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May 2004
Tech-Update
Ground Based - Wild Fire Suppression Equipment
Tech Update Editor: Diane Mettler
H T Kegs
The company’s poly kegs and tanks have found their way into many different
industries and have proved essential for fire prevention. With the
addition of Fire-
Trol
104 foam concentrate, a 26-gallon keg of water becomes 150 gallons of
fire-foam. There is no special training, no complicated foam injection
system to deal with, just a simple easy-to-operate, go-anywhere fire
prevention product. The first attack on small fires is the most important
step. H T kegs have provided the necessary fire prevention to control
small fires before they turn into large expensive ones. With 12 or 24-volt
power supply available on site, either of which will power the Keg, it can
provide fire prevention in remote locations where it is needed most.
www.htkegs.com Readers Service
Card #4100
TimberPro
About three years ago, a logging company in Montana purchased a TimberPro
820 
to do
forwarding on their logging job. During the fire season, there was a major
need for fire fighting equipment so Scott Wilke, who is part owner of WW
Contractors, designed a 3,000 gallon tank with a large funnel device
mounted on top so it could be loaded using a helicopter. Then he installed
hoses to the end of the boom along with a grapple saw, so that he could be
building a fire break while putting out the fire with his well-guided
spray of water. The machine can work in very rough terrain and handle
slopes up to 25 degrees. The company says that set up this way, the
TimberPro TF820, which is among the best rough terrain forwarders on the
market today. becomes a very effective dual-purpose machine,
www.timberpro.com Readers
Service Card #4101
KMC— “FIRE TRACKER”
The KMC “Fire Tracker” unit is designed around the KMC 2000 Series Track
Vehicle 
with
its balanced weight distribution, torsion bar suspension and “live” steel
track. The “Fire Tracker” carries a 1,000 to 1,500 US gallon tank unit
with separate foam system, high pressure “wildfire” pump, high volume
loading pump and 200“/1” hose mounted on an electric hose reel. It can
also be equipped with an optional hydraulic tilt or angle/tilt brush or
dirt blade. Over the past three years, the unit has proven itself on fires
in BC, Alberta and Oregon. Its versatility includes transporting large
volumes of water over rugged terrain, front line fire attacks, fire guard
construction, mop-up assistance for ground crews and as a stand-by fire
engine when doing fuel reduction via prescribed burning. The vehicle’s
combination of high travel speed capabilities, steep slope climbing
ability, heavy load capacity, high pressure water/foam system and four-way
tilt or six-way angle/tilt front mounted blade make it an excellent tool
for initial attack, mop-up or stand-by on wildfires in “hard-to-get-at”
areas. www.kmc-kootrac.com.
Readers Service Card #4102
Central Oregon Workensport
The FireTracker is designed to put out brush fires, transport and evacuate
people and haul equipment for use in rough, remote and hard-to-reach
areas. This
vehicle
can be utilized as a foam fire suppression unit, and also be converted
on-site in less than 30 seconds to a search and rescue apparatus equipped
with stretcher and oxygen tank mounting system features. It’s equipped
with a 100’ forestry fire hose, class A foam inductor system, a six hp
two-stage pump, 100-gallon United Plastics tank (90 gallon water/10 gallon
foam cell) and more. Buyers can also choose from three different chassis’:
UTV 4x4, UTV 4x4 w/all-terrain track system, and UTV 6x6. The company’s
FireTracker Junior is a fire suppression water delivery system that fits
most off-road utility task vehicles such as John Deere Gators, Kawasaki
Mules, Polar Rangers and others. The tank holds 70 gallon water/5 gallon
foam cell. It weighs 800 pounds and is 45” W x 36”D x 36”H. It also
features anti-skid rubber pads mounted under the tank to reduce movement,
double-welded seams and a six hp two-stage pump.
