This chapter discusses fire suppression, ventilation, and overhaul techniques for aircraft rescue and firefighting personnel. It covers identifying suppression methods, applying extinguishing agents such as foam and dry chemicals, conducting interior attack, and ventilating aircraft during fires. Personnel must extinguish all fires, prevent re-ignition, and preserve evidence during overhaul operations following an incident. Safety precautions are emphasized, such as avoiding agitating fuels, using self-contained breathing apparatus, and preventing interference with passenger evacuation.

1. Aircraft Rescue and Fire
Fighting
6th Edition
Chapter 9 — Fire Suppression,
Ventilation, and Overhaul

2. Identify fire suppression techniques.
Learning Objective 1
9–2

3. ARFF live fire training must meet
the requirements of NFPA® 1403.
9–3

4. ARFF personnel may encounter
aircraft accidents with fuel that is
spilled, but not ignited.
9–4

5. In an aircraft fire, the IC must choose
between two basic attack methods.
9–5
Total extinguishmentTotal extinguishment Maintain escape/evacuation areasMaintain escape/evacuation areas

6. WARNING
While ARFF personnel inspect an
aircraft following a fire warning
indication, the aircraft may still have one
engine running to provide electrical
power to the aircraft systems. ARFF
personnel must exercise caution when
working around the air intakes of
operating turbojet engines and the
propellers of the reciprocating and
turboprop engines. 9–6

7. ARFF personnel should know basic
attack techniques used in fire
suppression.
9–7

8. NOTE
Turret operators working on opposite
sides of an aircraft must avoid pushing
burning fuel under the aircraft to the
other side.
9–8

9. The roll-on method directs the foam
stream on the ground near the front
edge of a burning liquid pool.
9–9

10. In the deflection or bank-down
method, the foam stream is directed
at an object and runs down onto the
fuel.
9–10

11. The base-of-the-fire delivery angle
maximizes agent effectiveness and
minimizes extinguishment time.
9–11

12. CAUTION
Take care not to agitate standing or
pooled fuel and potentially increase the
fire magnitude or affected area.
9–12

13. The rain-down method directs the
stream above the fire or spill and
allows the foam to float gently down.
9–13

14. CAUTION
Avoid plunging the foam stream down
into the fuel.
9–14

15. Turrets can apply large quantities of
foam and other agents from a
distance.
9–15

16. Handlines should be deployed
when the main fire is extinguished.
9–16

17. CAUTION
When operating handlines, ARFF
personnel should avoid walking through
fuel spills. If this is unavoidable,
personnel must avoid breaking the foam
blanket and agitating the fuel.
9–17

18. ARFF personnel have been most
successful when they have used fog
and spray water streams.
9–18

19. A straight stream may be the best
nozzle pattern to use in well-involved,
unventilated aircraft interior fires.
9–19

20. CAUTION
Avoid plunging the foam stream down
into the fuel.
9–20

21. Correct application of foam can be
as important as the type of foam
chosen.
9–21
Principle
of
“Insulate
and
Isolate”
Principle
of
“Insulate
and
Isolate”

22. Foam can be applied using a
variety of nozzles and streams.
9–22

23. When applying foam, the objective is
to create a blanket that suppresses
the vapors given off by the fuel.
9–23

24. Once foam concentrate is mixed with
water, the solution must be mixed with air
and delivered to the surface of the fuel.
9–24

25. Turret nozzles are large, pre-
plumbed master stream appliances.
9–25

26. Handline nozzles can be safely
handled by one to three
firefighters.
9–26

27. Aspirating or nonaspirating nozzles
each produce foam with different
advantages.
9–27

28. CAUTION
Dry chemical can be a minor respiratory
irritant; therefore, ARFF personnel
should always wear SCBA when
applying them. Do not aim dry chemical
agents directly at escaping passengers.
9–28

29. ARFF personnel may apply dry
chemical agent using extinguishers.
9–29
Wheeled dry chemical extinguisherWheeled dry chemical extinguisher

30. CAUTION
Point the top of the extinguisher away
from the firefighter or other personnel
when pressurizing the unit. Because of
the size of the nozzle, the firefighter
should be prepared for a significant
nozzle reaction when it is opened and
may need assistance.
9–30

