Carl J. Haddon

Firefighter cancer-related death statistics continue to rise.

Additionally, statistics show that more than 50 percent of all firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) in the past decade were caused by cardiac failure following excessive heat stress exposure. The numbers don’t lie, and I’m pretty confident that our jobs are dangerous enough dealing with the life-threatening hazards we respond to. The life-threatening hazards that we as firefighters need rescue from are those that we can’t see, like occupational cancers and heat stress-related cardiac issues. We owe it to ourselves, and especially our loved ones, to become educated and do what we can to minimize our exposure on the fireground (while still committing to aggressively fighting fire).

The science also shows that we are routinely exposed to the carcinogenic toxins of smoke and soot not only through inhalation but also through exposure via bare skin - on the head, face, and neck. Think about it: When we come off of air at a fire, we are typically hot and sweaty from exertion and heat exposure, right? We get clear (best practice), pull our helmet and our hood, and remove our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask prior to “opening up” our personal protective equipment (PPE). As you envision this process, where is the least protected part of your body while you fight fire? The only thing that protects our face, ears, and neck is that single-layer hood. Most everything else that we wear has some combination of thermal and moisture/particulate barriers built into it, such as our turnout gear, our helmets, and our SCBA masks.

Since the beginning of (firefighting) time, we used this to our advantage. When we felt our ears starting to roast, it was time to back off or back out. That’s because that thin hood we wear allows us to feel excessive heat on our faces. Unfortunately, those hoods are also permeable enough to allow the aforementioned toxins to permeate the fabric and come in regular contact with the skin on our faces and necks.

1 Fire-Dex/TECGEN manufactures PPE to combat both the number one (cancer) and number two (heat stress and cardiac fatigue) causes of firefighter-related deaths. (Photos courtesy of Fire-Dex/TECGEN.)

Extreme Heat Stress

When tones drop in the firehouse or volunteers’ pagers go off for a response, our heart rates automatically increase. Endorphins are released into our body, and we are off to the races. We then turn out in bunker gear that is designed to protect us from the properties of fire. As soon as we don our gear, our core body temperature rises, even before we begin to physically exert ourselves on scene. From that moment on (provided we are wearing our gear properly), there is very little opportunity for that heat (and increase in core body temperature) to be released or reduced until the call is over or we get a chance to “open up.” But what about those areas of the country where “opening up” doesn’t really help, in part because of the hot and humid weather conditions?

I recently returned from a live fire training assignment in southe

Carl J. Haddon

Firefighter cancer-related death statistics continue to rise.

Additionally, statistics show that more than 50 percent of all firefighter line-of-duty deaths (LODDs) in the past decade were caused by cardiac failure following excessive heat stress exposure. The numbers don’t lie, and I’m pretty confident that our jobs are dangerous enough dealing with the life-threatening hazards we respond to. The life-threatening hazards that we as firefighters need rescue from are those that we can’t see, like occupational cancers and heat stress-related cardiac issues. We owe it to ourselves, and especially our loved ones, to become educated and do what we can to minimize our exposure on the fireground (while still committing to aggressively fighting fire).

The science also shows that we are routinely exposed to the carcinogenic toxins of smoke and soot not only through inhalation but also through exposure via bare skin - on the head, face, and neck. Think about it: When we come off of air at a fire, we are typically hot and sweaty from exertion and heat exposure, right? We get clear (best practice), pull our helmet and our hood, and remove our self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) mask prior to “opening up” our personal protective equipment (PPE). As you envision this process, where is the least protected part of your body while you fight fire? The only thing that protects our face, ears, and neck is that single-layer hood. Most everything else that we wear has some combination of thermal and moisture/particulate barriers built into it, such as our turnout gear, our helmets, and our SCBA masks.

Since the beginning of (firefighting) time, we used this to our advantage. When we felt our ears starting to roast, it was time to back off or back out. That’s because that thin hood we wear allows us to feel excessive heat on our faces. Unfortunately, those hoods are also permeable enough to allow the aforementioned toxins to permeate the fabric and come in regular contact with the skin on our faces and necks.

1 Fire-Dex/TECGEN manufactures PPE to combat both the number one (cancer) and number two (heat stress and cardiac fatigue) causes of firefighter-related deaths. (Photos courtesy of Fire-Dex/TECGEN.)

