B. The goal is to have a system in place for utilization of a Foam Task Force or Strike Team when requested by any fire agency in the county. This is to provide the maximum flow of foam to a fire scene as required.
C. Establish a common set of terms to be used by each member of the Task Force and Strike Teams in order to eliminate a possibility for confusion.
II. Scope
A. This guideline applies to all emergency agencies operating within Burlington County that have a need to request a foam task force or strike team.
B. It is the intent of this guideline to ensure compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS). Standard terminology, strike team components, and other resources are identified using NIMS guidelines.
III. Definitions
A. Foam Tender Type I – capable of carrying at least 500 gallons of foam concentrate in bulk storage.
B. Foam Tender Type II – capable of carrying between 250 and 499 gallons of foam concentrate in bulk storage.
C. AR-AFFF – Alcohol Resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam
D. AFFF - Aqueous Film Forming Foam
E. AFFF-ATC - Aqueous Film Forming Foam – Alcohol Resistant
F. Burlington County Foam Tenders – Are equipped with foam self-enducting1000 GPM Master streams with 10’ pickup hose.
G. Class A foam: It reduces the surface tension of plain water which allows it to penetrate surfaces where water might normally run off, to reach deep-seated fires. This helps reduce the amount of water required to extinguish the fire and also provides quicker knockdown.
H. Class B foam: Used at 1, 3 or 6 % concentration to extinguish fires involving hydrocarbon fuels. This effects extinguishment in two ways. The foam blanket excludes oxygen from the fuel’s surface, and the water in the foam provides cooling.
I. High Expansion: High expansion foam effects extinguishment in two ways. Total flooding of the involved area limits the amount of oxygen required to support free combustion, and provides a slow continuous release of foam solution for cooling and penetration.
J. Mt Laurel Foam Tender (FOAM 36): is a 4000 Gallon tank with a Balance Pressure Foam Proportion System 250 GPM agent foam pump capable of foam flow 350 GPM to 3000 GPM.
K. Taskforce/Strike Team Leader shall be selected to coordinate training.
IV. Foam Task Force and Strike Teams
A. Foam Task Forces and Strike Teams will be established to respond upon a request from an Incident Commander or Fire Coordinator.
1. Agency participation in the task force will be voluntary.
2. Participants of each task force shall follow the same procedures.
3. Each Task Force will consist of four (4) engines, one (1) Squirt, Foam 36 and a minimum of four (4) foam trailers.
4. Each Strike Team will consist of a minimum of four (4) foam trailers and Foam 36. With the exception of the Out of County S/T.
5. The Task Force/Strike Team leaders should meet regularly to discuss modifications or update procedures.
6. The Task Force/Strike Team leaders shall report their activities to the Fire Coordinator or designee.
V. Taskforce/Strike Team Leader Responsibilities
A. Coordinate and insure two (2) training sessions per year.
B. Shall meet regularly to discuss modifications or update procedures.
C. Shall report their activities to the Fire Coordinator or designee.
D. Shall inventory equipment supplied by county and provide a written report to the Fire Coordinator or designee as requested.
VI. Taskforce/Strike Team Participating Department Responsibilities
A. Label or stencil each container of foam in order to establish ownership of foam used in a given incident.
B. When purchasing new foam it is recommended that departments purchase AR-AFFF to be compatible with county system.
VII. Calls for Service
A. Any firefighting agency in Burlington County may request a task force and or a strike team to respond into their area. The incident commander is encouraged to determine the need for the task force or strike team at the earliest possible point in the incident.
B. A request for a task force or strike team would activate the County Fire Coordinator and/or designee to respond with the strike team.
C. The selection of the strike team to respond must be based upon apparatus already committed to the assignment. (A task force or strike team from another region may be needed since apparatus of the local task force or strike team would probably be committed to the assignment already!)
D. Staging of the strike team shall be away from the Level II staging area of other apparatus.
E. To streamline the dispatch, the tones shall be sounded for all the task force or strike team companies, and then the following shall be announced:
1. Foam Task Force or Strike Team A “Alpha”, in Mount Laurel, Hartford Road and Marne Hwy., and repeat. There shall be no need to announce each engine in the dispatch.
F. If an engine needs to be added to fill out a task force team the announcement shall be as follows:
1. Foam Task Force A “Alpha”, Engine 3911, in Mount Laurel, Hartford Road and Marne Hwy., and repeat.
G. If a foam trailer needs to be added to fill out a strike team the announcement shall be as follows:
1. Foam Strike Team A “Alpha”, Trailer 905, in Mount Laurel, Hartford Road and Marne Hwy., and repeat
VIII. Procedure
A. The following procedure shall be followed when initiating a foam task force
1. A team leader or coordinator will assume control of the task force or strike team and place the apparatus.
2. The team leader shall determine from Command where the supply of water is located. The water supply selected must be capable of maintaining the desired flow.
3. The team leader or coordinator shall work with the Command to determine responsible party for reimbursement or replacement of disposable items as per mutual aid agreement.
4. Efforts should be made to restore foam tenders to service immediately at the conclusion of the incident.
IX. Conclusion
A. At the conclusion of the incident, the task force or strike team leader will meet with the incident commander to determine if changes could have been made to improve the delivery of foam to the scene.
B. A critique of the foam supply operation should be scheduled as soon as practical following the incident.
C. A report should be made to the Fire Coordinator listing details of the operation, estimated flow rate and recommend any changes in policy or procedures.
Any recommended changes will be evaluated by the Foam Task Force work group and if approved, shall be implemented as the procedure for all task forces and strike teams.
FOAM TASK FORCE A
Engines 1911 40 GAL AFFF 1500 GPM
2111 100 GAL AFFF 1500 GPM
2132 50 GAL 1250 GPM
3312 1500 GPM
Squirt 3014 54’ SQUIRT 2000 GPM
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT131 400 GAL U/GOLD (AR-AFFF) 100 GAL AFFF
FT321 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT401 150 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT461 275 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FOAM STRIKE TEAM A
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT131 400 GAL U/GOLD (AR-AFFF) 100 GAL AFFF
FT321 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT401 150 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT461 275 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FOAM TASK FORCE B
Engines 1313 50 GAL AFFF 1500 GPM
2021 100 GAL U/G (AR-AFFF) 1500 GPM
3411 30 GAL AFFF 1500 GPM
9051 40 GAL AFFF 1750 GPM
Squrt 2324
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT201 440 GAL U/G (AR-AFFF)
FT251 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT301 260 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FOAM STRIKE TEAM B
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT201 440 GAL U/G (AR-AFFF)
FT251 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT301 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FOAM STRIKE TEAM C – OUT OF COUNTY SOUTH
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT251 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT301 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FOAM STRIKE TEAM D – OUT OF COUNTY NORTH
Tender Foam 36 4000 Gal U/G (AR-AFFF) 250 GPM
Trailers FT321 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
FT301 330 GAL UNIVERSAL GOLD (AR-AFFF)
Special Call - Station 363 470 Gal AFFF