Final answer:
Cleaning agents extinguish fire by interrupting the combustion reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cleaning agents extinguish fire by interrupting the combustion reaction. They work by either removing the oxygen from the compartment or removing the burning fuel, thus breaking the chain reaction that sustains the fire. For example, dry chemical fire extinguishers contain agents that can chemically react with the fuel and inhibit combustion. Another example is foam fire extinguishers, which contain surfactants that reduce the surface tension of water and allow it to spread across the burning surface, smothering the fire.