A Class D fire involves?

• A. Ordinary combustibles
• B. Electrical fire
• C. Flammable liquids
• D. Combustible metals

Answer: (D)

Fires involving metals burn differently from other fuels, so they’re categorized separately. Class D fires involve combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, sodium, potassium, and aluminum. These metals can ignite at high temperatures and react with water or many common extinguishing agents, so they require a specialized dry powder extinguishing agent designed for metal fires to smother the reaction without causing a violent reaction. Regular extinguishers used for ordinary combustibles, electrical fires, or flammable liquids won’t reliably stop a metal fire and can even make it worse. The metal-specific dry powder not only blankets the burning metal but also helps dissipate heat to prevent re-ignition.