What is the most common method used to extinguish fires?

The most common method used to extinguish fires is cooling the fuel. This approach effectively lowers the temperature of the burning material or surrounding environment, bringing it below the ignition point, which is essential for combustion to continue. By applying water or other cooling agents, firefighters can absorb heat from the fire, thus disrupting the necessary conditions for the fire to sustain itself. This method is widely used because water is easily accessible, inexpensive, and effective at absorbing heat, making it the preferred choice in many firefighting scenarios.

While smothering the fuel prevents oxygen from reaching the fire, and starving the fire limits the fuel supply, cooling directly impacts the temperature aspect of the fire triangle. Interrupting the combustion reaction is a more complex method that typically involves using chemical agents to stop the fire. Cooling, however, remains the simplest and most frequently utilized technique in general firefighting practice.