Prince George’s County Fire/EMS: General Order 06-16 – Fire Fighting Foam (Comprehensive Study Notes)

Policy

• Establish standard operational guidelines for the use of Class B fire fighting foam agents at emergency incidents.
• Ensure the availability of fire fighting foam agents when required at emergency incidents.
• This General Order does not discuss the use or application of Class A fire fighting foams.

Definitions

• AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam): fire fighting agent used to provide vapor suppression, smothering and cooling for flammable or combustible liquid fires where the liquid is non-polar (i.e., will not mix with water).
• AR-AFFF (Alcohol Resistant AFFF): fire fighting agent used to provide vapor suppression, smothering and cooling for flammable or combustible liquid fires where the liquid is polar (i.e., able to mix with water).
• Foam Unit: a specialized unit designed to assist in the abatement of hazardous material incidents involving flammable liquids on fire or with potential for major fire; can deliver large quantities of foam solution via installed/mounted foam systems.
• Station stockpile: minimum inventory of $200 ext{ gallons}$ of foam agent in five-gallon containers; maintained to ensure availability of AFFF concentrate for response to emergency incidents.
• Stores stockpile: minimum inventory of $250 ext{ gallons}$ of foam agent in five-gallon containers; maintained to ensure availability of AFFF concentrate for resupply of stations and stockpiles.

Procedures / Responsibilities

1. Foam Units

• At least one foam unit shall be dispatched on ALL of the following incident types within Prince George’s County:
  • Tanker vehicle fires
  • Aircraft emergency incidents
  • Large flammable or combustible liquid spills (i.e., involving more than $100 ext{ gallons}$)
  • Facility fires involving bulk storage containers of flammable or combustible liquids (i.e., involving more than $100 ext{ gallons}$)
• At least one foam unit shall be dispatched to hazardous materials incidents and other emergencies not identified above when requested by the Incident Commander or when closest by mileage.
• Additional foam units or fire fighting vehicles with foam capability (see Addendum #1) shall be dispatched to the flammable or combustible liquid incident when requested by the Incident Commander.

2. Water and Foam Supply During Significant Incidents

• To ensure adequate water supply for an effective foam operation, a minimum of $1{,}000 ext{ gpm}$ shall be maintained.
• The two closest water tankers shall be automatically dispatched to all flammable/combustible liquid incidents in non-hydrant areas to support the foam unit(s).
• The closest station with large diameter hose (LDH) shall be dispatched to support water supply operations for the foam unit(s).
• The closest station with a station stockpile shall be notified to prepare their foam stockpile by loading foam agent onto the transport vehicle for immediate response.
• If additional AFFF concentrate is needed during normal business hours, the Stores Stockpile shall be made available by Logistics and Supply. It is the Incident Commander’s responsibility to request a vehicle to transport the Stores Stockpile to the incident.

3. Dispatch of the Hazardous Materials Coordinator and the Fire/EMS Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team

• The Hazardous Materials Coordinator (or designated representative) shall be dispatched on all significant incidents where fire fighting foam agent is going to be applied or has been applied.
• The Fire/EMS Department’s Hazardous Materials Response Team shall be dispatched according to General Order 6-10.

4. Atmospheric Monitoring

• Any flammable or combustible liquid spill where fire fighting foam has been applied shall be monitored with a direct-reading instrument (e.g., combustible gas indicator) to ensure vapor suppression action is adequate.

5. Response Procedures

• Incident size-up by first arriving Company Officers should evaluate risks/benefits of applying foam to spills or fires, including:
  • Availability of proper foam concentrate
  • Adequate quantities of foam concentrate
  • Adequate water supply to maintain foam flow
• If there is no life safety hazard or threat to critical infrastructure, decisions to apply foam or to “let it burn” should be coordinated with the Hazardous Materials Coordinator to address environmental concerns.
• A Foam Group Officer shall be established when more than two foam handlines and/or foam appliances are in operation.
• The Foam Group Officer should position themselves at a perpendicular angle to the foam lines/appliances, when safely possible, to direct the application point (see Diagram #1).
• The Foam Group Officer and Incident Commander/Operations Officer shall coordinate fireground operations prior to foam operations.
• All foam units and foam delivery devices shall be operated within their specific operational guidelines.
• The Incident Commander shall ensure an adequate supply of foam on hand prior to commencing foam operations.
• Safe operation of the foam unit shall be determined by the Foam Unit Officer (note: extensive specialized training).
• The driver in charge of the foam unit is responsible for the vehicle during actual foam flow due to visibility and control:
  • Minimum Staffing: $ext{Two firefighters per foam handline}$
  • $ext{One company officer for each two handlines}$
  • $ext{One driver/operator per foam unit}$
• Additional staffing considerations:
  • Enough personnel to maintain foam resupply (dump five-gallon containers into open-top containers for foam eductor points)
  • One turret (foam monitor) operator if applicable
• Maximum staffing: based on vehicle design

6. Application Rates for Class B Spill Fires

• Personnel must understand proper application rates to determine foam quantity for spill fires of shallow depth.
• Increasing the application rate above the minimum generally reduces extinguishment time; applying below minimum prolongs extinguishment or may fail to control the fire.
• For flammable liquids that float on water and do not mix with water (e.g., gasoline, gasohol, diesel, JP-8, jet fuel, #2 fuel oil):
  • Recommended application rate: $0.1 \frac{ ext{gpm}}{ ext{ft}^2}$ of foam solution with a minimum run time of $15 ext{ minutes}$.
  • If AR-AFFF is a 3 ext{%}/6 ext{%} type, eduction must be at 3 ext{%} concentration.
• For polar liquids (water-miscible; mix with water) (e.g., ketones, alcohol, E-85):
  • Recommended application rate: $0.2 \frac{ ext{gpm}}{ ext{ft}^2}$ with a minimum run time of $15 ext{ minutes}$.
  • If AR-AFFF is a 3 ext{%}/6 ext{%} type, eduction must be at 6 ext{%} concentration.
• A foam nozzle must be used to ensure proper aeration of the foam solution.

