Foaming fire suppression technology is most easily imagined as being used by firefighters controlling a burning aircraft.
But an 18-month-old Calgary company has developed a farm-level version of the firefighting foam gear that weighs just 76 kilograms and is the size of a floor dolly stacked with fertilizer bags.
“Agricultural producers are an important focus for us,” said Brian Fryk, of Just in Case Fire Ltd., the manufacturer of the device.
“Flame Out (the fire suppressant) is effective against flammable solvents including farm chemicals and fuels, things that are a challenge to control, especially if the fire department is a long way away.”
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At 1.5 metres high, the Fire Caddy’s wheeled cart carries a 45-litre-per-minute pump, a five horsepower Tecumseh or Honda gasoline motor, 25 m of hose, 19 L of fire suppressant and a Scotties air induction foaming nozzle.
Rather than relying on water to put out a fire, the system mixes a biodegradable fire suppressant into the water stream, then adds air to the mix at the nozzle.
The result is a higher volume of product reaching the fire than water alone and one that has the ability to “encapsulate the oxygen needed to fuel the burn.
“It also shears the hydrocarbon strings, rendering the rest of the fuel unable to burn.
It improves the properties of water that enable it to put out a fire – better penetration and better cooling,” said Fryk.
The Fire Caddy is rated for Class A fires, which are combustible materials, and Class B fires fuelled by flammable liquids.
The tool will use any standing water source or can be tank fed.
A tank and trailer combination is provided as an option for portable fire control on wheels.
The basic unit is priced at $2,900 with the trailer version starting at $4,900.
The company can be contacted on the internet at www.justincasefire.com or at 403-243-9728.
