How are Class A fires commonly extinguished?

Class A fires involve ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, and some plastics. The most effective way to extinguish these types of fires is by cooling the burning materials to eliminate the heat component of the fire triangle, which consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen. Water is commonly used because it absorbs heat and cools the combustible materials, thereby extinguishing the fire.

Additionally, Class A foam can also be utilized as it helps to suppress flames and prevents re-ignition by creating a barrier between the fuel and the oxygen in the environment. This makes the combination of water and Class A foam effective in dealing with these kinds of fires.

While other methods, such as using carbon dioxide extinguishers or trying to remove the heat source, have their uses, they are not the primary or most effective means for tackling Class A fires. CO2 works well on Class B and Class C fires but is not suitable for cooling down solid combustibles, and simply removing the heat source does not directly address the actively burning materials or the surrounding available fuel.