Fire Extinguishers 101

When a fire breaks out, the wrong fire extinguisher can do more harm than good.

Did you know that in Australia, fire extinguishers are colour-coded based on the type of fire they’re designed to fight? With seven different fire classes and a range of extinguishers, knowing which one to use can mean the difference between a small scare and a serious loss.

Each fire class addresses a different hazard:

Class A – ordinary combustibles like wood or paper

Class B – flammable liquids such as petrol or paint

Class C – flammable gases like LPG or natural gas

Class D – combustible metals

Class E – electrically energised equipment

Class F – cooking oils and fats

Using the wrong extinguisher can make a fire worse; spreading flames, creating electrocution risks, or causing toxic fumes. For example, using water on a kitchen fire (Class F) can be extremely dangerous, as seen in the video.

Quick Safety Tip: Use the P.A.S.S. Method

Even with the right extinguisher, correct use matters.

P.A.S.S. – How to Use a Fire Extinguisher

P – Pull the pin and test away from the fire

A – Aim at the base of the fire

S – Squeeze the handle

S – Sweep side to side

Ensure that the path to an exit is always clear in case evacuation is needed.

How Brokers Can Lead on Fire Safety

This is a simple but powerful way to add value. By helping clients understand which extinguisher to use, you can support compliance with Australian Standards (AS/NZS 1850), reduce WHS risks, and show practical care for people’s safety. These conversations reinforce your position as a risk advisor, not just a policy provider.

Want to go the extra mile? Encourage clients to conduct a fire risk assessment and review the extinguishers installed on site. Ensuring they’re correctly matched to the environment could help prevent injury, property loss, or worse.

SafetyCulture offers a short, practical training on how to extinguish kitchen fires—designed by our in-house risk engineers who also serve with the NSW Rural Fire Service. It’s a quick refresher on how to handle fires involving cooking oils and fats, and what can go wrong when you grab the wrong extinguisher. This course is part of our commitment to helping businesses take a proactive approach to risk, not just insurance.

Download our FREE fire extinguisher guide below for your reference.

Fire Extinguisher and Fire Classes Guide

Fire Extinguishers in Kitchens

This course was created by SafetyCulture Care’s in-house risk engineers who also serve as instructors for the NSW Rural Fire Service. It’s an essential refresher on best practices for extinguishing fires in commercial kitchens, particularly those involving cooking oils and fats.

Find the course here

Meet the Expert

Tony Hill

Tony Hill is a Risk Engineer at SafetyCulture Care with 48 years of experience in the insurance industry across claims, underwriting and risk surveying. An Associate CIP member of ANZIIF and a Justice of the Peace, Tony ran his own risk surveying business for 27 years and continues to serve as an instructor for Rural Fire Service courses. He joined SafetyCulture Care in June 2024.

[email protected] | +61 416 250 311

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^{1 IPD. (2024, February 19). _Fire & overheating prevention for switchboards_. IPD.}^{https://www.ipd.com.au/fire-overheating-prevention-for-switchboards}^{2 Kariahe, S. (2024, February 19). Man suffers fatal electrocution in rural Queensland. SafetyDocs by SafetyCulture.}^{https://safetydocs.safetyculture.com/blog/man-suffers-fatal-electrocution-in-rural-queensland/}^{3 Durney-Benson, O. (2024, August 19). Electrician fined $40k for ‘potentially lethal’ negligence. Smart Property Investment.}^{https://www.smartpropertyinvestment.com.au/tax-and-legal/26045-electrician-fined-40k-for-potentially-lethal-negligence}