To extinguish a Bravo fire effectively, which agents should be avoided?

In the context of firefighting, a Bravo fire refers to a fire involving flammable liquids such as gasoline, oil, and solvents. When combating Bravo fires, certain extinguishing agents can either be ineffective or worsen the situation.

Using water on a Bravo fire should be avoided due to the risk of it causing the flammable liquid to spread. Water is denser than most hydrocarbons, meaning it will sink beneath the flammable liquid and can cause the fire to spread by pushing the burning liquid away. This could potentially create a much larger and more dangerous situation.

In contrast, agents like AFFF (Aqueous Film-Forming Foam) are designed to smother flammable liquid fires by forming a blanket over the liquid, effectively cutting off the fire's access to oxygen. Halon and CO2 are also effective agents as they displace oxygen and help to extinguish the fire. Thus, understanding the suitability of agents is crucial in firefighting, especially with regards to specific types of fires.