www.coworkensport.com
Readers Service Card #4103
The MegaSecur Water-Gate
The Water-Gate is a portable, reusable water barrier that can be used in
place of 
traditional
barriers such as sandbags, rock, or dirt dams. Unlike sandbags, Water-Gate
is “self-filling.” It can be installed or removed in minutes and be packed
and reused for different applications. The portable barrier can be carried
in a small pickup truck and smaller barriers can be carried in and
installed by a single person. For fire suppression purposes, the
Water-Gate is used to build water reservoirs by blocking streams used to
meet pumping requirements. The water barrier has little or no negative
effect on the environment. More than half the provinces in Canada use a
Water-Gate in fighting fire. Water-Gate comes in several lengths and
depths and can be linked together to create longer sections. On average, a
reservoir built using a stream as a source can hold more than 5,000
gallons of water, which is constantly replenished by the natural flow.
www.megasecure.com Readers
Service Card #4104
Shiloh Enterprises Ltd
These stand-by water tanks for remote access fire suppression are made for
loggers by loggers. The tanks come in different sizes and are transported
by 
grapple
skidders. The average tank size is approximately 4’D x 8’L and weighs
1,300 lbs empty/6,300 lbs full. The tanks stand on two attached skids,
making them free standing when not in use. Tank capacity is approximately
500 gallons (or 11 gallons of foam). Secured in the storage compartment
are: 1 litre gas bottle, a fire extinguisher, 100’ of lined fire hose
(with room for two extra hoses if needed), a spade, fire ax, nozzle, 1’
valve for suction hose, and a Honda WH 15x pressure pump. The tank saddles
are built to fit John Deere grapples, but can be revised to fit most other
grapples. The tanks also work well to wash machinery when water isn’t
handy. For more information call (250) 698-7451. Readers Service Card
#4105
Wildfire
Wildfire features the Fire Quick flare systems. Unlike signal flares, Fire
Quick flares work in all weather conditions, including high humidity. They
come in convenient sizes and are designed to be thrown or launched. The
flares will burn in 4,000 degree flames until consumed and are safe to
handle, store and transport. The largest, the 2.5” flare, is designed for
heavy or damp fuels and is hand thrown. Crews report that using the 2.5”
flares was effective on steep hills, heavy fuels and on marine layers. It
has a 30 to 40 second fuse and sprays 4,000 degree material over 15’ to
25’. The smaller varieties, the Hotshot Flare and Stubby Flare, are
designed for light to medium forest fuels and are launched. The Hotshot
sprays material over 10’, the Stubby Flare sprays material over 5’.
www.wildfire-equipment.com
Readers Service Card #4106
Hydro Engineering
Hydro Engineering’s Wet Break forest fire and peat bog fire extinguishing
system 
was
first used in BC and Saskatchewan in 2003. The system consists of a
pumping unit that will pump water at 1,200 gpm or 1,500 gpm from a lake,
pond or river through a 6” hose that has multiple water hookups every
100’, and is loaded on a hose reel holding 1.5 miles of hose. A farm
tractor or bulldozer is used to pull the hose reel along logging roads or
into any area that needs to be a Wet Break or flooded, unreeling the hose
as the operator is driving. The system can be set up and running within
four hours or less. www.hydro-eng.com
Readers Service Card #4106
Unimog
Built by Mercedes-Benz for over 50 years, the Unimog is a highly capable
all-wheel drive chassis often used for forest fire fighting. The unit is
equipped with high
ground
clearance portal axles and long travel coil spring suspension that—in
combination with front and rear differential locks and aggressive Michelin
tires up to 49” tall—allow passage over difficult off-road terrain. The
260 hp Mercedes diesel motor also powers it to 111 km/h on the road. The
cab over design and large windshield in the carbon fibre cab gives
uncompromised visibility for a crew of three. Up to three power takeoffs,
up to 204 hp, allow the fire crew to use powerful fire pumps without heavy
auxiliary motors. Integrated hydraulics can power special tools such as
dozer blades, winches and chain saws. It is available in 133” and 154”
wheelbases and a GVW up to 15,000 kg with water capacity of up to 6,000
litres. Readers Service Card #4107
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