What is the primary purpose of fire extinguishers?

The primary purpose of fire extinguishers is to suppress and extinguish small fires. Fire extinguishers are designed as portable devices that can be quickly deployed to tackle flames at their initial stages before they escalate and become uncontrollable. They contain various agents, such as water, foam, dry chemical, or CO2, that target the fire's fuel, heat, or chemical reaction, effectively starve it of what it needs to continue burning.

In contrast, monitoring fire alarms involves a completely different function focused on alerting occupants to the presence of fire, typically before it spreads. Providing fire protection training focuses more on educating individuals on how to act in the event of a fire and how to use extinguishers correctly, rather than being a direct fire suppression method. Ventilating smoke from buildings is also essential for safety during a fire incident but is an aspect of fire management and response rather than a function of the extinguisher itself. This highlights the specific need for fire extinguishers in actively combating small fires proactively and effectively.