FF2 Chapter 18 Foam Fire Fighting
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Questions and Answers

What is a BLEVE?

Catastrophic failure of a pressurized vessel

What is needed to create finished foam?

Foam concentrate, water, and aeration

At an incident involving a flammable gas fire, when should firefighters retreat to a safe location?

When the sound of gas escaping the relief valve gets louder.

Which type of foam is used to extinguish fires involving flammable and combustible liquids?

<p>Class B foam</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of nozzle produces high quality foam using the Venturi Effect?

<p>Foam nozzle</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of foam application involves applying a foam stream onto an object and allowing it to run down?

<p>Bank-Down method</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a foam proportioner do?

<p>Introduces the appropriate amount of foam concentrate into the water to form a foam solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should firefighters do if the fire begins to spread uncontrollably while applying foam?

<p>Retreat to a safe location while using handlines for protection</p> Signup and view all the answers

When approaching a fire involving a pressurized flammable gas, there is an angle from which it is safest to approach.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which extinguishment method involves foam creating a barrier between the fuel gases and possible ignition sources?

<p>Separating</p> Signup and view all the answers

The premixing method of foam proportioning is typically used with what type of systems?

<p>Vehicle-mounted tank systems</p> Signup and view all the answers

At an incident involving a gas distribution system, if the gas is burning, the flame should be extinguished.

<p>False</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is mounted on an apparatus to supply the water for the foam solution using a centrifugal pump?

<p>Compressed air foam system (CAFS)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of liquid fuels have a flash point of less than 100°F (38°C)?

<p>Flammable liquids</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which type of situation would firefighters use a bill of lading or manifest?

<p>Bulk transport fire</p> Signup and view all the answers

An advantage of fog nozzles is that they are widely available on most fire apparatus.

<p>true</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the rate of application for Class B foam depend on?

<p>Whether the fuel is spilled or contained in a tank</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of foam proportioning involves drawing foam concentrate through a hose into the water stream?

<p>Eduction</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which hazard is associated with fire fighting foam concentrate?

<p>Degradation of PPE if left on the garments for a long period of time</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement describes the valve control on pressurized vessels?

<p>Closing the valve without understanding the system can be very dangerous.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is necessary when applying fire fighting foam?

<p>Continued, uninterrupted application until extinguishment</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which action should be avoided during an incident involving a tanker carrying flammable fuels?

<p>Using road flares</p> Signup and view all the answers

When fire fighting foam extinguishes by what method does it prevent air from reaching the fuel?

<p>Smothering</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are propane tanks an extreme risk to firefighters?

<p>The tanks will explode when sufficiently heated.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which is a responsibility of the fire department at a response involving a suspected propane leak?

<p>Notify the propane company</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which is a hazard associated with foam concentrates?

<p>Mild skin and eye irritation</p> Signup and view all the answers

Polar solvent fuels are flammable liquids that mix readily with water.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action should be taken if a pressurized vessel containing flammable gas is exposed to flames?

<p>Apply a solid stream of water</p> Signup and view all the answers

Mixing water with foam concentrate to form a foam solution is referred to as what?

<p>Proportioning</p> Signup and view all the answers

At a bulk transport incident, firefighters must do what?

<p>Identify the material involved</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of foam proportioner can compromise firefighter safety by slowing them down?

<p>Foam nozzle eductor</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is important when selecting the appropriate foam proportioner to use?

<p>Available water pressure</p> Signup and view all the answers

High-quality foam bubbles are created through what process?

<p>Aeration</p> Signup and view all the answers

At an incident involving flammable liquids or gases, firefighters should retreat if what happens?

<p>If the sound of escaping gas starts to get louder.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of foam application would be well suited for a flammable liquid spill near the exterior wall of a building?

<p>Bank-down method</p> Signup and view all the answers

Fog nozzles can be used with foam solution to produce what?

<p>Low-expansion, short-lasting foam.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Most fire fighting foams are intended to be mixed with what?

<p>94 to 99.9 percent water</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a disadvantage of using fog nozzles to apply fire fighting foam?

<p>Operator error is more likely to produce lower quality foam.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when a BLEVE occurs?

<p>Violent rupture of a pressurized container</p> Signup and view all the answers

The amount that fire fighting foam expands depends on the type of foam concentrate used and what?

<p>Accurate proportioning of the foam concentrate in the solution</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an advantage of using a foam nozzle to apply fire fighting foam?

<p>Produces higher quality foam than a fog nozzle</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is likely to cause poor quality fire fighting foam?

<p>Mixing different types of foam concentrates in the same tank</p> Signup and view all the answers

Class A foam acts as a surfactant, which means that it does what?

