A fire extinguisher is an active fire protection device used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user (i.e., no escape route, smoke, explosion hazard, etc.), or otherwise requires the equipment, personnel, resources, es and/or expertise of a fire brigade. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent that can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common

Fire extinguishers are further divided into handheld and cart-mounted (also called wheeled extinguishers). Handheld extinguishers weigh from 0.5 to 14 kilograms (1.1 to 30.9 lb), and are hence, easily portable by hand. Cart-mounted units typically weigh more than 23 kilograms (51 lb). These wheeled models are most commonly found at construction sites, Schools airport runways, Hospitals as well as all private and government institutions. There are Six Classes of fire: Class A, Class B, Class C, Class D, 'Electrical', and Class F.

Class A fires – combustible materials: caused by flammable solids, such as wood, paper, and fabric

Class B fires – flammable liquids: such as petrol, turpentine or paint

Class C fires – flammable gases: like hydrogen, butane or methane

Class D fires – combustible metals: chemicals such as magnesium, aluminium or potassium

Electrical fires – electrical equipment: once the electrical item is removed, the fire changes class

Class F fires – cooking oils: typically a chip-pan fire

There are 5 (Five) main fire extinguisher types – Water, Foam, Dry Powder, CO2 and Wet Chemical.

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