A burning stack of paper qualifies as which fire class?

A burning stack of paper qualifies as which fire class?

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

Answer: (C)

Fires involving ordinary combustibles burn materials like paper, wood, cloth, and many plastics. A stack of paper fits this category precisely, so it’s classified as Class A. These fires are fought by cooling the fuel with water or other agents that suppress heat, since the fuel itself is a common organic material. The other classes cover different fuels: liquids that burn (Class B), energized electrical equipment (Class C), and combustible metals (Class D). Since paper isn’t a liquid, isn’t electrical, and isn’t a metal, the fire is best described as Class A.

Fires involving ordinary combustibles burn materials like paper, wood, cloth, and many plastics. A stack of paper fits this category precisely, so it’s classified as Class A. These fires are fought by cooling the fuel with water or other agents that suppress heat, since the fuel itself is a common organic material. The other classes cover different fuels: liquids that burn (Class B), energized electrical equipment (Class C), and combustible metals (Class D). Since paper isn’t a liquid, isn’t electrical, and isn’t a metal, the fire is best described as Class A.