Florida Fire State Practice Exam

What type of foam is required to extinguish fires involving ethanol or ethanol-based fuels?

1. Standard foams

2. Alcohol-resistant foams

3. Class B foams

4. Protein foams

The correct answer is: Alcohol-resistant foams

The correct response is alcohol-resistant foams because these types of foams are specifically designed to combat fires involving polar solvents, such as ethanol. Ethanol can significantly dilute standard fire-fighting foams, making them less effective. Alcohol-resistant foams contain additives that create a protective layer on the fuel surface, preventing the foam from being broken down by the ethanol and helping to smother the flames effectively. Standard foams are not suitable for such scenarios because they don't provide adequate protection against polar solvents. Class B foams may offer some level of effectiveness, but they do not have the additional properties required to manage fires with ethanol. Protein foams are primarily designed for hydrocarbon fuels and lack the necessary characteristics to effectively combat fires involving alcohol-based fuels. Thus, alcohol-resistant foam is the recommended choice for extinguishing fires fueled by ethanol or similar substances.