APPARATUS FOAM TANK ALTERNATIVE
INNOVATIONS: HOMEGROWN
While planning for the most efficient approach to hazardous-materials incidents, our department determined that each pumper required a significant foam capability. We specified that all new apparatus include a 60-gallon foam tank for quick knockdown potential for flammable liquid incidents and 60-gpm 1 1/2-inch, 240gpm 2½-inch, and 350-gpm master stream nozzles and eductors.
Adapting our existing apparatus for haz-mat incidents involved adding foam tanks. The cost of having the tanks fabricated was prohibitive, and department personnel suggested instead using nonmctallic agricultural tanks regularly sold at farm implement outlets.
A 30-gallon agricultural-type tank was mounted in the pump well adjacent to the apparatus deck gun on each existing pumper. The in-line foam eductors were attached directlv to the deck gun and the pickup tube placed in the adjacent tank. The crosslay preconnect then was disconnected and attached to the eductor for a 1½or 2’/2-inch foamline operation. The arrangement also works well for a master stream foam application.
We will specify larger tanks when we purchase new apparatus, but the agricultural tanks are serving us well in the meantime—and at a very reasonable cost.
Photos courtesy of Lee’s Summit Fire Department.
