In an engine room Class Bravo fire using HFP, what specific gas might be produced?

• A. Hydrogen Fluoride
• B. Hydrogen Sulfide
• C. Carbon Monoxide
• D. Oxygen

Answer: (A)

Fluorinated foam used on hydrocarbon fires can produce hydrogen fluoride when burned. In an engine room fire using this foam, the fluorinated components can decompose in the flames and release hydrogen fluoride gas. HF is extremely toxic and corrosive, capable of causing severe respiratory injury and chemical burns, and it can form hydrofluoric acid in the presence of moisture. While other gases like carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulfide can occur in some fires, they aren’t specifically tied to the use of fluorinated foam in this scenario, and oxygen is not produced by combustion. So the gas you’d be most concerned about here is hydrogen fluoride.