Pacific Southwest

Title: Use of class a foams on structures and wildlands

Author: Schlobohm, Paul

Date: 1995

Source: In: Weise, David R.; Martin, Robert E., technical coordinators. The Biswell symposium: fire issues and solutions in urban interface and wildland ecosystems; February 15-17, 1994; Walnut Creek, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-158. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 81-84

Station ID: GTR-PSW-158

Description: The increase of homes in wildlands indicates a significant change. The build-up of fuels around homes and in wildlands over time also indicates change. Resistance to change, however, remains the norm. Fires get worse, but plain water continues to be used for fire suppression and property protection. With Class A foam, the objectives of protection are to wet the exposure rapidly, creating a heat sink, and then leave or apply elsewhere while the foam remains behind. This foam can be generated in low-, medium-, and high-expansion forms. Class A foam can be applied from pump-and-roll monitors, large water capacity structure protection engines, small home protection units, aircraft and conventional hose lines. Foam has been successfully applied to save structures threatened by wildfire and to contain prescribed fires near valuable resources. As developed at this time, durable foam is capable of remaining in place as a barrier to fire for 24 to 48 hours. Class A foam technology offers an effective tool to improve the use of water for structure and resource protection.

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Citation

Schlobohm, Paul  1995.  Use of class a foams on structures and wildlands.   In: Weise, David R.; Martin, Robert E., technical coordinators. The Biswell symposium: fire issues and solutions in urban interface and wildland ecosystems; February 15-17, 1994; Walnut Creek, California. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-158. Albany, CA: Pacific Southwest Research Station, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; p. 81-84.