Associate Safety Professional Practice Exam

The appropriate fire suppression agent for a fire involving combustible metals is the agent represented by a yellow star with a D in the middle, which indicates dry powder specifically designed for metal fires. Combustible metal fires, such as those involving magnesium, sodium, or potassium, require special extinguishing methods because conventional methods can worsen the fire.

Using water, for example, can create an explosive reaction when it comes into contact with certain metals. Foam and carbon dioxide are also ineffective for metal fires, as foam does not address the unique makeup of metal fires and carbon dioxide lacks the capability to effectively smother these types of flames. Therefore, the correct agent to use is the dry powder designed for the specific characteristics of combustible metals, making the star with a D essential for safely extinguishing these hazardous fires.