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Benefits of CAF
- Faster knockdown and overhaul (rapid heat absorption)
- Virtually no friction loss
- Simple hydraulics
- Can be pumped higher and farther than water
- Lighter hose lines (70% weight reduction)
- Not affected by kinks
- Greater stream reach (due to high energy of compressed air)
- Longer hose lays (up to 5000’ on level ground)
- Uses less water
- Less water damage
- Reduced work load on firefighters
- Increased firefighter safety
- Excellent structure / exposure protection (dry foam insulates and protects)
- Ability to create CAF fire breaks and barriers
- Reduced scene times
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Type III CAF Task Force includes
- 1 Task Force Leader
- 3 Ultra XT Type III CAF engines
- 1 Water Tender
- Foam concentrate resupply vehicle
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Bump and run
- “Bump and run” is a highly mobile tactic used in interface structure
- protection. You don’t put down any more than 200 feet of hose on the
- ground and you don’t hook up to a hydrant, so if the fire moves, you
- move with it. (CALFIRE
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Foam and go (Pre-treat structures with CAF
- “Foam and go” is used on a fast-moving interface fire and is the practice
- of foaming a house and leaving it; to get out of the fire’s way or to move
- on to foam or defend another house. It is often used when standing and
- defending the house puts the firefighters at great risk or when many
- houses can be protected by foaming. It requires engines equipped with
- CAF systems.
- o Depending on fuel type, you may have to hydrate Class “A” fuels with
- wet foam first, then apply a layer of dry foam to cap and insulate the fuel
- o In high wind conditions use wet foam only
- o Foam as much of structure and surrounding area as possible with turret.
- o Deploy hand line to foam areas not reached by turret
- o Foam structure and 100’ clearance
- o Pay special attention to eaves and vent covers
- If applied correctly, the foam can provide protection for approx. 2 to 4
- hours, sometimes longer
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What lines are used when using the CAF?
- During pretreatment operations both 1 ½” and 1” lines may be employed. During ANY
- type of firefighting, 1 ½” lines shall be the minimum size utilized.
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what are the hydraulics for the CAF
- 100 psi for all hand lines
- 140 psi for all master streams and turrets
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What percentage of CAF is used for "wet attack"
- Open discharges fully
- o Use 0.3% foam concentrate
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Dry foam is used for
- creating fire breaks and to pre-treat vegetation and
- structures
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Specs for using dry foam
- Gate down discharges for dry foam (adjust as needed)
- o Use 0.5% to 1.0% foam concentrate (adjust as needed)
- o Adjust both until foam stream appears light and fluffy (CAF system is
- capable of producing dry foam the consistency of shaving cream)
- o Monitor “FLOW” gauge on Foam Pro
- o Dry foam can be achieved with a “FLOW” of approx. 25-45 gpm
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“Dry foam” is also referred to
“Dry foam” is also referred to as “Fluid foam
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Nozzles for CAF
- Bumper turret
- o Use 1 3/8” Elkhart 187CAF tip for CAF
- o Use electric fog nozzle for water/foam solution only (not CAF) at 125 psi
- 1” redline and 1” wildland hose
- o 1” shut off butt
- o No tip, shut off butt only (3/4” inner diameter)
- 1 ½” and 1 ¾” hand lines:
- o Use 15/16” straight tip for wet foam
- o Use shut-off butt only with no tip for dry foam (1 3/8” inner diameter)
- o Use pistol grip shut off butt (high initial nozzle reactions)
- Portable monitor nozzles and ladder pipes:
- o Use 1 ½” straight tip or larger
- o Single 2 ½” supply line (Br29 and Br35 have 2 ½” CAF discharges)
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General Order of Operations for CAFS
- Engage the pump with Auto-Sync in “Unload” or “Auto”
- Ensure “Tank to Pump” valve is open with “Tank Fill” open slightly
- Turn Foam Pro on to 0.3% for wet CAF or 0.5% to 1.0% for dry CAF
- Place Auto-Sync in “AUTO” for CAF
- Open discharge and air valve
- Increase throttle to desired pressure
- Gate down discharge for dry foam (and increase foam %)
- Adjust water pressure, GPM flow and foam % as needed
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