Extreme Heat Stress

When tones drop in the firehouse or volunteers’ pagers go off for a response, our heart rates automatically increase. Endorphins are released into our body, and we are off to the races. We then turn out in bunker gear that is designed to protect us from the properties of fire. As soon as we don our gear, our core body temperature rises, even before we begin to physically exert ourselves on scene. From that moment on (provided we are wearing our gear properly), there is very little opportunity for that heat (and increase in core body temperature) to be released or reduced until the call is over or we get a chance to “open up.” But what about those areas of the country where “opening up” doesn’t really help, in part because of the hot and humid weather conditions?

I recently returned from a live fire training assignment in southe

By Jonathan M. Hinson

Firefighting foam has been around for many years, from the powder foam to protein foam to the synthetic foam in use today.

Originally designed to extinguish simple hydrocarbon-based fuel fires, today’s foams can be used on Class A fires; alcohol-based fuel fires; and, of course, hydrocarbon fuel fires. Technology has advanced to make foam operations more effective, simplistic, and cost-effective. Flammable and combustible liquids are everywhere and being transported through all modes of transportation. Hopefully, all fire departments have enough foam resources readily available to effect a rescue from a flammable liquid incident. Some communities may have a higher risk or threat, so more foam resources are needed. Whether a department has an eductor and three buckets of foam or thousands of gallons of foam with master stream devices, there are still some basic principles and tips that can apply to both situations to facilitate a successful foam operation.

Foam Percentages

Whether using onboard foam systems or portable foam eductors, the proper percentage of foam must be educted into the water stream to combat the problem at hand. The proper percentage depends on the fuel burning and, most importantly, the manufacturer’s recommendations. Class B foam is used at one, three, or six percent, describing the percentage of foam concentrate in the foam solution. The manufacturer through testing has determined at what percentage foam should be used. If the foam is alcohol-resistive, then the recommendations will also cover what percentage is appropriate for both hydrocarbon-based fires and polar solvents.

These recommendations are generally clearly stated in big numbers on the foam’s storage container. Using a percentage less than the recommendation will make the operation ineffective; increasing the percentage can make operations more effective with quicker extinguishment. However, when using a higher percentage, foam system operators must understand that they will use double if not triple the amount of concentrate required, potentially depleting the concentrate supply prematurely.

1 Photos by author.

Class A foams are generally used at 0.1 to 1.0 percent, once again depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. In most cases, the lower percentages are used for fire attack and extinguishment while the higher end of the range can be used for exposure protection. Using higher than recommended percentages of Class A foam generally does not result in more effective operations like seen with Class B foams.

Use onboard foam systems and eductors to properly mix foam concentrate and water to make foam solution. You must perform this process flawlessly to have a successful foam operation. However, the foam concentrate must be made into finished foam through proper application to have a completely successful foam operation. The foam must be applied continuously and without failures. Proper application is critical with Class B foams, as they make a film or membrane to properly extinguish. Class A is a direct application just like water, so no film or membrane is produced.

Foam Application

The ensuing discussion about foam application applies to Class B foams. In basic training, firefighters are taught to apply foam with three different methods: roll on, bank on, and rain down. Nozzle operators must ensure that the stream is not plunged into the product, causing the foam to be pushed under the product and thus less effec

By Jonathan M. Hinson

Firefighting foam has been around for many years, from the powder foam to protein foam to the synthetic foam in use today.

Originally designed to extinguish simple hydrocarbon-based fuel fires, today’s foams can be used on Class A fires; alcohol-based fuel fires; and, of course, hydrocarbon fuel fires. Technology has advanced to make foam operations more effective, simplistic, and cost-effective. Flammable and combustible liquids are everywhere and being transported through all modes of transportation. Hopefully, all fire departments have enough foam resources readily available to effect a rescue from a flammable liquid incident. Some communities may have a higher risk or threat, so more foam resources are needed. Whether a department has an eductor and three buckets of foam or thousands of gallons of foam with master stream devices, there are still some basic principles and tips that can apply to both situations to facilitate a successful foam operation.

