All fires are not the same. Different types of fuels cause different types (or classes) of fire. Fire extinguishers commonly are used to extinguish flames, but not all fire extinguishers work on all classes of fire. Depending on the class of fire, certain fire extinguishers may have no effect on the flames or can actually make the fire worse. Make sure you know what type of fire extinguisher is available in your workplace and ensure it is compatible by referencing the label on the extinguisher.