Fire extinguishers designed for flammable liquids such as gasoline and paints belong to which class?

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

Answer: (B)

Fires involving flammable liquids are treated with extinguishers labeled for liquids. These extinguishers are designed to smother the fire or remove the fuel from the flame, using methods that work well on liquids and vapors like gasoline and paints. Water would often spread a flammable liquid and make things worse, so it isn’t used for these fires. Extinguishers for this hazard are typically filled with foam, dry chemical powder, or CO2, which help coat or displace the fuel and cool or smother the flame at the surface.

Fires fueled by ordinary combustibles like wood or paper fall under a different category, while energized electrical equipment requires a different approach, and cooking fats have their own specialized class. So for flammable liquids such as gasoline and paints, the appropriate choice is Class B.