“At [time omitted] our department responded to a HAZMAT incident involving ethyl alcohol. Approximately 2000 gallons of product were spilled onto the ground when the tanker truck rolled onto its side, damaging the man-way cover and rupturing the tank. We only had 15 gallons of AR-AFFF foam available, so a call for more foam was placed to other departments in the area.There was a mixture of new, old and several different types and concentrations of AR-AFFF. When switching from an empty bucket to a fresh one, the inductor plugged, causing a loss of foam on the line and interrupting vapor suppression tactics…due to the lack of materials, we continued to use the foam and clear the plugged inductor as was needed for the duration of the call.”
From the Lessons Learned text:
“This had no detrimental effect on the overall outcome of the situation. After the debriefing, we were able to start the process to order and maintain a reserve of AR AFFF and re-educate ourselves on foam compatibility and recognition of possible problems.”
- What type(s) of foam concentrate does your department use?
- What is the problem with mixing foam concentrates that have different chemical compositions (i.e., synthetic versus protein) and proportioning rates?
- When was the last time you actually practiced with the foam producing equipment on your apparatus?
- Once a foam line becomes clogged, what course(s) of action should be taken to: a) unclog the line, and b) keep the vapor suppression from being interrupted?
- Synthetic foam concentrate has a shelf life of approximately 20-25 years, protein foam approximately10 years. What are the three conditions that should be met to maximize this shelf life?
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.