Foam Percentages

Whether using onboard foam systems or portable foam eductors, the proper percentage of foam must be educted into the water stream to combat the problem at hand. The proper percentage depends on the fuel burning and, most importantly, the manufacturer’s recommendations. Class B foam is used at one, three, or six percent, describing the percentage of foam concentrate in the foam solution. The manufacturer through testing has determined at what percentage foam should be used. If the foam is alcohol-resistive, then the recommendations will also cover what percentage is appropriate for both hydrocarbon-based fires and polar solvents.

These recommendations are generally clearly stated in big numbers on the foam’s storage container. Using a percentage less than the recommendation will make the operation ineffective; increasing the percentage can make operations more effective with quicker extinguishment. However, when using a higher percentage, foam system operators must understand that they will use double if not triple the amount of concentrate required, potentially depleting the concentrate supply prematurely.

1 Photos by author.

Class A foams are generally used at 0.1 to 1.0 percent, once again depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. In most cases, the lower percentages are used for fire attack and extinguishment while the higher end of the range can be used for exposure protection. Using higher than recommended percentages of Class A foam generally does not result in more effective operations like seen with Class B foams.

Use onboard foam systems and eductors to properly mix foam concentrate and water to make foam solution. You must perform this process flawlessly to have a successful foam operation. However, the foam concentrate must be made into finished foam through proper application to have a completely successful foam operation. The foam must be applied continuously and without failures. Proper application is critical with Class B foams, as they make a film or membrane to properly extinguish. Class A is a direct application just like water, so no film or membrane is produced.

Foam Application

The ensuing discussion about foam application applies to Class B foams. In basic training, firefighters are taught to apply foam with three different methods: roll on, bank on, and rain down. Nozzle operators must ensure that the stream is not plunged into the product, causing the foam to be pushed under the product and thus less effec

By Jonathan M. Hinson

Firefighting foam has been around for many years, from the powder foam to protein foam to the synthetic foam in use today.

Originally designed to extinguish simple hydrocarbon-based fuel fires, today’s foams can be used on Class A fires; alcohol-based fuel fires; and, of course, hydrocarbon fuel fires. Technology has advanced to make foam operations more effective, simplistic, and cost-effective. Flammable and combustible liquids are everywhere and being transported through all modes of transportation. Hopefully, all fire departments have enough foam resources readily available to effect a rescue from a flammable liquid incident. Some communities may have a higher risk or threat, so more foam resources are needed. Whether a department has an eductor and three buckets of foam or thousands of gallons of foam with master stream devices, there are still some basic principles and tips that can apply to both situations to facilitate a successful foam operation.

Foam Percentages

Whether using onboard foam systems or portable foam eductors, the proper percentage of foam must be educted into the water stream to combat the problem at hand. The proper percentage depends on the fuel burning and, most importantly, the manufacturer’s recommendations. Class B foam is used at one, three, or six percent, describing the percentage of foam concentrate in the foam solution. The manufacturer through testing has determined at what percentage foam should be used. If the foam is alcohol-resistive, then the recommendations will also cover what percentage is appropriate for both hydrocarbon-based fires and polar solvents.

These recommendations are generally clearly stated in big numbers on the foam’s storage container. Using a percentage less than the recommendation will make the operation ineffective; increasing the percentage can make operations more effective with quicker extinguishment. However, when using a higher percentage, foam system operators must understand that they will use double if not triple the amount of concentrate required, potentially depleting the concentrate supply prematurely.

1 Photos by author.

Class A foams are generally used at 0.1 to 1.0 percent, once again depending on the manufacturer’s recommendations. In most cases, the lower percentages are used for fire attack and extinguishment while the higher end of the range can be used for exposure protection. Using higher than recommended percentages of Class A foam generally does not result in more effective operations like seen with Class B foams.

Use onboard foam systems and eductors to properly mix foam concentrate and water to make foam solution. You must perform this process flawlessly to have a successful foam operation. However, the foam concentrate must be made into finished foam through proper application to have a completely successful foam operation. The foam must be applied continuously and without failures. Proper application is critical with Class B foams, as they make a film or membrane to properly extinguish. Class A is a direct application just like water, so no film or membrane is produced.

Foam Application

The ensuing discussion about foam application applies to Class B foams. In basic training, firefighters are taught to apply foam with three different methods: roll on, bank on, and rain down. Nozzle operators must ensure that the stream is not plunged into the product, causing the foam to be pushed under the product and thus less effec