For which type of fire would a dry powder extinguisher be most appropriate?

A dry powder extinguisher is designed specifically to tackle fires involving combustible metals, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and titanium. These types of fires can be extremely dangerous and require specialized suppression agents to control them effectively.

The unique chemical properties of dry powder agents allow them to smother and chemically react with the burning metal, thus extinguishing the fire and preventing re-ignition. This makes dry powder extinguishers the most appropriate choice for metal fires, as traditional extinguishing agents, like water or foam, can create hazardous reactions and worsen the situation.

In contrast, while dry powder can be used on electrical fires, other types such as CO2 or Class C extinguishers are often preferred due to their ability to extinguish fires without conducting electricity. Grease fires (Class K) require specific agents like foam or wet chemical extinguishers, and wood fires (Class A) are best handled with water, foam or Class A fire extinguishers. Hence, for risks associated with metal fires, dry powder extinguishers are essential and effective, which establishes their primary relevance in this context.