cafs

[survive]

Just looking for some input. my department is looking at using CAFS for brush fires. Is it a good or bad idea?

[sdff1520]

Great idea. Works well, conserves water, helps with flare-ups, slop-overs, etc... Makes a great tool for pre-treatment, laying wetline to burn off of.

[onlocation]

If monies are plentiful, I say go for it. We opted out of it on our brush units mainly becuase of the costs it brings with it. We just put a wetting agent in the tank each time we fill up and it works pretty well. Instead of a CAFS unit, could you carry a pro-pak on the truck and use it instead when you need foam?

[KB1OEV]

We just put a wetting agent in the tank each time we fill up and it works pretty well.

Thats fine, but I want to share something I just learned in a course on foam. If you add class A foam to a tank of water, it will be most effective if used within 24 hours. After that, the foam breaks down and doesn't anywhere near as well. So if you want to add foam to a tank, it should be done after a call comes in and not when the truck is just going to be sitting at the firehouse.

[neiowa]

.... Instead of a CAFS unit, could you carry a pro-pak on the truck and use it instead when you need foam?

That gives you (somewhat) aspirated Cl A Foam. In no way the same as CAFS. Better than water or foam in the tank. You find a way to do CAFS then get a eductor and low or medium expansion nozzle. You can find the $.

[onlocation]

Thats fine, but I want to share something I just learned in a course on foam. If you add class A foam to a tank of water, it will be most effective if used within 24 hours. After that, the foam breaks down and doesn't anywhere near as well. So if you want to add foam to a tank, it should be done after a call comes in and not when the truck is just going to be sitting at the firehouse.

You are correct, I was refering to refilling on scene when still fighting fire. No we do not do it when the fire is out and we are fixing to park it. We actually try to make it a habit that if we know it will be the last tank for that scene(mopping up) we wont add any agent at all and try to flush out any that is left.