Fire extinguisher balls work by either being thrown into a fire or activating automatically when exposed to a direct flame or high temperature. The outer shell of the ball is designed to burst when it comes into contact with fire, which takes approximately 3 to 5 seconds. The explosion disperses the non-toxic, dry chemical powder inside across a wide area (about 3-5 cubic meters), which suppresses the fire by cutting off its oxygen supply and interrupting the chemical reaction. Many models also emit a loud sound, around 120-138 decibels, that acts as a fire alarm to alert people nearby.