<p>Lowers the surface tension of water, allowing better penetration into the fuel</p> Signup and view all the answers

If the foam being produced is poor quality, what should the firefighter do?

<p>Check to make sure there are no air leaks in the proportioning device</p> Signup and view all the answers

Class B foams are especially effective on what?

<p>Hydrocarbon fuels</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which is an appropriate safe action to take at an incident involving a BLEVE?

<p>Fight fire from the maximum distance possible</p> Signup and view all the answers

Any valve operation must be performed in coordination with what?

<p>Facility personnel supervision</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of foam proportioning involves using an external pump to force foam concentrate into the fire stream?

<p>Injection</p> Signup and view all the answers

If a large pool of flammable liquid is burning in an open area, which method of foam application may be the most effective?

<p>Rain-down</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to create high-quality foam, what must be mixed in the correct ratio?

<p>Foam concentrate, water, and air</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of foam application is only suitable for use on a pool of liquid fuel on open ground?

<p>Roll-on method</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which is a characteristic of foam nozzles?

<p>Shorter stream reach than fog nozzles</p> Signup and view all the answers

Pressurized vessels should be marked with placards or stickers identifying the contents.

<p>True</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of foam proportioner is directly attached to the pump panel outlet or connected at some point in the hose lay?

<p>In-line eductor</p> Signup and view all the answers

Because of environmental concerns about fire fighting foam, firefighters should do what?

<p>Try to prevent the foam from entering bodies of water</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of substances have a flash point less than 100°F (38°C)?

<p>Flammable liquids</p> Signup and view all the answers

In order to prevent reignition of a liquid fuel fire after foam has been applied, do NOT do what?

<p>Apply a solid or straight stream of water to the foam blanket</p> Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Foam Fire Fighting Overview

  • A BLEVE (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion) is a catastrophic failure of a pressurized vessel, often resulting in violent rupture and explosion.
  • Finished foam is created through the combination of foam concentrate, water, and aeration.
  • Class B foam is specifically intended for extinguishing fires involving flammable and combustible liquids.

Foam Application Techniques

  • The Bank-Down method applies foam onto a surface, allowing it to run down and cover fuel surfaces.
  • Eduction draws foam concentrate through a hose into a water stream utilizing the Venturi Effect.
  • A foam nozzle produces high-quality foam by inducting air into the foam solution, offering superior foam characteristics compared to fog nozzles.

Safety Guidelines

  • Firefighters must retreat to a safe location if they hear a loud sound of gas escaping from a relief valve or if gas flames begin to spread uncontrollably.
  • Approach to pressurized flammable gas fires should be avoided from any angle due to inherent dangers. When dealing with a suspected propane leak, it is crucial to notify the propane company immediately.
  • Handling fires with containerized flammable gases requires application of a solid stream of water when exposed to flames.

Foam Properties and Effects

  • High-quality foam is dependent on accurate proportioning of the foam concentrate and water mixture. Typically, foam mixes with 94 to 99.9 percent water.
  • Class A foam reduces surface tension, allowing for better penetration into fuels, while Class B foams are particularly effective on hydrocarbon fuels.
  • The smothering technique extinguishes fire by preventing air from reaching the fuel.

Hazards and Equipment

  • Foam concentrates can degrade personal protective equipment (PPE) if left on garments for extended periods and may cause mild skin and eye irritation.
  • Firefighting foam equipment includes Compressed Air Foam Systems (CAFS) and various foam proportioners, such as in-line eductors and foam nozzle eductors, each serving distinct functions in foam application.

Operational Approaches

  • Firefighters at bulk transport incidents should use a bill of lading or manifest to identify flammable materials involved.
  • Continuous, uninterrupted foam application is essential until extinguishment occurs. Avoid using road flares near tankers carrying flammable fuels due to explosion risks.
  • The rain-down method is effective for large pools of flammable liquid fires, especially in open areas. The roll-on method is suitable solely for pools of liquid fuel on the ground.

Regulatory and Environmental Considerations

  • All valve operations during firefighting must occur under facility personnel supervision to ensure safety.
  • Due to environmental concerns, firefighters should take precautions to prevent foam runoff from contaminating bodies of water.

Important Precautions

  • Using a solid or straight stream of water on an already applied foam blanket is discouraged to prevent reignition of fires.
  • Operators should avoid mixing different foam concentrates, as this can lead to poor-quality foam production.

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Description

Explore key concepts from Chapter 18 of the FF2 course focusing on foam firefighting techniques, liquid fires, and gas fires. This quiz includes essential terms like BLEVE and foam creation processes that are crucial for fire safety and response. Test your knowledge and prepare for real-life fire scenarios.

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