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation of the toxic gases produced by fires.
Did you think there was a fire and there wasn't? In both of these cases there would be no legal repercussions, unless you damaged something, which is possible using a dry chemical extinguisher around electrical equipment. If it was malicious however there could be charges.
Instead, you can reach for two pantry staples to help douse a small grease fire safely: Baking soda is effective because it releases carbon dioxide when heated, which can smother the fire. Salt forms a barrier between the fire and the air.
Water extinguishers should not be used on flammable liquid fires (Class B). The reason for this is that water is denser than most flammable liquids and sinks below them. Instead of smothering the fire, the water can cause the burning liquid to spread, increasing the fire's area and intensity.