Essentials of Fire Fighting,

5th Edition

Chapter 14 — Fire Streams

Firefighter II
Chapter 14 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the

student shall be able to effectively apply
fire fighting foam using various foam
types, concentrates, and delivery
devices following the policies and
procedures set forth by the authority
having jurisdiction (AHJ).

Firefighter II
14–1
Specific Objectives

1. Describe the suppression

characteristics of fire fighting foam.
2. Define terms associated with types of
foam and the foam-making process.
3. Discuss how foam is generated.

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–2
Specific Objectives

4. Discuss foam concentrates.

5. Describe methods by which foam may
be proportioned.
6. Discuss foam proportioners.
7. Discuss foam delivery devices.

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–3
Specific Objectives

8. List reasons for failure to generate

foam or for generating poor-quality
foam.
9. Describe foam application techniques.

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–4
Specific Objectives

10. Discuss hazards associated with foam

concentrates.
11. Place a foam line in service — In-line
eductor. (Skill Sheet 14-II-1)

Firefighter II
14–5
Ways Fire Fighting Foam
Extinguishes/Prevents Fire

• Separating
• Cooling
• Smothering
• Penetrating

Firefighter II
14–6
Terms Associated With Foam

• Foam concentrate
• Foam proportioner
• Foam solution
• Foam (finished foam)

Firefighter II
14–7
How Foam is Generated

• Foams used today are of mechanical

type and before use must be
– Proportioned
– Aerated

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–8
How Foam is Generated

• Elements needed to produce fire fighting

foam
– Foam concentrate – Air
– Water – Mechanical agitation

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–9
How Foam is Generated

• All elements must be present and

blended in correct ratios
• Aeration produces foam bubbles to form
effective foam blanket

Firefighter II
14–10
Foam Expansion

• The increase in volume of foam when

aerated
• Method of aerating results in varying
degrees of expansion
• Types of foam

Firefighter II
14–11
Foam Concentrates — General
Considerations

• Foam concentrates must match fuel to

which applied
• Class A foams not designed to
extinguish Class B fires
• Class B foams designed solely for
hydrocarbon fires will not extinguish
polar solvent fires

Firefighter II
14–12
Class A Foam

• Increasingly used in
both wildland and
structural fire fighting

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–13
Class A Foam

• Special formulation of hydrocarbon

surfactants
• Aerated Class A foam coats, insulates
fuels, preventing pyrolysis and ignition
• May be used with variety of nozzles

Firefighter II
14–14
Class B Foam

• Used to prevent
ignition of or
extinguish fires
involving
flammable and
combustible
liquids Courtesy of Williams Fire & Hazard Control,
Inc.
(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–15
Class B Foam

• Used to suppress
vapors from unignited
spills of these liquids
• Several types of Class B
foam concentrates
available
(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–16
Class B Foam

• Manufactured from synthetic or protein

base
• May be proportioned into the fire stream
through fixed system, apparatus-
mounted system, or by portable foam
proportioning equipment

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–17
Class B Foam

• Foams such as
AFFF and FFFP
foam may be
applied with
standard fog
nozzles or air- Courtesy of Harvey Eisner.
aspirating foam
nozzles (Continued)

Firefighter II
14–18
Class B Foam

• Rate of application depends on several

factors
• Unignited spills do not require same
application rates as ignited spills
• To be most effective, blanket of foam 4
inches (100 mm) thick should be
applied to fuel surface

Firefighter II
14–19
Specific Application Foams

• Numerous types of foam available for

specific applications
• Properties of foams vary

Firefighter II
14–20
Proportioning

• Mixing of water with

foam concentrate to
form foam solution
• Most concentrates
can be mixed with
fresh/salt water

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–21
Proportioning

• For maximum
effectiveness, foam
concentrates must
be proportioned at
designated percentage
• Most fire fighting foams intended to be
mixed with 94 to 99.9 percent water
(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–22
Proportioning

Firefighter II
14–23
Proportioning Methods

• Induction

• Injection (Continued)

Firefighter II
14–24
Proportioning Methods

• Batch-mixing

• Premixing

Courtesy of Ansul.

Firefighter II
14–25
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What proportion methods does your

department use?

Firefighter II
14–26
Foam Proportioners — General
Considerations

• May be portable or apparatus-mounted

• Operate by one of two basic principles

Courtesy of Conoco/Phillips.
Firefighter II
14–27
Portable Foam Proportioners

• Simplest, most
common form of
proportioning devices
• In-line foam eductors
• Foam nozzle eductors

Firefighter II
14–28
Apparatus-Mounted
Proportioners

• Mounted on
structural,
industrial,
wildland, and
aircraft rescue
and fire fighting apparatus, as well as
on fire boats
• Three types
Firefighter II
14–29
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What is the advantage of an apparatus-

mounted proportioner?

