How is an engine fire on the ground typically suppressed?

How is an engine fire on the ground typically suppressed?

• A. By sealing the area and waiting for it to burn out.
• B. By placing a tarp over the engine.
• C. With a direct/indirect attack using water/foam to cool the engine and surrounding fuel sources while protecting exposures.
• D. By using only dry chemical powder.

Answer: (C)

Engine fires on the ground are best handled with a direct/indirect attack using water or foam to cool the engine and any surrounding fuel sources while protecting exposures. This approach rapidly lowers the heat in the engine compartment and nearby fuels, which slows or stops the burning and helps prevent fuel from feeding the fire or spreading to adjacent aircraft, equipment, or structures. Water and foam create a cooling blanket that absorbs heat from hot metal and fuel, reducing the chance of re-ignition and giving responders the time needed to manage the scene safely. Waiting for the fire to burn out or sealing the area offers little control and can allow fuel leaks or hidden hotspots to worsen the situation; a tarp over the engine fails to provide the necessary cooling and fuel control. Dry chemical powder alone doesn’t deliver the heat absorption and fuel-control effects needed for a full-engine fire, especially when large engines and hydrocarbon fuels are involved.

Engine fires on the ground are best handled with a direct/indirect attack using water or foam to cool the engine and any surrounding fuel sources while protecting exposures. This approach rapidly lowers the heat in the engine compartment and nearby fuels, which slows or stops the burning and helps prevent fuel from feeding the fire or spreading to adjacent aircraft, equipment, or structures. Water and foam create a cooling blanket that absorbs heat from hot metal and fuel, reducing the chance of re-ignition and giving responders the time needed to manage the scene safely. Waiting for the fire to burn out or sealing the area offers little control and can allow fuel leaks or hidden hotspots to worsen the situation; a tarp over the engine fails to provide the necessary cooling and fuel control. Dry chemical powder alone doesn’t deliver the heat absorption and fuel-control effects needed for a full-engine fire, especially when large engines and hydrocarbon fuels are involved.