How can you extinguish a fire?

Extinguishing a fire effectively involves understanding the fire tetrahedron, which consists of heat, fuel, oxygen, and a chemical reaction. By removing one of these components, you can disrupt the process of combustion, leading to the fire being extinguished.

In this context, choosing to remove one of the components means eliminating either the heat source, the fuel itself, or the oxygen that the fire needs to sustain itself. For example, you can smother a fire with a blanket to cut off oxygen, or you might remove nearby flammable materials to eliminate fuel.

The other options illustrate actions that would either worsen the fire situation or have no effect. Adding more fuel feeds the fire and is counterproductive. Increasing the air supply provides more oxygen, which a fire requires to burn brighter and hotter. Using water can be effective in cooling flames, but it is critical to use it appropriately depending on the type of fire. In some cases, such as electrical or oil fires, water can be hazardous and may cause the fire to spread.