ANOTHER fire fighting query

[RoyJackson]

Thanks, all, for the input...I just came in, been cleaning the carb on my ATV, it it parked outside, I am using CARB CLEANER and not gasoline, and a minimal amount of CC at that. I have both a 1A, 10BC and a 2A, 40BC extinguisher handy. Fire scares the (bleep) out of me and that is one of the reasons for my possibly inane queries....thanks again.

We are here to help!!

And since other TBNers will read this thread (I hope), maybe they'll learn something too!!

Fire scares the (bleep) out of me...

You know...one of the vivid (and horrifying) memories I have of the 9-11-2001 atrocity is of people jumping out of the Twin Towers...to escape a fiery death but knowing they were going to die upon impact with the sidewalks. That's a **** of a choice to make, eh?

 

[slowzuki]

A fog nozzle on a pressure washer is similar to european water mist suppression systems but not for the guy without bunker gear. You have to get close. They work great for oil/gas and electrical fires, not as good for deep seated Class A (normal) combustibles. A heavier stream that can penetrate the base of the fire helps there.

To be honest, a 10 gpm hose won't do much against any size of fire, especially in a solid stream. Be very careful. 10 gpm in a 13R sprinkler system does help a lot by being at the source of the fire right after it starts. Even then it is only designed to help get you out of the house safely.

 

[forgeblast]

Thanks for discussing this. I was thinking of welding a 55 gallon barrel on a cart and having my pressure washer hooked up to it incase of a small fire or grass fire(then again we had the a year that tied the 100 year old record for rain.).
Would a foaming additive (gemplers sells them) make any difference?
I remember fire drills at a boy scout camp with indian tanks, hauling them around wasnt fun.

 

[leonz]

You have to purchase the eductor and mixing chamber
as well as a blower to get it to work right and that
gets into some serious $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

[leonz]

Personally, I think it is high time that
the soda stream fire extinguishers were
brought back into service.

I wil probably have a lot of negative comments
about the soda stream method but it worked and
worked well even though it used a small percentage
of sulfuric acid to make the foam with the baking
soda and water.

Wine vinegar could be used as a catalyst even though
the acidity is lower than Sulfuric Acid especially with
mine fires or forest fires.

 

[JDgreen227]

Thanks for discussing this. I was thinking of welding a 55 gallon barrel on a cart and having my pressure washer hooked up to it incase of a small fire or grass fire(then again we had the a year that tied the 100 year old record for rain.).
Would a foaming additive (gemplers sells them) make any difference?
I remember fire drills at a boy scout camp with indian tanks, hauling them around wasnt fun.

Your post reminded me of an incident that happened about 600 feet away from my home about 20 years ago. I was push mowing outside and saw smoke and flames there in a vacant lot, the weather was very dry and some moron had thrown out firecrackers and set the grass afire. I ran to my garage and threw several 5 gallon pails with lids into my car trunk, backed up to my hose and filled them then five minutes later I had about 40 gallons of water and I roared out to the fire, by the time I had stopped two volunteer firemen were attacking the blaze with small portable 1A extinguishers, the three of us managed to douse it all. One of them is now the local fire chief and I am on VERY good terms with him....:thumbsup:

 

[grnspot110]

In the mean time, while I was on a truck (ladder) company in the '90s, my crew and I stopped more than one room-and-contents fire with only a p-can (pressurized water extinguisher) while waiting for the first-due engine company to arrive and set up. That was essentially a very small garden hose.

In the summer I keep a "pressure water" extinguisher near my welder. Don't use anti-freeze in it, so I drain it in cold weather. Paid $5 for it at a flea market! ~~ grnspot

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Interesting question JD...I have often wondered that myself...

I have noticed that UTV based high pressure firefighting systems have gained popularity. The pumps they use are built by some of the same companies who build pressure washer pumps.

Here is one of the companies that builds the UTV units:

Wild Land Fire Suppression

Video:

Foam Firefighting System - YouTube

The one thing you will see, is pretty much all the units use "class A" foam in conjunction with water.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

Would a foaming additive (gemplers sells them) make any difference?

Class A firefighting foam would.

 

[CompactTractorFan]

You have to purchase the eductor and mixing chamber
as well as a blower to get it to work right and that
gets into some serious $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Not really, here is a unit that goes on the end of your garden hose for $90:

Foam Kit, 3/4" GHT 3 gpm 1% Eduction Portable-Primo Pumps and Fire Equipment