What component does water primarily remove to extinguish a fire?

Water primarily removes heat from a fire to extinguish it. This is based on the fire triangle, which consists of three elements necessary for combustion: heat, fuel, and oxygen. When water is applied to a fire, it absorbs heat as it evaporates, which lowers the temperature of the burning materials and the surrounding environment. By cooling the fuel and reducing the temperature below its ignition point, water effectively disrupts the conditions necessary for the fire to continue burning.

While oxygen is also a critical component in sustaining a fire, the role of water is primarily centered on heat removal. The presence of heat is what allows the chemical reactions of combustion to take place, so eliminating it is essential for extinguishing flames. Fuel is removed in certain fire suppression methods, but that is not the primary action of water. Smoke is a byproduct of combustion and is not a component that causes the fire to burn; therefore, it is not relevant in the context of extinguishing a fire.