Foam usage

[norton]

Hi
How many departments out there actually use foam on the fire ground? (both A OR B) What type of applications have you used them on? (Eg. Class A instead of roof ventalation on a structure fire or Class B for blanketing petro. fires) & how well did they work? Also I understand that there is a foam availible to do both A & B fires, has anyone used this?

[remya]

Most recently we used foam on a garage/shed fire that was used to store a lot of different combustibles liquids. Using wet water probably saved us a few hours.

[RESQTEK]

We use class a foam on all class a fires. The use of foam helps reduce the amount of water required to control the fire and maintain suppression. This means less water damage. We also use class b foam on class b fires. As far as a combi foam goes, I have not heard of anything that is both economical and effective. You can use class b foam at 1% on class a fires but that can be expensive. Foam quality for class a is not as critical as for class b. I am very critical when selecting a foam for use on flammable liquid fires, particularly with a liquid of any appreciable depth like a tank fire. Poor quality foam means faster breakdown which leads to faster froth over and boil over.

[pumper]

WE USE NIAGRA FROM ANGUS FIRE .5% CLASS "A"
3%CLASS "B" FIRES

[bfrd22]

We use Class A foam almost every time. grass fires we'll use it occasionally. But we use Class A alot. And it works very well. We use it on car fires with fuel spills also.

True Class B fires are almost non existant for us. But we do carry an A4P AR concentrate on the units.

[PUMP31]

Iagree with pumper we use Angus Niagra at the same percentages

[smoke286]

All our first line pumpers are equiped with Class A foam systems, We use them at almost all structure fires

[FFWannabe]

No foam here... I think maybe the Hazmats have some, but we do not use it for regular suppression purposes. I believe there was an "environmental" issue a little while back and it was "suggested" we not usre it.... 6 of one, half a dozen of the other, foam or contaminated water run off... who knows, but we don't have it.

[oldarffer]

The environmental consequences of a longer burning fire far outweigh the minimal impact of a good quality foam. The department I am with uses Angus Hi Combat which passes all of the USFS fish and worm tests. Our Class A is delivered via Compressed Air @ 0.3% which knocks down fire very quickly thereby reducing water damage and minimizing environmental impact. These statements are all qualified by the use of the term "good quality foam". There are certainly some dubious products out there, if it is not on the US Forest Service recommended list I would steer clear of it.

[FFWannabe]

The environmental consequences of a longer burning fire far outweigh the minimal impact of a good quality foam. The department I am with uses Angus Hi Combat which passes all of the USFS fish and worm tests. Our Class A is delivered via Compressed Air @ 0.3% which knocks down fire very quickly thereby reducing water damage and minimizing environmental impact. These statements are all qualified by the use of the term "good quality foam". There are certainly some dubious products out there, if it is not on the US Forest Service recommended list I would steer clear of it.

Yup, can't say I disagree, but when the taxpayers scream... well.... you I'm sure you know the rest! :secruity:

[oldarffer]

When did John Q Public get educated about foam? I am guessing about the same time the person in your department that is responsible for dealing with public inquiries did. Those that complain are typically misinformed. It is vital that these uninformed people be educated by the fire department otherwise the tail will wag the dog, firefighters will take longer to put out the fire thereby exposing themselves to more risk, and the grossly uneducated will continue to bumble on as usual.

[fire44]

All of our front line engines have on board foam systems. We generally use class A foam on all of our class A fires. Every engine also carries Class B, but it is almost never used.

Fire44

[Scuba]

Yup, can't say I disagree, but when the taxpayers scream... well.... you I'm sure you know the rest! :secruity:

... I thought it was the lawyers that were screaming....or seeing dollar signs ;)


We run with Class A on our front line truck.

[firefighter26]

I remember a call a number of years ago... nicely involved vehicle fire and we, as per our OGs, used our foam line. Our mini was capable of putting out nice shaving cream texture foam and since the vehicle fire was rapidly becoming a bush fire when we arrived, being the middle of summer, we pumped the foam up and soaked down the exposed (and burning) grass, shrubs and trees (I am thinking that during the summer it isn't always the best idea to pull over to the side of the road when your vehicle catches fire!).

