What is the recommended dual-agent attack for 3D aircraft fires?

• A. Use a dual-agent attack: dry/wet chemical or clean agent for the flowing fire, plus foam for vapor suppression/flashback prevention.
• B. Apply foam directly at the vapor plume.
• C. Use water mist from a distance with no chemical agents.
• D. Rely solely on interior rescue and evacuate.

Answer: (A)

In a 3D aircraft fire, you’re dealing with flames that can spread through multiple areas and with fuel vapors that may travel and flash back, so you need a plan that tackles both the flame and the vapors. The best approach is to use a dual-agent attack: first, apply a clean agent or dry chemical to the flowing fire to rapidly knock down the flame at its source by interrupting the combustion reactions. This provides quick fire suppression where the fire is actively burning and helps prevent further spreading.

Next, apply foam to the fuel areas or along the vapor plume. The foam blankets the fuel surfaces, suppresses vapor release, and helps prevent flashback by keeping fuel from mixing with air. It also aids in cooling and extends burn-back protection, making it harder for vapors to reignite.

Using both agents together gives you effective immediate extinguishment of the flame and robust control of hazardous vapors, which is crucial in the complex, multi-compartment environment of an aircraft fire. Relying only on foam on the vapor plume, or using water mist without a chemical agent, or focusing solely on interior rescue without addressing the fire, would not adequately address the dual threats of flame and vapor in a 3D aircraft fire.