1. Intermediate SFFMA Objectives: 6-02.01 – 6-02.06 8Hrs Received
Fire Streams
Intermediate
SFFMA Objectives: –
8Hrs Received

2. Methods to Reduce Heat and Provide Protection
Applying water or foam directly onto burning material to reduce its temperature
Applying water or foam over an open fire to reduce the temperature so firefighters can advance handlines
Reducing high atmospheric temperature
(Continued)
Firefighter I

3. Methods to Reduce Heat and Provide Protection
Dispersing hot smoke and fire gases from a heated area
Creating a water curtain to protect firefighters and property from heat
Creating a barrier between a fuel and a fire by covering the fuel with a foam blanket
Firefighter I

4. How Water Extinguishes Fire
Primary way is cooling
Smothering by diluting or excluding oxygen
Firefighter I

5. Heat Absorption When heated to boiling point, water absorbs heat
Visible form of steam is called condensed steam
Components of heat absorption
Specific heat
(Continued)
Firefighter I

6. Heat Absorption Latent heat of vaporization Expansion capability
Effective extinguishment with water generally requires steam production
(Continued)
Firefighter I

7. Heat Absorption
Water absorbs more heat when converted to steam than when heated to boiling point
Firefighter I

8. Characteristics of Water Valuable for Fire Extinguishment
Readily available, relatively inexpensive
Has greater heat-absorbing capacity than most other common agents
Water changing to steam requires large amount of heat
Can be applied in variety of ways
Firefighter I

9. Solid Stream Produced from fixed orifice, solid-bore nozzle
Has ability to reach areas others might not; reach affected by several factors
Design capabilities
(Continued)
Firefighter I

10. Solid Stream Velocity of stream a result of nozzle pressure
Nozzle pressure, size of discharge opening determine flow
Characteristics of effective fire streams
Flow rate
Firefighter I

11. Advantages of Solid Streams
May maintain better interior visibility than others
May have greater reach than others
Operate at reduced nozzle pressures per gallon (liter) than others
May be easier to maneuver
(Continued)
Firefighter I

12. Advantages of Solid Streams
Have greater penetration power
Less likely to disturb normal thermal layering of heat, gases during interior structural attacks
Less prone to clogging with debris
(Continued)
Firefighter I

13. Advantages of Solid Streams
Produce less steam conversion than fog nozzles
Can be used to apply compressed-air foam
Firefighter I

14. Disadvantages of Solid Streams
Do not allow for different stream pattern selections
Provide less heat absorption per gallon (liter) delivered than others
Hoselines more easily kinked at corners, obstructions
Firefighter I

15. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What type of fire situation would be ideal for a solid-stream nozzle?
Firefighter I

16. Fog Stream Fine spray composed of tiny water droplets
Design of most fog nozzles permits adjustment of tip to produce different stream patterns
(Continued)
Firefighter I

17. Fog Stream
Water droplets formed to expose maximum water surface for heat absorption
Desired performance of fog stream nozzles judged by amount of heat that fog stream absorbs and rate by which the water is converted into steam/vapor
(Continued)
Firefighter I

18. Fog Stream
Nozzles permit settings of straight stream, narrow-angle fog, and wide-angle fog
Nozzles should be operated at designed nozzle pressure
(Continued)
Firefighter I

19. Fog Stream Several factors affect reach of fog stream
Interaction of these factors on fog stream results in fire stream with less reach than that of straight or solid stream
(Continued)
Firefighter I

20. Fog Stream
Shorter reach makes fog streams less useful for outside, defensive fire fighting operations
Well suited for fighting interior fires
Firefighter I

21. Fog Stream: Waterflow Adjustment
Two types of nozzles control rate of water flow through fog nozzle
Manually adjustable nozzles
Automatic nozzles
Firefighter I

22. DISCUSSION QUESTION
How should adjustments to the rate of flow be made?
Firefighter I

23. Fog Stream: Nozzle Pressure
Combination nozzles designed to operate at different pressures
Designated operating pressure for most combination nozzles is 100 psi (700 kPa)
(Continued)
Firefighter I

