The act of smothering a fire is to prevent air (oxygen) from feeding the flames.
removing the fuel or source of ignition.
You can stop a fire without water by using a fire extinguisher, sand, baking soda, or a fire blanket. These materials work by smothering the fire and cutting off its oxygen supply, thereby extinguishing it. Be sure to always have a fire safety plan in place and know how to properly use these firefighting materials.
using a flame extinguisher. Water won't be very effective against a tire fire. Smothering the fire would also work, if you have the means to cover it with a large amount of sand or something similar.
Fire goes out when one or more elements of the fire triangle (heat, fuel, oxygen) are removed. This can happen through extinguishing methods like smothering the fire to remove oxygen, cooling the flames to reduce heat, or removing the fuel source to starve the fire.
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is a chemical compound that releases carbon dioxide gas when it reacts with heat or flames. The carbon dioxide displaces oxygen, which the fire needs to keep burning, thus smothering the flames and extinguishing the fire.
A Class D fire extinguisher is recommended for extinguishing a metal fire.
A Class A fire extinguisher is recommended for extinguishing wood fires.
A class B or "Bravo" fire is any fire involving the combustion of liquids such as gasoline, diesel, liquid paint, solvents, or oils. These can usually be extinguished using some form of vapor seal over the liquid like aqueous film forming foam (AFFF, essentially REALLY soapy water that floats over any other liquid). Other extinguishing methods are smothering, and dry chemical extinguishing agents like PKP or Sodium Bicarbonate. Water is typically a bad choice of extinguishing agent for this type of fire since you may end up actually spreading it and making the fire worse.
removal of fuel
A Class D fire extinguisher is suitable for extinguishing fires involving magnesium.
The act of smothering a fire is to prevent air (oxygen) from feeding the flames.
water