Which action helps manage hazards during landing gear fires?

Which action helps manage hazards during landing gear fires?

• A. To use foam to blanket and cooling.
• B. Deploy water spray with high-velocity jets directly at tires.
• C. Cut fuel off by removing wiring harness.
• D. Ignore fuel leaks.

Answer: (A)

When fighting a landing gear fire, the main hazards come from burning hydrocarbon fuel and the risk of fuel vapors reigniting. Using foam to blanket the area is the most effective approach because the foam coats the fuel, cools the burning surface, and forms a protective film that slows or stops vapor release. This combination helps suppress the fire in gear wells and around tires, reduces the chance of reignition, and provides a safer, longer-lasting extinguishing effect than water alone. Spraying high-velocity water directly at tires doesn’t create the same vapor-suppressing layer and can generate steam or spread burning material, making it less effective for hydrocarbon fires. Attempting to cut fuel off by removing a wiring harness isn’t a reliable or safe way to stop fuel flow, and fuel leaks shouldn’t be ignored because they continue to fuel the fire and pose exposure hazards.

When fighting a landing gear fire, the main hazards come from burning hydrocarbon fuel and the risk of fuel vapors reigniting. Using foam to blanket the area is the most effective approach because the foam coats the fuel, cools the burning surface, and forms a protective film that slows or stops vapor release. This combination helps suppress the fire in gear wells and around tires, reduces the chance of reignition, and provides a safer, longer-lasting extinguishing effect than water alone.

Spraying high-velocity water directly at tires doesn’t create the same vapor-suppressing layer and can generate steam or spread burning material, making it less effective for hydrocarbon fires. Attempting to cut fuel off by removing a wiring harness isn’t a reliable or safe way to stop fuel flow, and fuel leaks shouldn’t be ignored because they continue to fuel the fire and pose exposure hazards.