Understanding fire safety starts with the basics, and that means knowing the different classifications or types of fires.

Each fire class represents a different type of fuel and requires a different response to suppress or extinguish it. Today, we’re looking at Class A fires, which are among the most common types of fires, but also one of the most misunderstood.

Class A fires involve solid combustible materials that we tend to see and use every day. These include:

• Wood
• Paper
• Textiles (such as clothing, curtains and home furnishings)
• Rubber
• Some plastics

Common causes of Class A fires

Class A fires start when heat, oxygen and fuel come together and form what is known as the fire triangle. From domestic kitchens and living rooms to offices and warehouses, the risk of a Class A fire is everywhere, but they are avoidable.

Common causes of Class A fires include:

• Paper or textiles left too close to heaters or cooking appliances
• Improper disposal of smoking materials (including accidental dropping)
• Open flames from candles and matches

Class A fires can begin in a matter of seconds, often before you have the chance to notice, and they have the potential to spread incredibly quickly. If you imagine a typical home, for example, if an item of clothing catches fire near a faulty heater, it could spread to neighbouring furniture, paper (such as mail, paperwork brought home from the office, etc.), curtains… you get the picture.

Before you know it, the whole room is on fire.

How to avoid Class A fires

But, as mentioned, these types of fires are avoidable. Prevention is always the best approach, as opposed to reaction, and there are several ways in which you can lower the risk and avoid Class A fires.

These include:

• Installation of smoke alarms on all floors and regular testing
• Keep flammable items (such as curtains and paper) away from heat sources
• Avoid leaving candles unattended
• Check portable heaters regularly for visible damage or odours
• Conduct regular fire risk assessments in commercial premises

How to suppress or extinguish a Class A fire

If you are ever in the situation where a Class A fire does start, the key is to act quickly and decisively. The faster you act, the more likely you are to suppress the fire until the emergency services arrive or fully extinguish the fire before it spreads.

The most effective way to suppress a Class A fire is with a fire blanket. Usually found in domestic and commercial kitchens, fire blankets are used to smother the fire and remove the oxygen, thereby breaking the fire triangle.

Alternatively, you can use a fire extinguisher to put out the fire. Fire extinguishers are more common in commercial premises, but there are domestic options available too, which can be used if the fire is small enough that you feel safe and confident enough to tackle it. Fire extinguishers can also be used to suppress a fire in order to secure your escape from a building as well.

What type of extinguisher to use on a Class A fire

There are a lot of fire extinguishers on the market, but they’re not all effective on all types of fires.

To extinguish a Class A fire, you have three main options:

• Water (and water mist) fire extinguishers. The water removes the heat from the fire (again, breaking the fire triangle)
• Foam fire extinguishers. The foam smothers the flames (removing the oxygen) by creating a blanket
• ABC powder extinguishers. Suitable for Class A, B and C (hence the name), these powder extinguishers are a highly effective and popular medium because of their multi-purpose use

All of the fire extinguishers in the Firechief® range carry the relevant certifications, giving you complete confidence that they will deliver when you need them the most.

If you have not been trained to use a fire extinguisher, the best course of action is always to call the Fire Brigade as quickly as possible. If you are trained, then you will know how to use the PASS technique to extinguish the fire.

Using the wrong fire extinguisher for the type of fire can have disastrous consequences, making the fire much worse and having much greater repercussions.

Knowing which fire extinguisher to use on the type of fire you’re dealing with can make all the difference so if you’re not completely confident, do not try and fight the fire.