Introduction Do you have a fire extinguisher at home ... Yet another option is to cover the fire with a layer of foam, carbon dioxide gas or dry chemicals that stop air from reaching the flames.

It's called the Vacuum Extinguish Method, or VEM for short. A typical fire extinguisher works by spraying carbon dioxide foam, which, if operated properly and quickly, will damp down any flames.

An added bonus – when you try to burn it the foam generates carbon dioxide – the chemical in fire extinguishers –to put itself out. Very clever, indeed. The ingredients of the mineral-based foam are ...