Final answer:
Removing fuel to extinguish a fire is impractical, particularly with fossil fuels, due to their high energy release upon combustion, difficulty in removal once ignited, and complexities like differing densities compared to water. Specialized foams, rather than water, are often needed to effectively smother such fires.
Step-by-step explanation:
Fire-extinguishing foams
Removing the fuel is generally not a practical way of extinguishing fire because most fuels, especially fossil fuels, have a high energy density and are not easily disposed of once alight. Fossil fuels, such as those found in a crude oil tanker, release a significant amount of energy when burned, creating difficulties in fire suppression through conventional means like water dousing. Moreover, the specific physical characteristics of fuels, such as the fact that gasoline burns primarily as a vapor and crude oil has a lower density than water, add complexity to fire-fighting efforts.
For example, in fire situations on a crude oil tanker, massive amounts of water are necessary to absorb the extreme energy released, yet the lower density of oil means the water cannot easily displace the oil, and instead, specialized fire-extinguishing foams are often required.