CAFS stands for compressed air foam system – an 86-year-old technology the Navy used during WWII because it puts out fires faster and reduces the amount of water used.
Foams are additives to water that enhance its firefighting capabilities. CAFS injects air bubbles into a mixture of water/foam. CAFS attacks all three sides of the fire triangle putting fire out fast and keeping it out with less water.
Since CAFS was patented in the 1970s, there have been many studies done by various firefighting organizations that demonstrate CAFS requires substantially less water, manpower and time to put out a fire.
An old wooden army barracks 150 by 25 by 12 feet was set on fire and fully engulfed. It was put out with a three-firefghter hose team in six minutes. In another study a 60-by-80-by-30-foot barn was set on fire and fully engulfed. It was put out in 50 seconds using 100 gallons of CAF. Tests demonstrate CAFS has a 10 to 15 to 1 firefighting capability over water. A CAFS fire engine with 100 gallons of water would be the equivalent to an engine with 1,000 to 1,500 gallons of water.
LESS THAN SIX MINUTES
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that fire departments arrive on scene with two fire engines and crew of six qualified firefighterss in less then six minutes. This attempts to address quick fire spread.
Rural/volunteer departments may not get to a scene with a crew of four qualified firefighters in 10 minutes. More likely it’s 15 to 20 minutes; consider distances and they respond to the fire station first.
What does CAFS mean to Valley residents? It means that if a CAFS engine with 500 gallons of water and a good crew of three arrives at your home, they could put out a major fire that may normally require 1,000 to 5,000 gallons of water, even before the second engine arrives. It does the job of three 1,500-gallon engines with six to nine firefighters. How long would it take to get three engines to your home, business or barn?
CAFS is essential for rural firefighting because it puts out a lot of fire fast with less water. Consider along with hose teams the firefighters needed for search/rescue, ventilation and water shuttles; CAFS reduces the impact of all these issues.
In recent cases, thousands of gallons of water were consumed, with tanker trucks running back and forth to shuttle water to the fire scene – commendable work, but the structures did not fare well.
In other cases, the basic structure did not burn down, but the water damage was so severe they could not be saved. Water does more damage to structures than fire. Insurance companies estimate 0.75/dollar of fire damage is from water. Just think if just 200 gallons of water is used on an upstairs fire how significant the damage to the structure and contents could be.
ADVANTAGES
Advantages of CAFS besides fast extinguishment:
- Reduction of heat in the structure, which may make the building more survivable for trapped individuals or pets and safer for firefighters. CAFS foam bubbles absorb heat exponentially better than water/foam.
- A serious reduction of poisonous environment from burning plastics and other man-made materials. CAFS foam bubbles absorb particles and gases exponentially better than water/foam.
- CAFS foam coats/clings to surfaces better preventing outgassing, spread and fire rekindle.
- Hoses are lighter than hoses filled with water/foam. One hundred feet of a standard fire hose, 1.75 inches, weighs about 104 pounds and a 2.5-inch hose used for a big fire about 200 pounds. CAFS reduces weight by about one-half, as well as reducing nozzle reaction.
- Smaller, less costly firetrucks can be acquired. Instead of a 1,200- to 1,500-gallon engine, we can operate a 300-gallon engine.
- Reduction of the environmental impact of draining thousands upon thousands of gallons of water from our ponds, rivers and hydrants and then returning it with fire contaminents.
Why don’t fire departments use CAFS?
- It costs an additional $20,000 to $35,000 per truck or about $2,300 per year over the 15-year life of a fire engine. Rural engines are usually kept for 20 to 25 years, dropping the cost to as little as $1,400 per year for each truck.
- Some deptartments don’t use foam often because of cost.
- CAFS takes up space that could be used for water or other things.
- What if the CAFS fails?
- Dealers would rather sell simpler engines with big tanks.
REALITY
- Cost: What’s the cost of a home and its keepsakes, a business and its employees’ livelihood, lives of pets and livestock? The per capital cost for taxpayers to cover $1,400 per year per truck is a small price to pay.
- Cost trade-off: Reducing the amount of water carried reduces both size and weight of the truck.
- Pump operation requires a lot of training and CAFS made it more complicated. However, speaking to a fire chief with a brand-new engine, he said, “The thing operates itself.”
- If CAFS fails, you’re back to standard water and/or foam.
- Less qualified firefighters needed who are physically fit to do interior firefighting.
- Less time on scene freeing up volunteers to return to work, family or fun.
- Less strain on firefighters and the environment.
I’m aware of incidents here and beyond where countless hours and thousands of gallons of water were used, ponds almost drained, to pour water on a structures that couldn’t be saved and hours of time spent on scene, with tanker trucks traveling miles running back and forth for water supply – not to mention the cleanup afterward which could take longer than putting out a fire.
Our lives, homes and businesses are at stake. We should have a say in what we buy. The next firetruck purchased in The Valley, big or small, needs to have CAFS. There is an abundance of scientific and anecdotal information supporting the use of CAFS. It is time we go to our Town Meetings to speak up and require our select boards to purchase firetrucks with CAFS.
Bifano lives in Warren, Vermont.
