What type of fires does a Type A Fire Extinguisher put out?

A Type A Fire Extinguisher is specifically designed to combat fires involving ordinary combustible materials such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber, and certain plastics. These materials are common in households and workplaces, which is why the Type A extinguisher is categorized for use against these types of fires. The extinguishing agents used in Type A extinguishers, such as water or foam, are effective in cooling and extinguishing these materials by removing the heat that fuels the fire.

Understanding the materials that Type A extinguishers are effective against helps ensure appropriate fire safety measures are in place. Using the right type of extinguisher for a given fire is crucial, as using an extinguisher meant for one type of fire on an entirely different class can be ineffective or even dangerous. For instance, using water on an electrical fire (as suggested in one of the other choices) can cause electrocution, and using the wrong type of extinguisher on flammable liquids could cause the fire to spread.