Which type of fire extinguisher should be used for a gasoline fire?

A gasoline fire falls under the category of flammable liquids, which are best extinguished using a Class B fire extinguisher. Class B extinguishers are specifically designed to combat fires that involve flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, grease, and paints. These extinguishers typically use materials like foam, carbon dioxide, or dry chemical agents that effectively separate the fuel from the oxygen, thereby suppressing the fire.

Class A extinguishers are intended for ordinary combustible materials like wood, paper, and cloth, and would not be effective against flammable liquid fires since they do not have the proper agents to tackle such substances. Class C extinguishers are used for electrical fires and are not suitable for gasoline fires as they are ineffective against flammable liquids. Class D extinguishers are tailored for fires involving combustible metals, such as magnesium and sodium, and have no relevance to liquid fires like that of gasoline. Therefore, a Class B fire extinguisher is the appropriate choice for safely handling a gasoline fire.