Extinguishing Flammable Liquids: South Plainfield Firefighters Hone Foam and Chemical Tactics

S Plainfield, NJ - Firefighters from the South Plainfield Volunteer Fire Department took part in high-intensity, practical fireground training over the weekend, focusing on the complex challenges associated with volatile liquid fuel fires.

On the morning of August 29, department members traveled to the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Middlesex County for an intensive live-burn training session centered entirely on Class B fire mitigation. Unlike standard structural firefighting, hydrocarbon and flammable liquid fires require distinct tactical approaches, as using straight water streams can cause dangerous boil-overs and spread the burning product.

Operating in full structural turnout gear and SCBA, crews faced realistic bulk liquid fire scenarios on the academy’s burn grounds. Firefighters drilled extensively on the physics and practical application of finished firefighting foam, practicing bank-down, roll-on, and rain-down techniques to successfully establish and maintain a continuous vapor-suppressing blanket over the fuel.

In addition to foam line deployments, members operated large-capacity dry chemical extinguishers, refining rapid-discharge sweeping techniques to achieve fast three-dimensional knockdown of pressurized and running liquid fires.

The live evolution gave both veteran and probationary members critical, real-heat repetitions under controlled conditions, ensuring the department remains fully prepared to handle industrial spills, bulk fuel transport incidents, and high-hazard roadway fires safely and efficiently.