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Author(s):
Paul M. Schlobohm
Year Published:

Cataloging Information

Topic(s):
Fire & Economics
Fire Suppression

NRFSN number: 12153
FRAMES RCS number: 16378
Record updated:

Water has been used to fight fire for centuries. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) relies on a fleet of over 400 water engines as its primary fire suppression technology in Great Basin fuels. Class A foam is a relatively new approach to fire suppression. The foam concentrates were introduced in the early 1980's (Schlobohm and Rochna 1987). Proportioning and foam-generating devices have been modified to meet the demands of the wildland fire workplace. There are two arguments against the use of Class A foam. First, the use of foam technology requires investment beyond that necessary to operate a conventional water-pumping system. For example, foam concentrate that may cost $9.00 per gallon and is proportioned at 0.5 percent will cost $22.50 for every treatment of a 500-gallon tank. Installing a foam proportioner will cost anywhere from $200 to $4,000. Aspirating nozzles cost between $20 and $500. Compressed air foam systems range from $5,000 to $20,000, depending on components. A second argument is that the improvements foam may offer are unnecessary. As a result of years of experience with water, engines are managed to handle the typical workload of fire frequency and behavior. The argument is that extreme fire situations, such as large numbers of large fires in a few hours which tax the capabilities of water engines, would do the same for foam engines.

Citation

Schlobohm, Paul M. 1994. A technical comparison model: class A foam compared to water as an example. In: Monsen, Stephen B.; Kitchen, Stanley G., comps. Proceedings-ecology and management of annual rangelands; 1992 May 18-21; Boise, ID. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-313. Ogden, UT: USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. p. 75-79.