Class A and B Foam

[mrfdengine6]

Would the cost of a Foam Pro system suitable for Class A and B foam be justifiable in a type 6 engine? We have several of these engines housed throughout our response area and they are typically first on scene.

[Bushwhacker]

What kind of area do you cover? Are your type 6 the only engines you run or do you have a big pavement pounder in your arsenal?

[mrfdengine6]

Rural, with lots of farming. Lots of big equipment with big fuel tanks. Also two fairly busy Hiways. We have a 1500 gal tender that also has direct attack capabilities and a Deuce and a half for wildland.

[Bowbreaker]

If I had the funds I would put a Class A Foam Pro system on every type 6 engine. They are simple and reliable units.

As for Class B foam on a type 6 engine, do you have a need. Most type 6's are close to overloaded so why waste storage space with something that is, at best, of marginal use.

Class B foam has its place, just not on a wildland engine. Class B foam or any 3% to 6% foam requires a lot of foam concentrate to be effective and the 10 to 12 gallons you could carry are not going to get you very far. Just my opinion.

Brad

[the1141man]

Rural, with lots of farming. Lots of big equipment with big fuel tanks. Also two fairly busy Hiways. We have a 1500 gal tender that also has direct attack capabilities and a Deuce and a half for wildland.

:eek: You guys use 2.5" lines for wildland? What kinds of fuels do you have out there?!?!

[mrfdengine6]

By deuce and a half I meant a military type two and a half ton truck. We use this for wildland direct attack and a tender into rougher terrain.

[firefighter3419]

:eek: You guys use 2.5" lines for wildland? What kinds of fuels do you have out there?!?!


Won't that be a funny sight to see! :)

[the1141man]

By deuce and a half I meant a military type two and a half ton truck. We use this for wildland direct attack and a tender into rougher terrain.

Ohhhh, ok. :) *LOL* I getcha... I was gonna say, on a Type VI engine, a 2.5" line would empty your tank in what? Half a minute? 45 seconds? *LOL* ;)

[mrfdengine6]

Sorry for the confusion. So what are your thoughts on a Foam system with class A and B capabilities. Our Type 6 engines are not strictly wildland engines and typically are first on scene to any call.

[NonSurfinCaFF]

If $4000 or so is affordable for your department then yes, I would say a foam pro is worth while. I wouldn't bother carrying class B foam though, class A in higher concentrations (0.5-1%) is effective on small fuel spills and you really can't carry enough class B on a type 6 for the fires class A won't help you with. Now if you have a high hazard class B site and you have a stake side full of class B foam buckets then maybe you have something worth considering.

If you can't really justify the cost, of a foam pro I would consider one of the cheaper around the pump types like a Blizzard Wizard, they are usually well under $1000.

[mrfdengine6]

Thanks for the input. I appreciate all of the info.

[hwoods]

My Type 6 has a homemade Foam system that works well. I have been successful in getting a quick knockdown on several well involved vehicle Fires with it, and it does a great job on Wildland Fuels also.

I tapped a .25 hole in the Tank to pump line, added a 1/4 turn valve and a piece of clear plastic tubing. I place the tubing into a 5 gallon bucket of Foam, then turn the valve on a bit when I need it. A little practice and you can figure out your settings pretty close to the Factory Built systems.

[NJFFSA16]

Any addition of Class A or B foam would be money well spent. It only goes to enhance your firefighting capabilities...so WHY NOT? Class A is extremely useful on wildland duff fires, adding penetration to your suppression agent....and all of NJ's type 6 engines carry Class A foam additive.

We usually don't get dispatched to Class B fires, but it wouldn't hurt to have some on board.....although our offices do not stock Class B, for obvious reasons.