Trailer, Pumper United as Foam Unit
features
BY
By structurally combining a foam trailer donated by a pipeline company and a reserve pumper, the Rialto, Calif., Fire Department gained a foam pumper at minimal cost.
A tandem axle trailer with foam proportioning equipment and a 700-gallon tank of aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) was given to the fire department in 1976 by Southern Pacific Pipe Line (SPPL), which has a tank farm with more than 50 tanks of flammable and combustible liquids in the southern part of Rialto. While the foam trailer could be used anywhere in the city, SPPL agreed to replace all AFFF used in and around its tank farm.
The trailer had the capability of supplying 1000 gpm of 2, 3 or 6 percent foam solution and it carried the equipment needed to inject foam into a pipeline. Using this trailer and a high back pressure foam eductor, subsurface injection of foam was accomplished in February 1978 during a major fire in a tank that had been overfilled. This tactic allowed us to extinguish a ruptured pipeline that was burning and place a foam blanket over the fuel left in the tank.
Conversion proposed
The trailer had no brakes and it had to be towed to a scene and supplied by an engine company. This created problems in hooking the unit up and diverting manpower from an engine company to operate it.
It was recommended that the foam trailer be mounted on a reserve fire truck. Discussions were held on this possibility and it was felt that this concept was viable and would resolve our problems.
F.M. Chemical began working on the units last July and we had a finished conversion in alrout six weeks. Much of the preliminary work was done by our personnel. This included conversion of the electrical system to 12 volts, cutting down the hose bed and much work of a cosmetic nature.
Once the unit was returned to us, we finished painting the unit, put on new tires, completed the appearance work, packed hose on the unit and placed it in service.
The reserve pumper that the trailer was placed on is a 1954 GMC with a 6cylinder, 469-cubic-inch engine and a 5-speed transmission. This engine has been rebuilt and is adequate for the load it carries. It has a 1000-gpm Van Pelt pump and has inlets for 4-inch hose.
Can lay own supply line
By combining two units and developing a foam pumper with a 700-gallon AFFF supply, fewer men were needed to put the foam unit in service and we now have this unit operate independent of engines when it is desirable. It can lay its own 4-inch supply line and can quickly begin to supply the foam proportioning unit with its 1000-gpm pump.
Future plans for this unit include a plumbed monitor for application of AFFF at greater distances. This will allow a quicker coverage of large areas with little manpower.
One advantage we enjoy with this unit is the ability to draft from 55-gallon barrels to replenish the 700-gallon supply as it is used.
Flowing 1000 gpm and using a 6 percent orifice plate, this unit will discharge 700 gallons of foam concentrate in about 12 minutes and will cover more than 60,000 square feet with an effective blanket of AFFF.
In evaluating this effectiveness of this new unit we have concluded that it has streamlined our operations in applying AFFF and that for an outlay of $6000, we have a unit that couldn’t be duplicated for less than $80,000.
