What is the most common extinguishing agent on airfields?

• A. AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam)
• B. Dry chemical powder
• C. Water spray
• D. Halon 1301

Answer: (A)

Airfield firefighting relies on quickly smothering hydrocarbon fuel fires with a foam blanket. AQUEOUS FILM FORMING FOAM is designed for jet fuel fires, forming a fast-spreading film that reduces surface tension, blankets the burning surface, and cools the fuel. This creates a barrier between the fuel and air and promotes rapid knockdown, helping prevent reignition. The foam blanket floats on the fuel, providing sustained cooling and coverage over the fire. Water alone is less effective on hydrocarbon fuels and can even spread burning fuel in some cases. Halon 1301 is limited by environmental concerns and isn’t the typical choice on runways, and dry chemical powder, while useful in some scenarios, isn’t as effective for large aviation-fuel fires. For these reasons, AFFF is the most common extinguishing agent on airfields.