By: Battalion Chief Rodney S. Vaughan
Field Training
Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Department Training Division
Recently, the Driver Training Unit (DTU), of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department (FCFRD) Training Division, completed the first “Foam for Drivers” class. This class was led by Master Technician Shawn Rappach, Station 26, Edsall Road, B-Shift, and Lieutenant’s Martin and Bartman of the DTU.
This was a class most would suggest was long overdue. For many years, FCFRD personnel could not train with real foam due to EPA regulations as it related to the compounds that make up the foam concentrate. FCFRD has purchased the newly formulated “Green” foam concentrate that is allowable for training – and environmentally friendly.
In addition, firefighters have always been taught how to apply foam, and fire officers how to decide when to use it. Yet, it is the driver/operator who everyone relies on to set up, and pump foam, using the on-board systems and/or portable foam eductors. For our civilian readers, an eductor is a device that uses the Venturi principle to introduce foam concentrate into the water stream. A mission critical skill to configure the required equipment to produce a quality foam product on the fireground!
Thus, the need for this class geared specifically to FCFRD firefighters who are engine driver qualified. The first two classes have been completed. There are more planned in the coming months.
Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department News 