31. Dry chemical is dispensed from
apparatus mounted units in three
different ways.
9–31

32. Dry chemical is often used on three-
dimensional fires on engine nacelles
or for running fuel fires.
9–32

33. Clean agents should only be applied
in short bursts so that its effect on
the fire may be observed.
9–33
Clean agentsClean agents

34. Properly executed dual agent attacks
are effective for fighting three-
dimensional fires.
9–34

35. A three-dimensional fuel fire is
difficult to extinguish.
9–35

36. Handlines are used to conduct
interior fire attack operations.
9–36

37. CAUTION
Interior fire fighting operations should
not interfere with the evacuation of
aircraft occupants.
9–37

38. The preferred method of
extinguishing engine and APU/EPU
fires is to operate the fire shut down
system.
9–38

39. Other options for extinguishing
engine or APU/EPU fires are
available.
9–39

40. ARFF personnel may encounter other
types of engine fires.
9–40

41. The safest approach to wheel
assembly fires is to apply large
amounts of water from a distance.
9–41

42. NOTE
If magnesium or titanium is suspected,
applying large amounts of water from a
distance is an effective initial
extinguishing technique, however, if the
fire is not extinguished, appropriate
Class D extinguishing techniques
should be deployed.
9–42

43. NOTE
When ignited, Skydrol® (aviation
hydraulic fluid), thermally decomposes
at high temperatures and produces toxic
vapors.
9–43

44. CAUTION
Wear full protective clothing and SCBA
regardless of the suspected hazard
during a fire involving wheel
assemblies.
9–44

45. Airport firefighters must prevent the
spread of fire to uninvolved, exposed
properties.
9–45

46. Rocket engine fires should be
approached with caution.
9–46

47. REVIEW QUESTION
Identify the two basic attack
methods for an aircraft accident with
fire involvement.
9–47

48. Describe methods of ventilation in
an aircraft fire.
Learning Objective 2
9–48

49. Proper ventilation, coordinated with
interior attack, should be part of
planned and coordinated operation.
9–49

50. WARNING
Never discharge hoseline or turret
streams into a hole, either burned or cut
into the top of an aircraft. This will
interrupt the vertical ventilation process
and push the fire and products of
combustion horizontally through the
aircraft.
9–50

51. REVIEW QUESTION
What technique can ARFF
personnel utilize to locate suitable
ventilation
locations?
9–51

52. Describe overhaul operations after
an aircraft incident/accident.
Learning Objective 3
9–52

53. Personnel should exercise extreme
caution when conducting overhaul.
9–53

54. NOTE
Personnel should watch out for any fire
that has extended into the void space
over the ceiling panels. These fires can
extend and come down behind
personnel.
9–54

55. Preserve the interior as much as
reasonably possible during overhaul.
9–55

56. REVIEW QUESTION
During overhaul operations, what
materials may need to be removed to
access concealed fires?
9–56

57. Explain the importance of evidence
preservation during overhaul
operations.
Learning Objective 4
9–57

58. Avoid disturbing any evidence that
may aid investigators in determining
the cause of the accident.
9–58

59. REVIEW QUESTION
Why should overhaul personnel
move only parts of the aircraft that are
essential to completing fire
extinguishment?
9–59

60. These objectives are measured in Skill
Sheets 9-5 – 9-11.
These skill sheets can be found in the
curriculum package.
This checklist corresponds with the
skill steps beginning on p. 382 of the
manual.
Learning Objectives 5-11
9–60

61. • During an aircraft accident, ARFF
personnel must be prepared to prevent
flammable liquids and combustibles
from igniting and suppress fires that
have already started.
Summary
9–61
(Cont.)

62. • Fire suppression requires ARFF
personnel to use the extinguishing
agents and systems on their apparatus
in a trained and coordinated fashion.
Summary
9–62
(Cont.)

63. • Ventilation can aid in the rescue of
passengers and crew. Removing the
products of combustion from the
aircraft interior can increase the
survivability factors for those inside the
aircraft and improve visibility for
firefighters.
Summary
9–63
(Cont.)

64. • Overhaul is critical for ensuring that all
fires are extinguished, thus preventing
the re-ignition of flammable and
combustible materials.
• Throughout fire suppression,
ventilation, and overhaul operations,
ARFF personnel must preserve
evidence found at the accident.
Summary
9–64