Does Class A Foam and CAF reduce the need for firefighters?
NO WAY JOSE and HOSE B (Old firefighter joke)
NFPA determines the mimimum number of firefighters needed. Fire loading determines the needs above the minimum. A-Foam and CAF does not reduce that need.
WHAT A-FOAM AND CAF DOES NOT DO:
- A-Foam & CAF does NOT eliminate the need for any firefighter.
- A-Foam and CAF does not eliminate any firefighting function (ie. Ventilation, Search & Rescue, Rehab, RIT, Mop Up, etc.)
- A-Foam and CAF does not eliminate the need for adequate water supply at the scene.
WHAT A-FOAM AND CAF DOES DO:
- Assists in obtaining the Basic Firefighter Creed – “Saving Lives and Property”
- Helps the hose folks get their job done with less physical stress – light weight hoses filled with CAF (bubbles)
- Reduces the chance of firefighters becoming lost or disoriented in the smoke – A-Foam attracts the carbon, increasing the visibility (Saving firefighter lives)
- Reduces the firefighters’ exposure to heat and fire (saving firefighters lives)
- With increased visibility and rapid heat reduction – increases the chance of finding and saving trapped victims (saving lives) – it also prevents baking the trapped victims via interferring with the thermal layering.
- Reduces the amount of water damage aiding in the saving of property.
- Reduces the heat faster, extinguishes the fire faster – saving property.
A-Foam and CAF reduces heat to put the fire out faster, improves visability, uses less water thus reducing property damage.
NOTE: CAF does not reduce the needed amount of water established in planning or needed at the scene. Plan and respond as normal. But with proper CAF training and practice, CAF will result in less water applied at the nozzle – thus reducing the typical damage caused by water.
By the way…. The only motivation for this web site is Saving Firefighter and Victim Lives and Saving Property.
