What can AFFF effectively extinguish according to its properties?

Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) is specifically designed for combating flammable liquid fires, which makes it particularly effective in extinguishing fires involving hydrocarbons like gasoline, oil, and other flammable liquids. AFFF works by creating a film that suppresses the release of flammable vapors while also cooling the burning material, thereby preventing re-ignition.

While it is essential to understand that AFFF is not suitable for extinguishing fires involving solid combustibles, like wood or paper, or electrical fires, there are specialized extinguishing agents more appropriate for those types of incidents. Solid combustibles typically require a different approach, such as applying water or appropriate dry chemical agents, while fires involving electricity may necessitate non-conductive firefighting agents to avoid the risk of electric shock.

Therefore, the effectiveness of AFFF is uniquely positioned to deal with flammable liquids, reinforcing its specialized use in firefighting scenarios where such hazards are present.