Providing response ability for first responders

By Dennis Smagac, President of Intelagard

First Responders, including fire fighters, EMTs, and police officers, have seen their budgets shrink while the public’s expectation of their response abilities grow. It doesn’t matter if the cause is intentional or accidental. Attempting to keep pace with effective response and remediation equipment is a serious budget issue. Having only single hazard response systems is inefficient. Multi-hazard, multi-purpose equipment provides users with tools to respond to a broader range of situations.

Multi-purpose equipment provides responders with tools to address a wide range of incidents The ability to use a single unit to respond to a chemical or biological incident as well as suppress fire reduces the need to buy multiple pieces of equipment. It also enhances the responder’s ability to provide an effective response in a situation where multiple hazards may concurrently exist.  An effective rapid response lessens the damage, and thus the economic consequence, of an incident.  A rapid response is key. Calling and waiting for another group to show up can be costly in terms of time, safety, and money.

Consider an intentionally set fire intended to cover up an anthrax attack. While responders fight the fire, they may be exposed and unintentionally spread the contaminant.  If responders had multiple hazard equipment, they would have the flexibility to respond to the multiple hazards at the scene.  Using the same scenario, a responder could use a single piece of equipment to contain the contaminant and begin the decontamination process, rinse the unit’s tank, refill it with a different formulation and use that same unit to suppress the fire.  The same systems could be used to contain an accidental spill from a derailed train that was carrying toxic chemicals. Lives and money could be saved.  Such equipment and formulations are currently available.     

Compressed Air Foam Systems

Intelagard systems use advanced compressed air foam technology. Compressed air foam systems are greener than traditional fire fighting systems.  Studies show that compressed air foam systems knock down fire 78% faster than using water alone, which greatly reduces smoke pollution, while using 79% less resource than water. Less liquid means less water damage, this conserves water and reduces run-off.  User fatigue is minimized as hose weight is greatly reduced. Foam weighs less than liquid. These systems are also an excellent choice for initial response applications due to their ability to expand on-board resources - expanded foam allows for maximum effectiveness per size and weight, with a corresponding significant reduction in logistical support requirements, whether used for fire, decontamination, or other emergency response.  The unique foam bubble structure generated through Intelagard systems allows the foam to adhere to vertical and inverted surfaces.  The durable foam blanket stops re-ignition in fire situations.  In decontamination operations, it maintains the required wet contact time between the chemical or biological agent and the decontaminant.

As dictated by the situation encountered, Intelagard systems will deploy fire suppression foams, chemical/biological decontamination foams, and hazmat remediation foams. When performing decontamination operations, Intelagard systems are capable of applying compressed air foam, air aspirated foam and liquid with simple control adjustments, in order to quickly and effectively switch operational modes to match specific needs.

Portable and Large Scale Equipment

Intelagard systems range in size from the Macaw 5 gallon backpack (that yields over 300 gallons of finished foam) to large-scale thousand gallon systems (yielding over 30,000 gallons of finished foam. Expansion ratios are dependent upon type of foam and nozzle used.

Intelagard’s portable CAF systems include the man-portable Macaw backpack, Merlin handcart, and SwiftCAF All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) systems. The Macaw is powered by an on-board air cylinder, or by a direct hose feed from an air compressor. The system is capable of applying virtually any liquid-based material through an array of accessory nozzles, and can expand foaming solutions up to 70 times. Macaw units are fully portable, comfortable to carry, and are currently deployed by the US military.

The Merlin is a twin-tank, dual-pump, cart-mounted unit that can expand solutions up to 70 times. The equipment case quickly detaches from cart to be used as a hand carried drafting system for limited access sites. Federally funded US Urban Search And Rescue teams use the Merlin for a number of applications.

Turn your All Terrain Vehicles into response units using the SwiftCAF ATV system. Do not let damaged infrastructure or abandoned cars prevent your ability to respond. As with all Intelagard systems, the units may be used for decontamination, fire suppression, and hazmat remediation.  These systems are excellent rapid response systems for parks, farms, and ranches for their mobility and versatility.

Large scale systems are also available including the Falcon Fixed Site Decontamination System (FSDS).  Deployed worldwide by the military, the Falcon FSDS is a large-scale truck and trailer system capable of transporting and dispersing decontamination formulas as well as standard fire suppression foams.

Intelagard systems have been in use for almost two decades.  Users include the US military, Civil Support Teams, USAR teams, Fire Fighters and other First Responder groups, industry, and more. 

Make multi-hazard response systems a part of your response plan.  It is practical and economical as well as efficient. 

For more information, please contact:  info@intelagard.com, 303-309-6309, or visit www.intelagard.com