When you have 8,000 of gasoline billowing on a main thoroughfare, it’s crucial to know where to get the resources needed. It was the Allendale Fire Department that came in with a major assist.
Certainly there were fire departments closer to call than Allendale, but none with the quantity of foam that department has. Allendale is one of three Ottawa County fire departments that recently added a foam trailer—which holds 530 gallons. Most fire departments, including departments in Kent County, only carry about ten gallons of foam on their trucks.
Allendale was called and arrived on the downtown scene within an hour of the explosion. In that time, Allendale Fire Captain and Inspector Tony Dolce estimates that the Grand Rapids department already had gone through 30 to 50 gallons of foam and was down to five or six gallons.
Over the next four hours, Allendale supplied another 80 gallons of foam. Had Dolce’s department not been called, it would have required eight additional fire trucks, each carrying ten gallons, to provide the same amount of resources. The Gerald R. Ford International Airport truck also contributed foam, but again, not to the capacity of what can be brought on the specialized trailer.
According to Dolce, when it comes to a gas fire, water will push the flames around but won’t put the fire out. “You're looking for a smothering,” Dolce said. “Water runs off. Foam builds a coating on top of it."
Dolce explained that fire needs oxygen to breathe, “in the sense that it's like a breathing animal,” adding that gasoline flashes and burns at about 500 degrees. Unlike water, foam creates a layer that the oxygen can’t get through. The goal is to keep that foam layer on top.
All total, Allendale sent a pickup truck pulling the foam trailer, a tanker truck for water supply—if needed, plus a tanker truck from Wright Township. Dolce was at the event with one of Allendale’s sergeants. In his 17-year career, Dolce had never been on tanker fire before. “It’s a rarity.”
Given that it was almost 15 miles to downtown, did Allendale have sirens sounding the entire way? “We did on this call,” Dolce said, “because they were running out of their capabilities. They were running out of foam.”
In addition to Allendale’s, there are two other trailers on opposite ends of Ottawa County—one in Holland Township and one in Ferrysburg. Dolce explained that having one in Ferrysburg has added importance because of the city’s large fuel depot.
Each foam trailer cost roughly $250,000. The Ottawa County Board of Commissioners approved the funds to purchase the trailers in the spring of 2023, with half of the cost being paid by the county and the remaining half by the fire chiefs of 24 local jurisdictions.
The trailers hold two 265-gallon tanks, with each tank holding $14,000 worth of foam. The jurisdiction in need of the foam is the one that pays to replace what is used.
Allendale has had its trailer for a year so far, and this was the second time it was deployed. The first time was for a mulch fire in Blendon Township last May. The other two trailers in the county have not been used as of yet.
The foam is a fluorine-free mix that replaced the previous PFAS-containing foam used by fire departments until 2019. PFAS can be more effective but does not break down well, raising toxicity concerns with its potential for leaching into ground water.
While in use, the foam can be released in different percentages, like 3% or 6%, depending on the need.
Is Allendale often called to travel that far to assist? “It's very rare,” Dolce said. “But a big incident like that, they were in need. They've returned the favor with specialties that they have that we don't have.” For example, the HazMat Team in Grand Rapids has the ability to test for ricin, and Allendale had an incidence in which that specialty was needed.
“We all help everybody, no matter the jurisdiction,” Dolce said. “It's good to have collaborative, working relationships with everybody because you never know when you're gonna have needs.”
Krista Yetzke is a native of Ottawa County. A jeep-driving, guitar-playing wife, mom, and everyday adventurer, Krista was raised on the love of Jesus, the great outdoors, the arts, the value of frugality, and the beauty of food as medicine.
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