Lathered Up
Tiny bubbles pack firefighting punch for ECVFD
By SHANNON CRABTREE scrabtree@leader-news.com
Soap will be the next major firefighting tool for El Campo volunteers and they're hoping it will save property as well as lives.

The new CAFS or Compressed Air Foam System the El Campo Volunteer Fire Department is preparing to implement is designed to fight fires faster using significantly less water. The secret is the millions of bubbles which allow water to smother flames faster than standard streams. The department's new pumper is equipped with the system and should be in service next month. L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree

The Class A foam utilized in a CAFS or Compressed Air Foam System isn't the same sort of soap residents find in their kitchen or bathroom, but the principle is the same - millions of incredibly tiny bubbles help get the job done.

The foam can typically handle the task with far less water than traditional firefighting methods.

"We've been putting out fires with water since the cavemen. Why do we need to change? This is state of the art stuff," San Antonio Fire Department Capt. Russell Johnson told El Campo volunteers during a training session Saturday at the department's field behind Friendship Park.

L-N Photo by Shannon Crabtree The Latest Thing El Campo volunteer firefighters will add a compressed air foam system to their toolbox soon, which will greatly cut down on the amount of water needed to fight fires. The system is on the new pumper truck.

But first firefighters have to learn the new approach to attacking a blaze as well as the operation of the CAFS system.

The department's recently delivered $589,362 Velocity custom triple-combination pumper is equipped with the system and remains stationed at the training field while firefighters practice using the new approach.

Fire Chief Jimmy George Jr. said Saturday he hopes to have the unit in service in early May.

"Everybody will benefit (from the CAFS system)," he said. "It does a better job of putting out the fire."

Assistant Fire Chief Jimmy Nielsen added, "This will change the whole way we do firefighting."

In addition to significantly reducing the amount of water - and thus the possibility of water damage - the foam "eats smoke," George said, adding as it sticks to walls it also helps clear soot, cool super-heated rooms faster and lighten the burden on the firefighter by making equipment lighter and reducing the amount of time it takes to smother a blaze.

"It's a win-win scenario," the chief said.

The foam, with its smothering ability, can also be used to reach tighter spaces more effectively than the traditional the more water the better approaches.

"That's the beauty of this. You can get into the attic a lot easier," George said.

Firefighters watched several training films showing the foam's ability to douse fires a room or two away in an enclosed structure.

In one study, the foam was able to knock down raging flames in a 1,100 square foot home using only 16 gallons of water.

The foam can also be used to battle grass fires, burning hay bales and bees, for example.

Using foam to fight fires isn't a new concept, although forcing compressed air into the equation hasn't been used in this area.

The addition of the CAFS system and other upgrades to the department's fleet will assist with the city's ISO rating which could lower insurance costs.

The Insurance Services Organization rates are based on water supply and delivery systems as well as fire department equipment and response. That data is used in determining how much home and business owners will pay for insurance.

The city, currently rated as a 5 on the ISO's 1 to 10 scale, is hoping to be re-inspected next March. A one rating is the best - only eight cities in Texas have achieved that level.