Which class is used for fires involving electrical equipment?

• A. Class A
• B. Class B
• C. Class C
• D. Class D

Answer: (C)

Fires involving electrical equipment require an extinguishing method that doesn’t carry an electrical current. Water and other conductive agents can travel through live wiring, posing a shock hazard to people and potentially spreading the fire. So the appropriate approach uses non-conductive extinguishing agents that are safe around energized circuits, such as dry chemical powders or clean-agent extinguishers (like CO2). These choices put out the flame while minimizing the risk of electrical shock. If possible, de-energize the equipment first, but if that isn’t safe to do, rely on non-conductive extinguishing methods and proceed with caution. This is why such fires fall under the category designed for energized electrical fires.