Which type of fire suppression involves cooling the fuel source?

Class A fire suppression is specifically designed to combat fires involving ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, and textiles. The effectiveness of this approach is largely due to its focus on cooling the fuel source. By applying water or other cooling agents, the temperature of the material is reduced below its ignition point, thereby extinguishing the fire.

The application of water not only cools the fuel but also removes the heat component of the fire triangle (heat, fuel, and oxygen). This is crucial in preventing re-ignition. While some other classes of fires may involve different suppression methods—such as smothering or chemical agents for flammable liquids or gases—Class A fires rely heavily on the principle of cooling to extinguish the flames. This makes the approach distinctive and vital for effective fire control in environments with common combustibles.