THIS BRAND new top-of-the-range engine has been unveiled at Bromsgrove Fire Station, offering crews the latest blaze-battling equipment.
The new Scania CAFS (Compressed Air Foam System) can carry 300 litres of foam and 2,400 litres of water – significantly more than previous models.
The 18-tonne vehicle is fitted with the ‘Godiva Smart CAF system’, making it easier for firefighters to tackle bigger blazes which need large quantities of foam to bring them under control.
CAFS’ combination of water, compressed air and foam solution can produce 21,000 litres of finished foam, meaning considerably less water is needed to achieve a greater cooling effect. This means there is less fire and water damage post-incident.
Because of its capacity, the engine comes in handy when there are poor local water supplies and the on-board equipment is lighter reducing firefighter fatigue.
The new engines are also easier to maintain and service, meaning less expensive repairs are needed by specialists.
CAFS’ combination of water, compressed air and foam solution can produce 21,000 litres of finished foam, needing considerably less water than traditional appliances and achieving a greater cooling effect, resulting in reduced fire and water damage.
Deployable to any kind of incident, and especially effective where there are poor local water supplies, CAFS will have particular advantages for tackling basement, large building, hazardous material, watercraft and agricultural incidents, as well as thatch and fuel/oil fires.
Additionally, the new appliances will have greater serviceability than the outgoing ones, reducing the need for expensive repairs by specialists and therefore driving down costs.
Group Commander Jon Butlin said: “This is great news.
“The new CAFS will really boost the service’s firefighting and incident handling capability.
“Not only does it have considerably greater foam and water storage and pumping capability, but it will be far more versatile, offering a wide range of incident responses from large buildings to water and agricultural call-outs.
“The lighter hoses and high pumping capacity also mean that we can handle callouts more rapidly, resulting in less fatigue and risk for our crews as well as reduce damage and environmental impact on the local area.”
