Which of the following is a characteristic of carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers?

A characteristic of carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguishers is that they do not cool the fire. Instead, CO2 extinguishers work by displacing oxygen from the area around the fire and interrupting the combustion process. When CO2 is released, it forms a cloud of gas that surrounds the flames and prevents oxygen from reaching the fire, effectively suffocating it.

This means that while CO2 extinguishers can be effective against certain types of fires, particularly electrical and flammable liquid fires, they do not reduce the temperature of the burning materials. This is different from water-based extinguishing methods, which cool the fire and can help to prevent re-ignition. Understanding this mechanism is essential for selecting the appropriate fire extinguisher based on the type of fire being dealt with.