Anyway, we were into our clean up and waiting for the wreaker when a ministry of enviroment pick up (little S10 kinda thing) comes screeming up. The driver jumps out and starts running around like a chicken with no head asking what was all over the road and bushes as if it was some kind of enviromental disaster!! (I guess, thinking it had come from the truck that was on fire).

As the IC for the call, I took her aside and explained what class A foam was and told her we had all the MSDS and whimis sheets on it back at the hall. After she calmed down she left and we never heard anything back.

For 3 months after the fire the area we wetting down with foam was 10 times greener than any other area along the highway (well, except for the black charred marks left from the vehicle fire!)

[CrazyLadder]

All our front line units are Class "A" capable and the newer trucks are "A" and "B" capable. We use to a lot, the only exception might be a surround and drown and bush fires. It is like beer it has an expiry date and might as well be used.

[iamvff]

Hi
How many departments out there actually use foam on the fire ground? (both A OR B) What type of applications have you used them on? (Eg. Class A instead of roof ventalation on a structure fire or Class B for blanketing petro. fires) & how well did they work? Also I understand that there is a foam availible to do both A & B fires, has anyone used this?

I can't say I have ever heard of any type of foam replaceing ventilation? Could you elaborate??

iamvff

[firefighterfred]

We just installed a foam pro unit on our front line pumper last year. With three attack lines with foam at a flip of a switch. I believe it was the best thing we did for our selves. It has given us more of a punch on initial attack. On the pumper we carry class A but we have class B in the cupboards and a lot more stored at a Shell fuel tank farm only minutes from our hall. foam is good it means less wet stuff on the red stuff.

[TheMightymouse]

We use the Angus Niagara AR-FFFP when the need arises. It's a class A and B foam depending on how you apply it %-wise. Saves having to carry both types arround. It's environmental impact is lesser than the detergent based foams according to their data sheets.

Our front line pumper has this on-board and can mix foam concentrate into our pre-connects via mixing controls at the panel as required.

We have used foam at structure fires to make the water penetrate better as mention above, and at MVC's where fuel leaks are a concern. It's also effective as a blanket for exposures such as other buildings, vegetation, and/or trees.

[shaneb]

When I was on the Red Lake fire dept we used foam in training quite a bit because we responded with another hall for all airport calls. We used it couple of times on garage fires with vehicles still inside. Mine rescue uses alot of foam. AFFF and high expansion foam for filling up entire headings (tunnels) that my have burning fuel, diesel equipment, conveyors. We build a barricade and use a big diesel powered ventilation fan with numerous nozzels around the exhaust shroud. This fan is placed in a hole in the barricade and fired up. Men are stationed in shifts to refuel, ensure water supply and foam. It is quite effective. In training, after the heading is full we then enter the foam, with our BG4's on and drill looking for victims and zero visiblity training. Its fun but man after 1hr walking trough high ex foam your are freezing cool and soaking wet!

[Ruckus]

Our first attack line at all calls is a 1.5" CAFS line from one of the early generation Snuffer CAFS units on Engine 1. For Structural firefighting we use Class A foam it in "Wet" mode, or "Dry" mode if we need to coat an exposure.

We've never needed to use Class B yet, but it can be run through the CAFS system, with the obvious minor mix adjustments.

Engine 1 also has it's own water based foam system, and if I remember correctly it's 25 Gallon foamtank is probably about half full (of five year old class A foam). We should probably drain that and clean it...

[DeputyMikey]

We have used wet water on bush fires. I find it works way better than just using straight water, it saves alot of time. We also have used class B foam on a tanker truck leak, even though it was diesel but it was a hot day. We did it just to be on the safe side. We have used .5% on vehicle fires on occasion.

Mike

[DeputyMikey]

We have used wet water on bush fires. I find it works way better than just using straight water, it saves alot of time. We also have used class B foam on a tanker truck leak, even though it was diesel but it was a hot day. We did it just to be on the safe side. We have used .5% on vehicle fires on occasion. We don't use it all that often, but if we had a built in foam system on our first out truck, i'm sure we would use it alot more.

Mike

[DeputyMikey]

Sorry for the double post. Don't know what happened. LOL

[DeputyMikey]

Sorry for the double post. Don't know what happened. LOL :P