Cooking oils and greases fires are best fought with which extinguisher class?

Cooking oils and greases fires are best fought with which extinguisher class?

• A. Wet Chemical
• B. Class K extinguishers
• C. Class D extinguishers
• D. Water

Answer: (B)

Fires from cooking oils and greases require an extinguisher that specifically targets fats, not ordinary fuels. Water should never be used on these fires because it can cause the hot oil to splatter and spread the flames. The extinguisher designed for cooking-oil fires is Class K. This type uses a potassium acetate-based agent that saponifies fats, turning the oil into a soapy layer that coats and cools the surface, smothering the fire and reducing the chance of re-ignition. Wet chemical extinguishers are also used in kitchens, but the formal designation for oils and greases in fire codes is Class K, making it the most appropriate choice for this scenario. Class D and water are not suitable for oil and grease fires, as they address completely different hazards.

Fires from cooking oils and greases require an extinguisher that specifically targets fats, not ordinary fuels. Water should never be used on these fires because it can cause the hot oil to splatter and spread the flames. The extinguisher designed for cooking-oil fires is Class K. This type uses a potassium acetate-based agent that saponifies fats, turning the oil into a soapy layer that coats and cools the surface, smothering the fire and reducing the chance of re-ignition. Wet chemical extinguishers are also used in kitchens, but the formal designation for oils and greases in fire codes is Class K, making it the most appropriate choice for this scenario. Class D and water are not suitable for oil and grease fires, as they address completely different hazards.