24. Fog Stream: Nozzle Pressure
Nozzles with other designated operating pressures available
Setbacks of nozzles with lower operating pressures
Courtesy of Elkhart Brass Manufacturing Company.
Firefighter I

25. Advantages of Fog Streams
Discharge pattern can be adjusted for situation
Can aid ventilation
Reduce heat by exposing maximum water surface for heat absorption
Wide fog pattern provides protection to firefighters
Firefighter I

26. Disadvantages of Fog Streams
Do not have as much reach/penetrating power as solid streams
More affected by wind than solid streams
May disturb thermal layering
May push air into fire area, intensifying the fire
Firefighter I

27. Ways Fire Fighting Foam Extinguishes/Prevents Fire
Separating
Cooling
Smothering
Penetrating
Firefighter II

28. Terms Associated With Foam
Foam concentrate
Foam proportioner
Foam solution
Foam (finished foam)
Firefighter II

29. How Foam is Generated
Foams used today are of mechanical type and before use must be
Proportioned
Aerated
(Continued)
Firefighter II

30. How Foam is Generated Elements needed to produce fire fighting foam
Foam concentrate
Water
Air
Mechanical agitation
(Continued)
Firefighter II

31. 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

32. Foam Expansion The increase in volume of foam when aerated
Method of aerating results in varying degrees of expansion
Types of foam
Firefighter II

33. 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

34. Class A Foam
Increasingly used in both wildland and structural fire fighting
(Continued)
Firefighter II

35. 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

36. 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

37. Class B Foam
Used to suppress vapors from unignited spills of these liquids
Several types of Class B foam concentrates available
(Continued)
Firefighter II

38. 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

39. Class B Foam
Foams such as AFFF and FFFP foam may be applied with standard fog nozzles or air-aspirating foam nozzles
Courtesy of Harvey Eisner.
(Continued)
Firefighter II

40. 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

41. Specific Application Foams
Numerous types of foam available for specific applications
Properties of foams vary
Firefighter II

42. Proportioning
Mixing of water with foam concentrate to form foam solution
Most concentrates can be mixed with fresh/salt water
(Continued)
Firefighter II

43. 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

44. Proportioning
Firefighter II

45. Proportioning Methods
Induction
Injection
(Continued)
Firefighter II

46. Proportioning Methods
Batch-mixing
Premixing
Courtesy of Ansul.
Firefighter II

47. DISCUSSION QUESTION What proportion methods does your department use?
Firefighter II

48. Foam Proportioners — General Considerations
May be portable or apparatus-mounted
Operate by one of two basic principles
Courtesy of Conoco/Phillips.
Firefighter II

49. Portable Foam Proportioners
Simplest, most common form of proportioning devices
In-line foam eductors
Foam nozzle eductors
Firefighter II

50. 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

51. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What is the advantage of an apparatus-mounted proportioner?
Firefighter II

52. Compressed-Air Foam Systems (CAFS)
Newer structural engines are equipped with CAFS
(Continued)
Firefighter II

53. 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

54. Compressed-Air Foam Systems (CAFS)
Unlike other systems, hoseline contains finished foam
Advantages
Disadvantages
Firefighter II

55. Handline Nozzles Solid-bore nozzles Fog nozzles
Air-aspirating foam nozzles
Firefighter II

56. 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

57. 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

58. 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

59. 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

60. 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

61. 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

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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

67. DISCUSSION QUESTION
What are some examples of when each of these techniques should be used?
Firefighter II

68. Foam Hazards to Humans
Foam concentrates pose minimal health risks to humans
May be mildly irritating to skin, eyes
(Continued)
Firefighter II

69. 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

70. Foam Hazards to Equipment
Most Class A, Class B foam concentrates are mildly corrosive
Follow proper flushing procedures to prevent damage
Firefighter II

71. 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

72. 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

73. 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