Types of Fire Extinguishers and What Fires They Should Be Used For

Choosing the correct fire extinguisher is critical. Using the wrong extinguisher can make a fire worse or create a serious safety risk.

🟥 Water Fire Extinguisher

Colour Band: Red

Suitable for:

  • Class A Fires
    • Wood
    • Paper
    • Cardboard
    • Textiles
    • Rubbish

Do NOT use on:

  • Electrical fires
  • Flammable liquids
  • Cooking oils and fats
  • Gas fires

Common Locations:
Schools, offices, warehouses and public buildings.

🟨 Foam Fire Extinguisher (AFFF)

Colour Band: Blue

Suitable for:

  • Class A Fires
  • Class B Fires
    • Petrol
    • Diesel
    • Paints
    • Solvents

Do NOT use on:

  • Cooking oils and fats
  • Gas fires

Common Locations:
Workshops, service stations, factories and commercial premises.

🟨 Wet Chemical Fire Extinguisher

Colour Band: Oatmeal

Suitable for:

  • Class F Fires
    • Cooking oils
    • Deep fryers
    • Commercial kitchens

Also effective on:

  • Class A Fires

Do NOT use on:

  • Flammable liquids
  • Gas fires

Common Locations:
Restaurants, cafés, food vans and commercial kitchens.

🟦 Dry Chemical Powder (ABE) Fire Extinguisher

Colour Band: White

Suitable for:

  • Class A Fires
  • Class B Fires
  • Class E Fires
    • Energised electrical equipment

Do NOT use on:

  • Cooking oils and fats

Common Locations:
Vehicles, boats, workshops, factories, retail stores and general commercial buildings.

Most common extinguisher found in Australia.

🟦 Dry Chemical Powder (BE) Fire Extinguisher

Colour Band: White

Suitable for:

  • Class B Fires
  • Class E Fires

Do NOT use on:

  • Class A combustible materials
  • Cooking oils and fats

Common Locations:
Fuel storage areas and industrial applications.

⬛ Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Fire Extinguisher

Colour Band: Black

Suitable for:

  • Class B Fires
  • Class E Fires

Ideal for:

  • Switchboards
  • Computers
  • Electrical equipment
  • Server rooms

Advantages:

  • Leaves no residue
  • Non-conductive
  • Minimises damage to electronics

Do NOT use on:

  • Cooking oils and fats
  • Outdoor fires where wind may disperse the agent

Fire Classes Explained

Fire ClassFuel Source
Class AWood, paper, cardboard, plastics, textiles
Class BPetrol, diesel, paints, solvents, flammable liquids
Class CFlammable gases such as LPG and propane
Class DCombustible metals such as magnesium and aluminium
Class EEnergised electrical equipment
Class FCooking oils and fats

NEFPS Safety Tip

Always use the correct extinguisher for the type of fire. Using water on an electrical or cooking oil fire can cause serious injury and spread the fire. If in doubt, evacuate immediately, call Triple Zero (000), and only attempt to fight a fire if it is safe to do so.

North East Fire Protection Services (NEFPS) supplies, installs, tests and maintains water, foam, wet chemical, dry chemical powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers throughout Bright, Mount Hotham, Dinner Plain, Myrtleford, Beechworth, Wangaratta and surrounding Alpine communities.