Rear View of the mounted Foam Unit
The photograph is courtesy of the family of George Dey. George took many forestry photographs in his forestry career and many are now shown on this web site. Check under ‘Groups’ and George Dey Collection.
One of a series of photographs at South Strome Forest showing a fire control training session to Forestry Commission staff in the use of the mobile Foam Unit organised by Mike Aldridge.
This shot gives quite a clear view of many of the features of the Foam or Fire Control Unit. Note that large water tank to which is fitted a frame to hold pump, hoses and drums of foam. The four square plates are the bottoms of screw jacks which fit onto the unit and lift it clear of the Muskeg when not required. The Foam Unit usually stood on its legs in a depot when not in use. One such depot was the Forestry office at Lairg.
The fire pump or more correctly the water pump is the green machine next to Mike and has an intake pipe (lower black pipe) and delivery pipe (upper red multi valve pipe). It is set up in this image to draw water from the integral tank through the black pipe and deliver it to the red multi valve pipe on which there are a number of options.
1. Through the Foam producing unit.
2. Remove the foam head and replace with adaptor and fit long hoses.
3. By closing the large green handled gate valve and opening the small gate valve the live hose reel comes into play for close at hand damping down and fire fighting.
The foam concentrate supply is controlled by the valves on the frame next to Mike. It is sucked from the drums and it appears as though it can be fed in through the pump intake and also into the pump out flow pipe. Perhaps someone could explain?
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, George Dey Forestry Collection, Other Vehicles and Machines