Dry Chemical Powder (DCP); a powder-based extinguishing agent that works by separating the three parts of the fire triangle. It stops the chemical reactions that involve heat, fuel, and oxygen, effectively extinguishing the fire. The fuel degrades during combustion into free radicals, which are highly reactive fragments of molecules that react with oxygen.

Dry chemical powder extinguishes fire by coating the burning material with a thin layer of dust. It separates the fuel from the oxygen in the air. The powder also works to interrupt the chemical reaction of fire. These extinguishers are extremely effective at putting out the fire.