What is the main function of a fire extinguisher?

The main function of a fire extinguisher is to put out small fires or control them until firefighters arrive. Fire extinguishers are designed to effectively combat different classes of fires, allowing individuals to rapidly respond to an emergency situation. Their compact size and user-friendly design enable people to act quickly to suppress flames, which can prevent a minor incident from escalating into a larger, uncontrolled fire.

While signaling for help during a fire is crucial, it does not address the immediate need to contain or eliminate the fire. Reducing smoke in the air is not a core purpose of a fire extinguisher; the primary focus is on extinguishing flames. Similarly, while preventing the spread of fire is an important consideration, a fire extinguisher acts primarily to extinguish a fire rather than solely to prevent its spread.