Abstract: A dry bay (4) in an aircraft wing (2) is filled with a large number of relatively small, preferably spherical, containers (12). Sealed inside each container (12) is a noncorrosive gaseous fire extinguishant (14). A number of containers (12) are opened by being broken by an impact force or melted or burst by the heat of a fire. Extinguishant (14) is released from the opened containers (12) to suppress a fire. The packing density of containers (12) in dry bay (4) may be varied by varying the size and/or shape of containers (12). Containers (12) may be introduced into dry bay (4) by pressure injection or by gravity. Containers (12) may be removed from dry bay (4) to allow maintenance and repair activities by allowing containers (12) to drop out of dry bay (4) into a suitable receptacle or by drawing containers (12) out of dry bay (4) with a vacuum powered device.