There are two ways to put out a fire: either cools it down to the point where the chemical reaction that generates fire doesn't happen, or else deprive the fire of fuel or oxygen. Water does the first of these, fire extinguishers (mostly) do the second (there are a lot of different kinds of fire extinguishers). Shoveling dirt on a fire is an outstanding way to put out a small fire by depriving it of access to the air. Sand and blankets also put out fire.