What is a typical mistake when responding to a Class K fire in a kitchen?

• A. Using water on burning oil.
• B. Turning off the stove to stop fire.
• C. Evacuating immediately without trying to fight.
• D. Attempting to fight a large fire with a single extinguisher or using water on burning oil.

Answer: (D)

In kitchens with cooking oils or fats, you want to avoid two dangerous habits. Water on burning oil is a mistake because oil and water don’t mix: water sinks to the bottom, instantly boils to steam, and can violently splatter burning oil, spreading the fire. The other common error is trying to tackle a large fire with a single extinguisher; Class K fires can involve substantial fuel and may require more than one extinguisher or a specific wet-chemical agent, plus coordinated action or evacuation if it grows.

So the statement that captures the typical mistakes—fighting a large fire with just one extinguisher or using water on burning oil—highlights why those approaches are unsafe. If the fire is small and you’re trained and equipped with the right Class K agent, you may attempt to suppress it from a safe distance, but never with water and never alone on a large blaze. When in doubt or if the fire is growing, evacuate and call emergency services.