Firefighter II
14–30
Compressed-Air Foam Systems
(CAFS)

• Newer structural engines are equipped

with CAFS
(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–31
Compressed-Air Foam Systems
(CAFS)

• Standard centrifugal pump supplies

water, direct-injection foam-
proportioning system mixes foam
solution with water on discharge side of
pump, onboard air compressor adds air
to mix before discharging from engine

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–32
Compressed-Air Foam Systems
(CAFS)

• Unlike other systems, hoseline contains

finished foam
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

Firefighter II
14–33
Handline Nozzles

• Solid-bore nozzles
• Fog nozzles
• Air-aspirating foam nozzles
Firefighter II
14–34
Medium- and High-Expansion
Foam Generating Devices

• Produce foam that is

semistable with high
air content
• Medium-expansion foam
• High-expansion foam
• Water-aspirating type nozzle
• Mechanical blower generator

Firefighter II
14–35
Reasons for Poor-Quality Foam/
Failure to Generate Foam

• Eductor, nozzle flow ratings do not

match so foam concentrate cannot
induct into fire stream
• Air leaks at fittings cause loss of suction

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–36
Reasons for Poor-Quality Foam/
Failure to Generate Foam

• Improper cleaning of
proportioning equipment
causes clogged foam
passages
• Nozzle not fully open,
restricting water flow

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–37
Reasons for Poor-Quality Foam/
Failure to Generate Foam

• Hose lay on discharge side of eductor is

too long
• Hose is kinked and stops flow
• Nozzle is too far above eductor

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–38
Reasons for Poor-Quality Foam/
Failure to Generate Foam

• Mixing different types of foam

concentrate in same tank results in
mixture too viscous to pass through
eductor

Firefighter II
14–39
Roll-On Foam Application
Method

• Directs foam stream on ground near

front edge of burning liquid spill
• Foam rolls across surface of fuel (Continued)

Firefighter II
14–40
Roll-On Foam Application
Method

• Firefighters continue to apply foam until

spreads across entire surface of fuel
and fire extinguished
• Used only on pool of liquid fuel on open
ground

Firefighter II
14–41
Bank-Down Foam Application
Method

• May be employed
when elevated
object is near/
within area of
burning pool of
liquid or unignited liquid spill
• Object may be wall, tank shell, similar
vertical structure (Continued)

Firefighter II
14–42
Bank-Down Foam Application
Method

• Foam stream directed onto object,

allowing foam to run down onto surface
of fuel
• Used primarily in dike fires, fires
involving spills around damaged/
overturned transport vehicles

Firefighter II
14–43
Rain-Down Foam Application
Method

• Used when other two methods not

feasible because of size of spill area or
lack of object from which to bank foam
(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–44
Rain-Down Foam Application
Method

• Primary manual application technique

on aboveground storage tank fires
• Directs stream into air above fire/spill,
allows foam to float gently down onto
surface of fuel

Firefighter II
14–45
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What are some examples of when each

of these techniques should be used?

Firefighter II
14–46
Foam Hazards to Humans

• Foam concentrates pose minimal health

risks to humans
• May be mildly irritating to skin, eyes

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–47
Foam Hazards to Humans

• Affected areas should be flushed with

water
• Some concentrates, vapors may be
harmful if ingested/inhaled
• Consult MSDS for specific information

Firefighter II
14–48
Foam Hazards to Equipment

• Most Class A, Class B foam concentrates

are mildly corrosive
• Follow proper flushing procedures to
prevent damage

Firefighter II
14–49
Foam Hazards to Environment

• Primary impact is effect of finished

foam after application to fire/liquid spill
• Biodegradability of foam determined by
rate at which environmental bacteria
cause decomposition

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–50
Foam Hazards to Environment

• Environmental impact of foam

concentrates varies
• In the U.S., Class A foams should be
approved by USDA Forest Service

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–51
Foam Hazards to Environment

• Chemical properties of Class B foams

and environmental impact vary on type
and manufacturer
• Protein-based foams safer for
environment

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–52
Summary

• Firefighters must know the differences

between the classes of foam, how to
generate foam, and how to apply foam
most effectively

Firefighter II
14–53
Review Questions

1. What are the ways that fire fighting

foam extinguishes and/or prevents
fire?
2. Describe types of foam concentrates.
3. What are the methods by which foam
may be proportioned?

(Continued)

Firefighter II
14–54
Review Questions

4. What are the types of portable foam

proportioners and how do they work?
5. Describe the techniques used to apply
foam.

Firefighter II
14–55