Understanding commercial kitchen fire protection and safety is crucial for preventing fire-related deaths in restaurants, hotels, and cafeterias. K-type fires, caused by heated cooking oil or fat, can be extinguished effectively using specialized K-type fire extinguishers, which are ideal for putting out fires in ventilation hoods, ductwork, deep fat fryers, griddles, and other cooking appliances due to their stainless steel construction and exceptional fire-fighting capabilities.