Which of the following is a common extinguishing agent on ARFF vehicles?

• A. Water, AFFF, and Halogenated agents
• B. Foam, CO₂, and Nitrogen
• C. Dry Chemical, Water, and Gasoline
• D. Carbon Dioxide, Water, and Oil

Answer: (A)

The correct choice highlights that ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) vehicles commonly utilize water, AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam), and halogenated agents as extinguishing agents.

Water is a fundamental extinguishing agent effective in cooling and suppressing flames, particularly on non-flammable and some flammable liquids. AFFF is specifically designed for aviation fires, as it forms a blanket over flammable liquids, preventing the release of flammable vapors and cooling the fire. Halogenated agents are effective for flammable liquid fires and can also suppress fires involving electrical equipment because they do not conduct electricity.

The other options include substances or combinations that are either less effective or not commonly used in ARFF operations. Foam agents are included in the correct answer but are specified as AFFF in this context, which has specific properties beneficial for aviation firefighting. CO₂ is effective for certain fire classes, but its role is more supplementary rather than primary in ARFF applications. The inclusion of gasoline in one of the options is inappropriate given its flammable nature and the context of extinguishing fires.