WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (6AR and 6IP) (Including the Fire Services, SES & VMRS) and Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
doug, i assumed that majority of people on here are fire fighters. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.
K man
As for the foam it does get requested by the lead helitac supervisor to the ground controller if they can use foam. At the incidents that you have been to the reason for no foam may have been due to a sensitive area that you were not aware of.
Helitak_670 wrote:doug, i assumed that majority of people on here are fire fighters. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.
K man
As for the foam it does get requested by the lead helitac supervisor to the ground controller if they can use foam. At the incidents that you have been to the reason for no foam may have been due to a sensitive area that you were not aware of.
I believe the bushland around the airport is home to some rare critters or something, so that could be why they didn't want to use the foam.
Since they mentioned "type A" foam, that leads me to assume there's a type B, C, D, etc? If so, what's the difference?
Doug Bell (Zebedee) VK6DB
WARSUG Forum Administrator.
It is very dark.
You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
A class foam is what is used at bushfires and most predominately during mop up phase. Class A foam is a wetting agent and is used on mulch, logs, trees etc and is very effective in extinguishing these at an incident. It has the look of detergent but can be made a little thicker.
The Heitacs use class A foam during drops as more of a way to keep the water together, make the water heavier and make the drops more effective, especially in high winds. If no foam is used, the water is more likely to be blown slightly off intended course and be less effective.
There is also B class foam. This is used on B class fires such as flammable liquids- fuel tankers and fuel fires. This foam can be proportinated to provide a very thick mix to smother the fire to slightly less thick depending on the incident. B class foam is very corrosive as well so it needs to be used carefully.
There is no class C or D class foam
A class- Bushfire foam
B class- Flammable liquid foam
Fastlane wrote:Also known as AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam
Not necessary correct. There are several different types of B class foams, of which AFFF is one. For example ARF (Alcohol Resistant Foam) is another type of B class foam.
ace of spades wrote:A class foam is what is used at bushfires and most predominately during mop up phase. Class A foam is a wetting agent and is used on mulch, logs, trees etc and is very effective in extinguishing these at an incident. It has the look of detergent but can be made a little thicker.
There is also B class foam. This is used on B class fires such as flammable liquids- fuel tankers and fuel fires. This foam can be proportinated to provide a very thick mix to smother the fire to slightly less thick depending on the incident. B class foam is very corrosive as well so it needs to be used carefully.
Thanks for that!
The purpose of class A foam, being a wetting agent and all that makes sense now. It'd be handy on bushfires to help the water "stick" to the ground and foliage...
And I'm assuming the class B foam is similar to the type that you see when an airliner has had an incident and been heavily sprayed on the tarmac - it looks like someone's gone berserk with the detergent bottle
Doug Bell (Zebedee) VK6DB
WARSUG Forum Administrator.
It is very dark.
You are likely to be eaten by a grue.
Fastlane wrote:Also known as AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam
Not necessary correct. There are several different types of B class foams, of which AFFF is one. For example ARF (Alcohol Resistant Foam) is another type of B class foam.
Nope, need someone down there with a scanner and Fireground channel, however all our members are most likely out on the fireground as we speak. (the ones that are on here and down that way)