What type of fire extinguisher is used for cooking oil fires?

• A. Class B for cooking oils.
• B. Class K for cooking oils; Class ABC can handle electrical and ordinary fires, but not ideal for grease fires.
• C. Class A extinguisher is best for all kitchen fires.
• D. A water-based extinguisher is recommended for cooking oil fires.

Answer: (B)

Fires from cooking oil are grease fires and need a specialized approach. The Class K extinguisher is designed specifically for fats and oils and uses a wet chemical agent that saponifies the fat, turning it into a soapy layer. This layer cools the oil, smothers the flame, and helps prevent reignition, making it the best tool for cooking-oil fires. Other extinguishers labeled for electrical and ordinary fires can put out many kinds of fires, but they aren’t optimized for the high-heat grease fires and may be less effective. Water-based extinguishers are dangerous on oil fires because water can cause the oil to splatter and spread the blaze. So the Class K option is the most appropriate choice for cooking oil fires, with other types being less suitable or unsafe in this specific situation.