Water and fire do not 'fight against each other' in the sense of conscious intent, but they interact in a fundamental way that can be described as 'opposing forces' in certain contexts, such as in extinguishing fires. Here's how water works to extinguish fire:
Cooling: Water absorbs heat from the fire, lowering its temperature below the ignition point of the combustible materials, thus stopping the chemical reaction.
Deprivation of Oxygen: Water displaces oxygen from the immediate area around the fire, reducing the availability of one of the critical elements needed to sustain combustion.
Smothering: Firefighting foams expand when they come into contact with water, creating a barrier that smothers the fire by preventing oxygen from reaching it.
Separation: In some cases, water is used to separate burning materials from non-burning ones, helping to contain the spread of fire.
However, it's important to note that not all types of fires should be extinguished with water. For example:
In these cases, specialized fire-fighting agents such as dry chemical powders, foam, or CO2 are used. The methods and materials chosen to extinguish a fire depend on the specific type of fire and the environment in which it occurs to ensure safety and effectiveness.