The Fire Apparatus Manufacturers’ Association (FAMA) and its member companies stay on the forefront of fire suppression innovation.
One such innovation is the use of compressed air foam systems (CAFS) in applications ranging from house fires to plane crashes. In this article, we will look at the use of CAFS in wildland firefighting.
About CAFS
CAFS have a long history as effective firefighting agents for wildland fires. The first use dates back to 1978 when the technology was introduced by the Texas Department of Forestry, known as the “Texas Snow Job.” Within 10 years, U.S. federal fire agencies began using CAFS on wildland fires. Before we discuss CAFS on wildland apparatus, you must first understand what compressed air foam is and how it is generated.
CAFS have a long history as effective firefighting agents for wildland fires. The first use dates back to 1978 when the technology was introduced by the Texas Department of Forestry, known as the “Texas Snow Job.” Within 10 years, U.S. federal fire agencies began using CAFS on wildland fires. Before we discuss CAFS on wildland apparatus, you must first understand what compressed air foam is and how it is generated.
For a discussion of wildland applications, I will limit the foam concentrate to the Class A type for use on ordinary combustibles but not hydrocarbon or metal fires. Read More.
This article originally appeared in Fire Apparatus & Emergency Equipment, June 2015.
