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CAF – Advanced Topics

Introduction:

Welcome to Advanced Topics. If you have mastered the basics, it’s time to expand the knowledge base – this is where the fun begins.

You know how to operate the system and make foam, and How to NOT damage the system.

Now, it’s time to see what the system and CAF can and cannot do.

“Play With It & See!!!!”

What happens if this is adjusted? or this? Or if you try this?

If you get lost or confused, drop back to the basic operations and start over.

Visit often, as advanced topics are added regularly.

Interior Training with CAF

Battery Fires

Battery fires are new to the fire service. They are difficult to deal with. Many fire departments are experimenting with different methods searching for the best and safest option for effectively extinguishing battery fires. In the meantime, if you are going to use water or a piercing nozzle in an attempt to extinguish an EV …

CAF – Basement Fire Attack

TRAINING SCENERIO This description was from a training exercise that involved 4-person structure firefighter crews and 3 CAF instructors. This exercise involved live fire at the department’s training center and two-story burn building. The CAF instructors rotated with the crews on entry exercises. On one instructor’s 3rd rotation, the crew of 4 decided to attack …

CAF & Fire Investigation

Investigation of Fires Controlled with Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) In today’s fire service world of “do more with less” many agencies are at least investigating, if not outright adopting the use of foam additives and Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS). These foaming additives are put to use with the thought of extending water’s capability …

CAF and Attic Fires

CAF Flow Chart

This CAF Flow guide is real world data to provide information on the air and foam solution flows with various size hose lines, smooth bore nozzle tips, and foam types.  It is meant to be used in training and testing to help achieve the proper finished foam product.  The numbers were not calculated by a …

CAF in Structure Fires

Basic Theory of CAFS use in Structure Fires. The use of CAFS technology provides the most efficient and effective production of finished foam currently available to the fire service. The bubble structure produced by these systems is highly superior to aspirated foam in that the structure is smaller, uniform and highly compacted. This allows the …

CAF – WL vs Structure

Is CAF better for WL than for use in Structure Fires? Well, let’s analyze the situation. Wildland is natural grown fuels (both wild and agricultural), all are CLASS A FUELS that burn when fuel, heat and O2 combine. Heat and O2 are pretty much always readily present. The fuels tend to only burn at certain …

Exposure Protection

Structures and other man-made values are often exposed to nearby fire. That nearby fire might be a fast-moving wildland fire or an adjacent structure fire close enough to the exposure to set the exposure on fire, or at least do some significant heat damage to it. How much water does it take to protect the …

Adding Air to the Fire – Flow Path

Does CAF add air to the fire? Not really. If the fire is burning (Fuel + Heat + Oxygen), the fire already has adequate natural air. Air In & Heat Out is part of the burning process – referred to as “The Flow Path”. Just for reference, using a positive pressure ventilation fan can add …

CAFS Operator Troubleshooting Scenarios

This PFD document outlines troubleshooting scenerios that the CAFS Operator may face. Knowing these issues ahead of time can prevent incident CAFS shutdown or potential injuries.