A method of fighting a fire, the method includes aerating a firefighting foam composition to form an areated firefighting foam; administering the aerated firefighting foam to a fire or applying the aerated firefighting foam to a surface of a volatile flammable liquid; wherein the firefighting foam composition includes a surfactant component comprising an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, optionally a nonionic surfactant, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; an aliphatic alcohol-based component comprising at least two compounds selected from C.sub.8-C.sub.14-aliphatic alcohols and ethoxylates of C.sub.10-C.sub.14-aliphatic alcohols having an average of no more than about 6 ethylene oxide units; and at least about 30 wt. % water.

An alternative to aqueous film forming foams containing fluorine for firefighting foams for flammable liquid fires is a mist of aqueous ethyleneamine polyphosphate solution or fumed silica doped ethyleneamine polyphosphate solution. The method consists of spraying a mist of such solutions into a flammable liquid fire to suppress the flames and cool the fire. The mist approach also suppresses flames of wood fires. An alternate approach is to add ethyleneamine polyphosphate or fumed silica doped ethyleneamine polyphosphate to a fluorine free foam to form a flame retarded foam that is able to smother a flammable liquid fire.

An aqueous composition, which can be diluted with an aqueous diluent to provide a foam precursor composition, is provided. The foam precursor composition can be aerated to form a firefighting foam. The present aqueous firefighting compositions include a surfactant mixture containing a siloxane-based surfactant together with one or more of a nonionic surfactant, an anionic surfactant, and a zwitterionic surfactant. The aqueous firefighting compositions also include a polysaccharide thickener and an organic solvent, such as an alkylene glycol, glycerol and/or a glycol ether.

A forest fire retardant composition contains water and a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a liquid concentrate or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Systems and compositions for suppressing and extinguishing several classes of fire, e.g. Class D, fires are disclosed. The composition includes some form of powdered Aloe vera, a bio-surfactant, a thickening agent, and a diol. The composition may be mixed with paint to coat a structure thus protecting the structure from fire. The composition may also be mixed with epoxy resin for coating a structure also for fire protection. The composition may also be in the form of a gel in canisters for extinguishing fire.

A fire suppressant including in weight percent technical urea 10-30%, ammonium sulphate 20-50%, and sodium bentonite 12-26%. The fire suppressant further includes polypropylene glycol (polyglycol), alkyl sulfonic acid, castor oil, guar gum, and/or triethanolamine dodecylbenzene sulfonate. The fire suppressant does not pose any risk to plant or animal life since the product is completely benign and is classified as non-toxic. It does not cause any damage to aquifers or groundwater, and it biodegrades in 30 to 60 days.

Antifreezes are provided for deployment in wet sprinkler systems located in cold environments. The antifreezes allow for the wet sprinkler system to be actuated under temperatures below 32° F. Wet sprinklers, sprinkler systems, methods of providing for the control, suppression and/or extinguishment of a fire that occur in a cold environment, and methods of preventing wet sprinklers from freezing also are provided. The sprinklers, sprinkler systems and methods can be used in residential, commercial and storage settings.

A forest fire retardant composition contains a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The forest fire retardant composition may include at least one anhydrous salt and at least one hydrate salt. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a dry concentrate, a liquid concentrate, or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

A fire extinguishing composition is described. The fire extinguishing composition comprises water in an amount of ≤80.0% by weight; a fire extinguishing salt in an amount of ≥15.0% by weight; and a wetting agent; wherein the wetting agent comprises a non-fluorinated surfactant. Uses of the fire extinguishing composition and a fire extinguisher comprising the fire extinguishing composition are also described.

A method of fighting a fire, the method comprising: aerating a firefighting foam composition to form an areated firefighting foam; administering the aerated firefighting foam to a fire or applying the aerated firefighting foam to a surface of a volatile flammable liquid; wherein: the firefighting foam composition comprises: a sugar component; a surfactant component comprising an anionic surfactant, a zwitterionic surfactant, or a mixture of any two or more thereof; a polysaccharide thickener comprising succinoglycan; and at least about 30 wt. % water.