What type of fire extinguisher is categorized for kitchen fires?

The correct answer is the wet chemical extinguishers, which are specifically designed for combating kitchen fires, particularly those involving cooking oils and fats. These fires, classified as Class K fires in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) guidelines, require a special extinguishing agent that can effectively cool the burning oils and break down the fire triangle—fuel, heat, and oxygen.

Wet chemical extinguishers deploy a fine mist of a potassium-acetate solution that not only cools the flames but also forms a soapy layer on the surface of the burning material. This layer helps to prevent re-ignition by sealing off the oxygen from the fuel. The effectiveness of wet chemical extinguishers in handling high-temperature grease fires makes them the preferred choice in kitchens and commercial cooking environments.

In other contexts, while water extinguishers can be effective on some types of fires, they are not suitable for kitchen fires due to the risk of spreading the flames from oil or grease. Dry chemical extinguishers, while versatile, can be ineffective in specifically addressing the unique challenges posed by cooking oils in kitchen fires. CO2 extinguishers are great for electrical fires and flammable liquids but are not recommended for Class K fires, as they do not provide the