Which type of extinguisher should be used on a fire in a trashcan?

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

Answer: (A)

Fires in a trashcan are fires of ordinary combustibles like paper, cardboard, and trash. The best extinguisher for this is one designed for ordinary combustibles, known as Class A. These extinguishers work by cooling the fuel and stopping the flames at the source, which is ideal for trash, paper, and other similar materials.

The others aren’t appropriate because they target different fire types: Class B is for flammable liquids, Class C is for electrical equipment, and Class D is for certain metal fires. Using the wrong class won’t effectively control the fire and can be unsafe. If you have a multipurpose extinguisher labeled for Class A (or ABC), it can handle a trashcan fire because it covers ordinary combustibles.