Definition

Class K Fire Definition

Class K fires are a specific category of fire that involves cooking media such as fats, cooking oils, and greases typically found in commercial kitchens. These fires require specialized extinguishing agents that are capable of effectively smothering and cooling the high-temperature fires without causing the spread of the flames, which water or ordinary extinguishers might do. Class K fire extinguishers use wet chemical agents that react with the burning oil or fat to form a foam layer, cutting off the oxygen and cooling the burning material. Understanding the proper use of Class K extinguishers is essential for safety in commercial cooking environments, as they are specifically designed to address the unique and dangerous characteristics of cooking media fires.