When Not To Use Water To Extinguish Fire?

Many instantly reach out to water when there's flame, but this is not always the wisest decision.

When Not To Use Water To Extinguish Fire

Yes, water can extinguish a fire. However, this is not always the case. It would help if you were careful when using water against fire, as in some instances, it might feed the flame.

Water is an incombustible extinguishing agent that absorbs heat and does not burn. When water is thrown onto a fire, it absorbs the heat released by the fuel and turns into water vapor, which stops the fuel and oxygen from interacting further. The way that firefighters use water is one illustration of this. These experts employ specialized nozzles on their hoses to spray water in tiny droplets, which facilitates the water's conversion to vapor and quickens fire extinguishment.

Water is not always a fire's worst enemy, though. In some cases, it can even intensify the flame.

Knowing where the fire started is helpful since sometimes, applying water alone might make things worse. You should never use water to extinguish fire if the source of the flame is any of the following:

Oil, gas, grease, and electrical equipment

Water evaporates when it comes into contact with hot oil in a frying pan, carrying tiny droplets of oil that ignite instantly. In these situations, you must use a kitchen-safe fire extinguisher or, in the absence of one, wet a towel, wring it out, and place it over the pan.

Gas or gasoline

Never use water in these circumstances, as it may result in an explosion. Leave the area and call the fire department as soon as you can.

Short circuit, an electrical installation issue, or electrical equipment that starts to burn

Because water conducts electricity, you risk electrocuting yourself if the electrical current is turned on. In the event of an electrical fire, quickly turn off the power supply, put out the fire using an extinguisher explicitly designed for electrical fires (such as a dry chemical extinguisher), evacuate the building, and notify the fire department.

Chemical fire

They are the least frequent home fire scenarios. These fires can only be extinguished with an extinguisher and start on combustible metals, including magnesium, titanium, potassium, and sodium.

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Types of Fire

Fires are divided into five kinds based on the materials that ignite them. A fire's ability to be effectively put out depends on its fuel.

A fire requires heat, oxygen, and fuel. To put out a fire successfully, one of these components must be eliminated.

There are five main classes of fires, which are as follows: Each class of fire has a unique combustible material and requires a unique strategy to put out properly. Using the incorrect technique to put out a fire might be risky and exacerbate the problem.

Class A fires involve solid materials such as wood, clothing, paper, and plastic.
Class B fires involve flammable liquids rather than solids.
Class C fires involve electricity and can be started in old wiring, frayed cords, or faulty appliances.
Class D fires are infrequent and occur when metal ignites.
Class K fires involve cooking liquids and fats and sometimes can be grouped with Class B fires.

Water does not extinguish Class B fires and can spread the flammable liquid, making it worse. To cut off the fire's oxygen supply, you must only put out these fires with powder, foam, or carbon dioxide extinguishers. Common causes of Class B fires are gasoline, alcohol, and oil.