Which fire extinguisher should I use?
Answer two questions. It takes about 20 seconds, runs in your browser and stores nothing.
Fire extinguisher chooser
- 1What is burning
- 2Where
- 3Your answer
Choose what is burning and where, and your answer will appear here. The full chart is below if you prefer to read it all.
Fire now? Do not read on. Get out, close the door and call 101 or 112.
Most people never read the label on the red cylinder on their wall. On the day of a fire there is no time to start. This tool matches what is burning to the extinguisher type that Indian standards list for it, and tells you what never to use.
It is a guide for the first minute of a small fire. If the fire is bigger than a waste-paper basket, or you are not sure, the right answer is always the same: get out, close the door and call 101 or 112.
See the full answer chartAll six fires and five places in one table, for reading or printing
The full answer chart
This is the same information the chooser uses, for reading or printing. The answer for your place is the row for what is burning, plus the note for where.
| What is burning | What to do or use | Never use | Leave and call 101 or 112 if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper, wood, clothClass A | Water, foam or ABC dry powder extinguisher.
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| Cooking oil or fatClass F | Turn off the heat only if it is safe to do so. Do not move the pan.
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| Electrical equipmentElectrical (adds a shock risk) | Switch off the power at the main switch or MCB first, if you can do it safely. Then use a CO2 or ABC dry powder extinguisher.
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| Petrol, diesel, solventClass B | Foam, ABC dry powder, CO2 or a clean agent extinguisher marked for Class B.
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| LPG or gasClass C | Do not try to put out an LPG or gas fire unless you can shut off the gas safely. Get everyone out.
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| Metals or chemicalsClass D and chemicals | Do not fight this fire unless you are trained and have the right extinguisher. If in doubt, leave.
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What changes by place
| Where | What to know |
|---|---|
| Home | At home, keep a small ABC dry powder extinguisher near the way out, not behind the stove, and read its label so you know which fire classes it covers. In a flat, always use the stairs, never the lift. |
| Shop | In a shop, ask a competent fire-safety person to assess the premises and check your local fire department's requirements before you buy or place extinguishers. Do not choose by colour. Read the class marking on the label. |
| Office | In an office, a CO2 extinguisher near the electrical panel or server room is common, but keep one suitable for paper and furniture nearby as well. Ask a competent fire-safety supplier which types your premises need. |
| Vehicle | In a vehicle fire, getting out comes first. Stop safely, switch off, get everyone out and move well away and upwind: fire services advise at least 30 metres. Do not open the bonnet or boot. Call 112 or 101. Only if the fire is very small, everyone is already out and you have an extinguisher in hand should you think of fighting it, and then aim through the radiator grille or under the edge of the bonnet. A small dry powder extinguisher within the driver's reach is worth carrying. Since 2024, portable extinguishers sold in India must meet IS 15683 and carry the ISI mark. |
| Factory | In a factory, extinguishers must be chosen for that site's own hazards by a competent person, following IS 2190:2024 and the National Building Code. Fight a fire only if it is small, you are trained and your way out is behind you. Do not assume a portable extinguisher can stop a lithium-ion battery fire. |
| Vehicle: electrical equipment | In an electric car, never try to put out a battery fire yourself. A small car extinguisher will not stop it. Get out, move away and stay upwind of the smoke. |
| Vehicle: lpg or gas | In a CNG car, close the cylinder valve only if you can reach it easily and nothing is burning. If the fire is near the boot, stay far away and leave it to the fire brigade. |
Fight a small fire only if all of these are true
- The fire is small and just starting, about the size of a waste-paper basket.
- You have the right extinguisher for that fire and know how to use it.
- Your way out is behind you and clear.
- The room is not filling with smoke.
Leave at once, close the door behind you and call 101 or 112. In a flat, take the stairs, never the lift.
How to use an extinguisher: PASS
- Pull the safety pin.
- Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire, not at the flames.
- Squeeze the handle.
- Sweep from side to side across the base of the fire.
Stand a few steps back with your exit behind you. A small extinguisher empties in seconds, so do not waste it. If the fire does not go down quickly, stop and get out.
How we know
Every line above comes from our own published guides, which in turn cite the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). Last checked 19 October 2026.
