Fireboat "S.C.-428" / "Cascade"
Baltimore Fireboat first in Nation with firefighting foam
..In 1921 the Baltimore Fire Department put in service the first foamite fire engine in the nation, assigned to answer alarms in the oil storage district.
..On several occasions this apparatus was successfully called upon to extinguish fires in the bilges and engine rooms of ships lying at piers, and it was decided to equip one or more fireboats with a foamite system.
..In April of 1925, the Fireboat S.C. – 428 became the first fireboat in the nation to have a firefighting foamite system installed. The equipment consisted of two lead lined tanks, each holding 100 gallons of fluid. Compressed air was used as the expulsive force, with 100 psi. being maintained on the tanks at all times. When activated, the two liquids were forced into a mixing chamber where they expand 8 to 10 times, giving a spread of 1,600 to 1,800 gallons of finished foam.
.. A feature of the equipment is that by an off-pipe, foam may be discharged directly into the bilge of the fireboat, in event of fire on the vessel.
..On several occasions this apparatus was successfully called upon to extinguish fires in the bilges and engine rooms of ships lying at piers, and it was decided to equip one or more fireboats with a foamite system.
..In April of 1925, the Fireboat S.C. – 428 became the first fireboat in the nation to have a firefighting foamite system installed. The equipment consisted of two lead lined tanks, each holding 100 gallons of fluid. Compressed air was used as the expulsive force, with 100 psi. being maintained on the tanks at all times. When activated, the two liquids were forced into a mixing chamber where they expand 8 to 10 times, giving a spread of 1,600 to 1,800 gallons of finished foam.
.. A feature of the equipment is that by an off-pipe, foam may be discharged directly into the bilge of the fireboat, in event of fire on the vessel.
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Underwriters Report, 1925
..Engine Tests : The forward pump unit of the "Subchaser 428" completed a satisfactory test, delivering 97% of its rated capacity. Several attempts were made to test the after unit, but in each case after several minutes running, the motor became excessively hot and the test was discontinued.
Underwriters Report, 1932
S.C. - 428/CASCADE CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
..Engine Tests : The forward pump unit of the "Subchaser 428" delivered 1,206 g.p.m. at 121 psi. The aft pump delivered 1,195 g.p.m. at 122 psi. and on pressure tests, they delivered 704 g.p.m. at 138 psi. and 662 g.p.m. at 135 psi. respectively.
..Under authority of Public Law 649, 79th Congress, the Subchaser 428 was transferred from the U. S. Government to the City of Baltimore on May 23, 1949. On June 21, 1949 the "S.C. - 428" was renamed "Cascade".
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