What type of fire does a Class A extinguisher primarily target?

A Class A fire extinguisher is specifically designed to combat fires involving ordinary combustibles, which include materials such as wood, paper, textiles, and various types of plastics. These materials are common in residential and commercial settings and can ignite easily, creating a significant fire hazard.

The effectiveness of Class A extinguishers comes from their use of water or foam, which works to cool the burning material and suppress the fire. It's essential for anyone dealing with fire safety to understand the characteristics of different fire classes, as this knowledge ensures that the appropriate extinguisher is used for the type of material burning.

In contrast, other types of materials called out in the options require different fire extinguishing agents; for instance, electrical equipment fires need extinguishers designed to address live electrical hazards, flammable liquids necessitate special foam or dry chemicals, and combustible metals require specific agents that can handle those unique burning characteristics. Thus, the focus on ordinary combustibles illustrates the Class A extinguisher's purpose in effectively managing the most common types of fire threats in everyday environments.