7. Responsibilities

• In each station with a foam unit or stockpile, the career Battalion Chief, Volunteer Chief, and Career Officer shall establish one officer responsible for carrying out all station-level duties identified in this GO.

8. Fire Fighting Foam Agent Stockpiles

• Station stockpiles (AFFF concentrate) are housed at Stations 831, 843, and 836 with a minimum of $200 ext{ gallons}$ each.
• Station stockpiles ensure availability of AFFF concentrate for response to emergencies.
• Stores stockpile is maintained by Logistics and Supply to ensure resupply of stations and stockpiles.

9. All Fire Stations

• All stations shall be supplied with one 1-1/2", 95-gpm, bypass foam eductor.
• The eductor shall be kept on the assigned first due engine.
• Each station shall ensure that a $95 ext{ gpm}$ nozzle is used with the bypass foam eductor to ensure proper function.
• For polar liquids, it is recommended to use a foam nozzle to ensure adequate aeration.
• Each station shall maintain a minimum of $15 ext{ gallons}$ (three five-gallon containers) of foam with the bypass eductor on the first due engine.
• Each driver of fire apparatus delivering foam shall maintain accountability of foam usage and number of foam application devices (by nozzle type, size, gpm, nozzle pressure, and duration of use) for inclusion in the after-action report to the HM Coordinator.

10. Foam Replenishment

• Stations requiring replacement AFFF concentrates for apparatus, foam units, or station stockpiles shall contact Logistics and Supply during business hours.
• Stations shall submit a Stores Request with date, location, incident number, and quantity needed.
• Logistics and Supply shall provide this information to the Hazardous Materials Coordinator or designated representative to address environmental concerns or regulatory notifications.

11. Fire Stations with Approved Foam Units

• The approved foam units within Prince George’s County Fire/EMS Department are listed in Addendum #1.
• Andrews Air Force Base Fire Department shall be considered as an additional resource for flammable/combustible liquid incidents involving non-polar liquids.

12. Post Response Procedures

• The driver/operator shall ensure that all pumps, foam lines, eductors, and nozzles are flushed after use when required.
• All foam used shall be restocked immediately, if possible.
• The Foam Unit Officer shall ensure the foam unit is restored to full operational status after use.
• Logistics shall assist in replenishing AFFF concentrate from station stockpiles used at the incident.
• Logistics shall replenish the Stores Stockpile inventory as soon as possible to ensure ongoing availability.

13. Environmental Considerations

• AFFF is an environmental hazard and response operations should confine spilled liquid and applied foam, avoiding entry into stormwater drainage systems, waterways, bodies of water, or water wells.
• The HM Coordinator or designated representative shall notify regulatory agencies when necessary (e.g., Maryland Department of the Environment, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Prince George’s County Health Department).
• For spills without a life safety hazard, decisions to foam or let it burn shall be based on environmental consequences.

Post-incident Attachments / References

• Diagram #1: Response Procedures – Personnel positioning (see Diagram for foam director, company officers, wind, foam lines, etc.).
• Addendum #1: Fire Fighting Apparatus with Foam Capability (lists apparatus and capabilities).
• Andrews Air Force Base Fire Department: considered as an additional resource for certain foam incidents.

Addendum 1 (Foam Apparatus) Overview (summary)

• Addendum #1 contains a list of apparatus with built-in foam systems or foam capability.
• It also includes multiple station locations (e.g., dedicated foam stockpile locations) and corresponding equipment details.
• The Hazardous Materials Coordinator updates Addendum #1 as needed and submits to the Fire Chief for approval.
• When a station listed in Addendum #1 changes its foam delivery capability (out of service, in service, removed), the senior fire station officer on duty notifies PSC.

Key Numbers and Formulas (quick reference)

• Minimum stockpile levels:
  • Station stockpile: $200 ext{ gallons}$ per station
  • Stores stockpile: $250 ext{ gallons}$
• Water supply requirement: $1{,}000 ext{ gpm}$ (minimum)
• Foam concentrate storage temperatures: between $35^ ext{°F}$ and $120^ ext{°F}$ (not exposed to extreme temperatures)
• Foam application rates (non-polar liquids, no water miscibility):
  • $0.1 \frac{ ext{gpm}}{ ext{ft}^2}$ with minimum run time $15 ext{ minutes}$
  • AR-AFFF eduction: 3 ext{%} concentration for a 3/6% type
• Foam application rates (polar liquids, miscible with water):
  • $0.2 \frac{ ext{gpm}}{ ext{ft}^2}$ with minimum run time $15 ext{ minutes}$
  • AR-AFFF eduction: 6 ext{%} concentration for a 3/6% type
• Foam eductor and nozzle configurations:
  • 1-1/2" line, 95 gpm eductor/nozzle configuration on first due engine
• Staffing (minimum):
  • $2$ firefighters per foam handline
  • $1$ company officer for every two handlines
  • $1$ driver/operator per foam unit
• Post-incident accountability data to HM Coordinator for after-action report (foam usage details by nozzle, gpm, pressure, duration)

Diagram / Diagram-related notes

• Diagram #1 provides personnel positioning for foam operations: Spill Site, Accident Site, Foam Director, Company Officer, Wind considerations, Foam Lines (2 firefighters per line), etc.

References / Forms

• References: N/A
• Forms / Attachments:
  • Diagram #1: Response Procedures – Personnel positioning
  • Addendum #1: Fire Fighting Apparatus with Foam Capability