Firefoam pop pack

The firefoam pop pack is an utility item that releases an non-damaging explosion of firefoam on command, putting out fires, preventing the spread of other fires, and reducing the flammability of pawns in the area to 0%.

Acquisition

Firefoam pop pack can be crafted at a Machining table once the Firefoam research project has been completed. Each requires 20 Steel, 1 Component, 30 Chemfuel and 1,200 ticks (20 secs) of work.

Summary

Worn on the utility slot. Creates a ?-tile radius of firefoam when used.

Has 1 charge. Must be reloaded with 30 chemfuel each time.

Pyromaniacs have no objections to wearing or using the firefoam pop pack.

Analysis

As fire extinguishers, the pop pack is much cheaper than a firefoam popper (which requires the full 75 Steel, 1 Component per use), but has a much smaller radius. The popper is automatically triggered when near fire, but the pop pack must be activated by a pawn. In general, the popper is best at protecting your warehouses, while the pop pack can be deployed anywhere.

Even pop packs deploy enough firefoam to completely douse small fires, such as from lightning, short circuits or even incendiary shells, so long as the fire hasn't spread. As long as you can get a colonist to the fire quickly, then the pop pack can act as a full replacement to the more expensive popper. However, colonists are still colonists - vulnerable to injury, mental breaks, and the heatstroke from the fire itself - so are unreliable in practice. The pop pack also takes up the utility slot, which can potentially be an issue.

Note that firefoam pop packs require chemfuel. For many colonies, this means researching Biofuel Refining alongside the actual firefoam research.

Combat

Firefoam packs are useful in any combat situation involving fire. Pawns lit on fire will stop shooting and run around wildly, which can be very dangerous. Deployed firefoam sets flammability to 0%, which prevents fire from happening at all. Unless it is raining, the firefoam will stay on the ground until a colonist actually cleans it up.

Enemies can also wear firefoam pop packs, using the pack whenever they are near or on fire. This can lead to the amusing situation where enemies will constantly try to light your crops on fire, just for it to be extinguished by the firefoam.