What method is mainly used to extinguish a fire by removing fuel?

The correct answer is rooted in the understanding of the fire triangle, which consists of three elements necessary for combustion: heat, fuel, and oxygen. To extinguish a fire, one effective method is to remove one of these elements. In this case, "starving the fire" specifically refers to the process of eliminating the fuel source that sustains the fire. By cutting off the fuel supply, the fire is deprived of one of its essential components, leading to its extinguishment.

For example, if a fire is burning in a storage area, removing combustible materials or isolating the burning matter will help to starve the fire, effectively halting its progress. This method emphasizes the importance of fuel control in fire safety practices and highlights how critical it is to assess the environment surrounding a fire incident.

In contrasting methods, cooling involves reducing the temperature of the fire, inhibiting combustion looks to interfere with the chemical reactions necessary for fire to occur, and summoning assistance pertains to calling for help rather than addressing the fire directly. Each of these methods has its place in fire safety, but when the focus is on removing the necessary fuel, starving the fire stands as the primary technique for this specific scenario.