Which foam is more effective in dealing with hydrocarbon fires?

AFFF, which stands for Aqueous Film Forming Foam, is specifically designed to combat hydrocarbon fires effectively. It works by forming a film that spreads across the surface of the burning liquid, creating a barrier that suppresses the release of flammable vapors. This foam also cools the fuel surface, helping to prevent reignition. AFFF is particularly beneficial in suppressing fires involving petroleum products, such as gasoline and oil, making it the primary choice in aviation fire-fighting scenarios.

While other foam agents may provide some level of fire suppression, AFFF has been refined to deliver the best performance against hydrocarbons. Water mist systems can be effective in certain scenarios, particularly in cooling and reducing flammable vapors, but they may not suppress hydrocarbon flames as efficiently as AFFF. Similarly, dry chemical powders can extinguish flames through a different mechanism but do not create the vapor-sealing film necessary for hydrocarbon incidents. Therefore, AFFF stands out as the most effective option for dealing with hydrocarbon fires.