Ethanol and other alcohol-based fuels are no match for the firefighting foam used by Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical, Division Chief Rich Barr says.

While Barr acknowledges recent news reports that some departments nationwide may have lagged in keeping their preparations up with the rise in popularity of ethanol, he maintains that it’s not a concern in Lawrence.

Yes, fighting fires involving grain-based fuel is best accomplished using a specially formulated foam, rather than the traditional foam products that have typically been in use since the 1960s.

But for the past 20 years or so, Barr said, Lawrence firefighters have been equipped with the right stuff to battle such blazes: Alcohol Type Concentrate/Aqueous Fill Forming Foam, known in the trade as ATC/AFFF.

“You can get different foams,” said Barr, Lawrence fire marshal, “but that’s the kind we get.”

Unlike other foams, the ATC product produces a “physical polymer membrane barrier” between the fuel surface, such as ethanol, and the foam blanket, which is designed to cut off the fire’s oxygen.

ATC foam can cost as much as 30 percent more than standard products, but the added protections make the investment worthwhile, Barr said.

“That’s normal for us,” Barr said. “We buy it so we have that ability.”