Which type of fire should NOT be extinguished with water?

Using water to extinguish electrical fires is critical to avoid potentially life-threatening situations. Water is a conductor of electricity, and applying it to an electrical fire risks creating a pathway for the electrical current, which can lead to electric shock for the person attempting to extinguish the fire and can exacerbate the fire itself.

In contrast, wood fires, oil fires, and gas fires can be managed with other appropriate methods. For wood fires, water is generally an effective extinguishing agent, while oil and gas fires typically require special fire suppression techniques, such as foam or dry powder extinguishers, rather than water, which can spread and intensify these types of fires.