The majority of fires are extinguished by which method?

The majority of fires are extinguished by cooling the fuel, which is fundamental to fire suppression tactics. This method involves reducing the temperature of the burning material below its ignition point, thereby stopping combustion. Water is the most commonly used firefighting agent because it effectively absorbs heat. When applied to a fire, water converts to steam, which not only helps in cooling but also displaces oxygen around the fire, contributing to its extinguishment.

While excluding oxygen or suppressing vapor emission are also viable methods of fire suppression, they often play secondary roles or are situationally dependent. Excluding oxygen is important in certain types of fires, especially in confined spaces or with certain types of flammable materials, but it is not the primary method used in most fire scenarios. Suppressing vapor emissions is more relevant in preventing flammable vapors from igniting rather than actively extinguishing an already burning fire.

Inhibiting the chemical chain reaction is a principle used primarily in specialized extinguishing agents like dry chemical powders. While effective in certain situations, it is typically not the predominant method used in everyday firefighting, where cooling the fuel remains the primary strategy.