What risk does a Class D fire pose?

A Class D fire involves combustible metals, which are metals that can ignite and burn. These include materials such as magnesium, titanium, sodium, and potassium. The reason that the identification of combustible metals as the primary risk is crucial is that these metals react differently than organic materials or hydrocarbons.

When combustible metals ignite, they can burn at extremely high temperatures, often exceeding 1,000 degrees Celsius (1,832 degrees Fahrenheit), and they can produce intense heat that is difficult to extinguish. Not only that, but these types of fires can also ignite nearby combustible materials and pose additional hazards to responders and surrounding areas.

In addition, when some reactive metals come into contact with water, they can react violently, producing flammable gases that can escalate the situation. This makes understanding and identifying Class D fires vital for proper response measures.

Training to handle these specific types of materials is essential for fire fighters, as they employ special extinguishing agents that are specifically designed to smother or chemically react with the fire rather than utilizing water, which could exacerbate the situation.