Posts Tagged high-expansion foam

Chicago FD 6-3-1 high expansion foam unit

Oct 25

Posted by Admin in Fire Service Photos, Fire Truck photos | 5 Comments

This from Kyle Bernaciak:

I thought I'd share with you some pictures that I took of 6-3-1 (the high expansion foam unit) during a drill back in September.  These shots really show the apparatus in action.  This drill included Engine 26, Truck 7, Engine 103, and it was under the direction of Battalion 4.  

The reason Engine 103 was involved in this drill is that if E26 or the truck are out, E103 is the next available company to operate this apparatus.  It was told to me that Batt. 4 also would be drilling with other companies in the battalion to get everyone familiar with the apparatus.  

6-3-1 is very useful, as you can see, in the case of fires that need to be "smothered."  (i.e. basements, confined spaces, small storefronts, etc.)

--KB

Kyle Bernaciak photo

Tags: CFD High Expansion Foam Unit 6-3-1, Chicago Fire Department, high expansion foam used to fight fire, high-expansion foam, Kyle Bernaciak

3rd Alarm House Fire in Riverwoods 5-1-12 (update)

May 2

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Service News, Firefighting Video | Comments off

More on the fire in Riverwoods yesterday:

Tim Olk has a gallery of images HERE.

Tags: fighting fire with foam, firefighters use foam to fight basement fire, firefighting video, high expansion foam used to fight fire, high-expansion foam, house fire in Riverwoods, large house destroyed by fire in Riverwoods, Larry Shapiro, Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District, Tim Olk

Chicago 2-11 Alarm & Haz Mat Level 1 5-17-11

May 17

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Fire Department News | 12 Comments

Chicago firefighters responded this afternoon to an asphalt tank fire inside a building at 4710 W. Roosevelt Road. The Still Alarm was elevated to a Box Alarm when companies saw that several tanks were in the area and there was concern for an exposure. The header could be seen for some distance. A Haz Mat Level I was requested and ultimately the alarm was upgraded to a 2-11 with a special call for 6-3-1 and 6-3-2 for the possible use of high-expansion foam. Companies were able to handle the fire without putting the foam operation to work.

Larry Shapiro went to the scene but arrived shortly before the 2-11 and the Level I were struck out. He has a small gallery HERE, and there is a brief article HERE.

Chicago Fire Department 2-11 and Haz Mat Level I 5-17-11

Tower Ladder 14, supplied by Engine 96 flows water on what is left of the asphalt fire in the industrial yard in the 4700 block of Roosevelt Road. Larry Shapiro photo

High Expansion Foam Unit 6-3-1 was called to the scene but did not go to work. Larry Shapiro photo

Engine 113 was on a hydrant on Roosevelt Road just outside of the gate leading to the industrial yard. Larry Shapiro photo

6-3-2 the bulk foam carrier unit was on the scene to support 6-3-1 in the event that foam was used at the fire. Larry Shapiro photo

5-1-1 was working out of the haz mat spare today. Larry Shapiro photo

Tags: 2-11 alarm fire, Chicago Fire Department, HazMat Level I, high-expansion foam, Larry Shapiro, Level I Haz Mat

CFD 3-11 (part 3)

Dec 5

Posted by bgshap in Fire, Reader submission | Comments off

Tim Olk arrived at the 3-11 on Friday before Steve Redick, and Tim provided several images depicting operations which took place prior to the images that were posted HERE.

Chicago Fire Department 3-11 Lincoln Avenue

Firefighters direct a hand line into the front of the carpet store after companies were pulled out of the building. Behind these firefighters, the foam transmission system can be seen as high-expansion foam is being directed into the building. Tim Olk photo

A shot of sector 1 after the fire broke through the roof shows several hand lines in use as well as elevated master streams from Squad 1 and Tower Ladder 21. Tim Olk photo

Chicago Fire Department 3-11 alarm Lincoln Avenue

Firefighters work to position the baskets in order to find a spot that will allow them to direct their master streams for maximum impact. Before they can begin flowing water again, they use hand tools to gain access behind the mansard facia. Tim Olk photo

Foam unit 6-3-1 is aligned with the front door of the store to provide access for applying the foam. Water is added to the foam concentrate and the fans blow the foam through a large tube, forcing it into the building to extinguish the basement fire. The foam is very light and a percentage of it blows out along the street as well. Tim Olk photo

This shot beautifully illustrates the foam delivery procedure and the obvious overflow that is inherent with this application. The 4-foot diameter tubing allows the fire department to send a tremendous volume of foam into the building. Tim Olk photo

Another view from sector 1 shows Squad 1 directing their master stream through the mansard facia into a hole created when the large sign fell away. The elevated position and proximity of the firefighter in the bucket provides for much greater accuracy in the placement of the stream than can be achieved by hand lines or master streams directed from street level. Tim Olk photo

Tim has posted almost 600 photos from this fire in a gallery which can be seen HERE.

Tags: 3-11, Chicago Fire Department, elevated master stream, high-expansion foam, Lincoln Avenue, Snorkel, Tim Olk, tower ladder

CFD 3-11 (part 2)

Dec 4

Posted by bgshap in Apparatus on-scene, Fire, Reader submission | 1 Comment

Steve Redick submitted several images from the 3-11 yesterday on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago which was mentioned HERE. The fire included a response 6-3-1, one of Chicago’s foam units which deployed high-expansion foam into the building in an effort to extinguish the fire. Steve arrived on-scene later than he would have liked, but still captured many images while the suppression effort was active.

The deck gun from Engine 35 went to work in the rear of the building as fire vented through the roof. Steve Redick photo

Tower 10 was in the alley with Engine 35 and was able to safely deploy the tower among the utility wires to provide an elevated master stream. Steve Redick photo

Engine 56 was on a hydrant at Lincoln and Southport. Steve Redick photo

Engine 112 was supplying several hand lines and with the help of the water department made an effort to keep the water in the street flowing to the sewers. Steve Redick photo

Firefighters use a hand line from the roof of an exposure building to fight the fire. Steve Redick photo

Trucks 28 and 44 are located on Lincoln Avenue near the fire building with Foam unit 6-3-1. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department 3-11 Lincoln Avenue Squad 1 Snorkel

Firefighters from Squad 1 use their 55-Snorkel, 1A, in sector 1 with an elevated master stream. The curb lane and sidewalk as well as most of everything else, is covered with foam. In the background, the chute used to send the foam into the building is visible. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department Engine 55 3-11 alarm fire

Engine 55 is located in sector 1 on a hydrant and is supplying water to Tower 21. Steve Redick photo

Chicago Fire Department 3-11 alarm fire on Lincoln Avenue

An overview shot looking down Lincoln Avenue shows a huge column of smoke coming from the carpet store down the block. In the foreground, Engine 106 is pumping to companies further down the street. On the left side of the photo beyond the two buggies is the spare command van. Steve Redick photo

A complete gallery of Steve’s images and a video from this fire can be seen HERE.

Tags: 3-11, CFD, Chicago Fire Department, foam unit, high-expansion foam, Lincoln Avenue, Snorkel, Squad 1, Steve Redick, tower ladder