Fire extinguishers work by removing oxygen or by _____________.

Fire extinguishers are designed to combat fires by interrupting one or more elements of the fire triangle, which consists of heat, fuel, and oxygen. Specifically, the correct answer involves the cooling of the fuel. Fire requires not only fuel and oxygen but also a source of heat to ignite.

When a fire extinguisher is deployed, it often discharges a substance that cools the burning fuel, effectively reducing its temperature below the ignition point. This cooling effect helps to prevent the fire from sustaining itself and ultimately extinguishes the flames.

By targeting the fuel and lowering its temperature, the extinguisher removes one of the critical components necessary for the fire to continue burning. This method does not alter the amount of oxygen present but rather alters the conditions that allow the fire to thrive.