Water does not effectively extinguish napalm fires. Unlike typical fires, napalm possesses distinct properties that make water an ineffective and potentially hazardous extinguishing agent. Its unique composition causes it to react differently when exposed to water, often exacerbating the situation.
Understanding Napalm’s Properties
Napalm is a gel-like incendiary mixture, primarily composed of a gelling agent combined with a volatile petrochemical like gasoline or diesel fuel. This gives it a viscous, sticky consistency, allowing it to adhere to surfaces and burn persistently. Napalm-B, a common variant, often includes polystyrene and benzene, contributing to its prolonged combustion and high temperatures, typically 800 to 1,200 degrees Celsius (1,470 to 2,190 degrees Fahrenheit).
Once ignited, its gel-like nature ensures napalm sticks to whatever it touches, including skin and structures, burning fiercely. Its slow burning rate, compared to liquid gasoline, allows for extended exposure to intense heat. This ensures sustained thermal output over a targeted area.
Why Water Fails to Extinguish Napalm
Water is ineffective against napalm fires because napalm is oil-based and water-insoluble. Since hydrocarbons do not mix with water and are less dense, burning napalm floats on top, spreading the fire. This immiscibility means water cannot cool the fuel below its ignition point or smother the flames.
Water also fails to cut off the oxygen supply required for napalm to burn. While water can absorb some heat, napalm’s extreme combustion temperatures are often too high for water’s cooling effect to be sufficient. The intense heat rapidly turns water into steam, which can violently expand and spread burning napalm particles, increasing the area of the fire and posing a greater danger. The violent interaction between water and superheated napalm can also cause the burning substance to splatter. Attempting to extinguish napalm with water can worsen the situation and endanger individuals.
Effective Methods for Extinguishment
Extinguishing napalm requires methods that deprive the fire of oxygen or physically separate the fuel from the flame. Smothering agents, such as sand or dirt, are effective by covering the burning napalm and cutting off its oxygen supply, preventing combustion.
Specialized fire retardants, including fire-fighting foam or dry chemical agents, smother Class B (flammable liquid) fires like napalm by creating a blanket that isolates it from oxygen. Carbon dioxide (CO2) can also displace oxygen in enclosed spaces to suppress the fire. Containment strategies, such as firebreaks or non-flammable barriers, can limit the spread of a napalm fire, allowing it to burn itself out. These methods focus on removing the oxygen element.
Safety Considerations
Encountering a napalm fire presents extreme hazards, making direct confrontation by untrained individuals highly dangerous. The intense heat and tendency to splatter necessitate maintaining a significant distance. Exposure can cause severe full-thickness burns, rapid loss of consciousness, and death.
Never attempt to extinguish a napalm fire with water, as this can exacerbate the situation and increase personal risk. Instead, immediately contact professional emergency services, such as the fire department, who possess specialized training and equipment. If caught near a napalm fire, seek immediate shelter offering protection from heat and splattering. Burning napalm also rapidly depletes oxygen and produces high levels of carbon monoxide, posing a significant risk of asphyxiation and toxicity.