Our guides
- Fire Extinguisher Types in India: Which One Works on Which FireFor fire classes A, B, C, D and F and the extinguishers BIS lists for each; when to fight and when to leave.
- Choosing a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home in IndiaFor wet chemical for Class F, not ABC powder; CO2 for electrical; placement.
- Fire Extinguisher Basics: Parts, Fire Classes and Monthly ChecksFor water is for Class A; never water on burning oil or live electrics.
- When Is a Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher Dangerous to Use?For CO2 in small closed rooms; not for wood, paper or cloth; switch off power first.
- Car Fire Safety in IndiaFor vehicle fires, engine fires and water, EV and CNG, IS 15683 and ISI mark.
- PPE for Different Fire Types: Class A to FFor burning metals and the agents they need.
- Electrical Safety at HomeFor CO2 or ABC powder on a small electrical fire; switch off the power.
- Kitchen Gas Leak AccidentsFor what to do if you smell gas; the LPG helpline 1906.
Standards
- IS 2190:2024, the Indian Standards code of practice for selecting, installing and maintaining first-aid fire extinguishers (as listed in the BIS compendium and described in our guides).
- IS 15683, the Indian Standard for portable fire extinguishers. Since 2024, extinguishers sold in India must meet it and carry the ISI mark (as stated in our car fire guide).
- National Building Code of India 2016, Part 4 (Fire and Life Safety), which sets the fire protection a building needs.
Fire-service guidance on gas fires
- NSW Rural Fire Service (Australia), "Incidents - Common Flammable Gases": fire-service guidance on incidents involving flammable gases such as LPG.
- NFPA 1001 (USA), Firefighter II job performance requirement 5.3.3, "Controlling flammable gas cylinder fires": a firefighter training task. Together they support the guidance that a burning gas leak is dealt with by controlling the gas, and that trained responders do it. This is fire-service guidance from other countries, not an Indian rule.
Fire services differ on covering a burning pan with a lid. We have not found an Indian official source for it, so this tool does not recommend it. It gives only the steps that all the fire services we checked agree on.
This tool is general safety information for the first minute of a small fire. It does not replace training, a fire-safety assessment of your premises or the advice of your local fire department.
Read the guides behind this tool
- Fire Extinguisher Types in India: Which One Works on Which Fire
- Choosing a Fire Extinguisher for Your Home in India: Type, Size and Placement
- Fire Extinguisher Basics: Parts, Fire Classes and Monthly Checks
- How to Use a Fire Extinguisher – The PASS Method
- When Is a Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguisher Dangerous to Use?
- Kitchen Fire Safety at Home: 7 Rules for Indian Kitchens
- Car Fire Safety in India: What to Do in the First 30 Seconds in an EV, CNG or Petrol Car
- Fire Extinguisher Inspection Checklist: Monthly and Yearly Checks
Common questions
Which fire extinguisher is best for a home in India?
No single portable extinguisher is right for every fire. For general home use, a small ABC dry powder extinguisher kept near the way out is a sensible start. For burning cooking oil, an extinguisher marked Class F (wet chemical) is the type BIS lists. Always read the class marking on the label rather than choosing by colour.
Can I use water on a cooking-oil fire?
No. Water can create a fireball when it hits burning oil. Turn off the heat only if it is safe, do not move the pan, and if the fire is not small, leave and call 101 or 112.
Is a CO2 extinguisher safe on an electrical fire?
CO2 is commonly used on electrical equipment because it leaves no residue. Switch off the power at the main switch or MCB first if you can do it safely. In a small closed room, CO2 can push out the air you breathe, so use it from the doorway and leave when it is empty.
When should I not use an extinguisher at all?
Use one only if the fire is small and just starting, you have the right extinguisher and know how to use it, your way out is behind you and clear, and the room is not filling with smoke. If any of these is untrue, leave at once and call 101 or 112.
What are the fire classes in India?
Indian Standards group fires as Class A (ordinary solids such as wood, paper and cloth), B (flammable liquids), C (flammable gases such as LPG), D (burning metals) and F (cooking oil and fat). Live electrical equipment is not a separate class. It adds a shock risk, so the power should be switched off if that can be done safely.
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