By Alan M. Petrillo

Equipment designed for wildland firefighting is as important as the apparatus that brings it to the scene of a wildland fire. Approximately 250 wildland firefighters, officers, and incident commanders had the opportunity to meet with equipment, component, and gear makers at the recent Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) conference at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada.

WATERAX displayed its MARK-3 portable wildland fire pump, a four-stage, 58-pound unit powered by a WATERAX 10 horsepower gasoline engine. (All photos by Alan M. Petrillo.)

WATERAX exhibited its MARK-3 portable wildland fire pump, a 58-pound four-stage unit powered by a WATERAX 10-horsepower (hp) gasoline engine with a 2-inch suction intake, and 1½-inch discharge that puts out a maximum of 105 gallons per minute (gpm) at 380 pounds per square inch (psi). Mario Janson, WATERAX's sales manager, says,” This is a portable pump that can be handled by one firefighter. It's a great pump that's able to push water long distances, which often is needed in wildland firefighting." WATERAX also displayed its Mini-Striker® drip torch, and its Vanguard 18 portable pump.

GESS International Holdings Ltd. exhibited the Fire Bozz™ rapid-deploy sprinkler-like water cannon that can shoot water, foam, or retardants up to 300 feet in a 360-degree traverse.

GESS International Holdings Ltd. showed its Fire Bozz™ rapid deploy water sprinkler-like water cannon that can shoot water, foam, or retardants up to a radius of 300 feet with a 360-degree traverse. Ron Szasz, managing director of GESS International, says the Fire Bozz works with existing portable pumps, pumpers, hydrants, and 1½-inch and 2½-inch hoselines. "Its standalone, set-and-forget capability keeps firefighters out of danger and allows fire teams to be used elsewhere," Szasz points out.

Wildfire Property Protection displayed its Hurricane WD gear driven 360-degree oscillating monitor that can cover up to one acre of space through a 1-1/2-inch coupling.

Wildfire Property Protection displayed the Hurricane WD gear-driven 360-degree oscillating monitor that can cover up to one acre of space through a 1½-inch coupling. Jesse Pitt of Wildfire Property Protection says the unit can from from 25 to 200 gpm, but that it's ideal flow is in the 40- to 60-gpm range at 40 psi.

The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant was displayed by Trakker Industries LLC. The unit is a portable hydrant that fits over a farm's irrigation riser to provide a water source for wildland fires.

The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant, developed by Cody Bakker and Thomas Traphagan of Trakker Industries LLC, is a portable hydrant that fits on a farm's irrigation riser to provide clean water without contaminants to fight a wildland fire. Bakker notes that farm risers are generally spaced every 50 to 60 feet and provide between 30 and 75 psi of pressure. "The Farm-To-Fire Suppression Hydrant clamps onto the riser by going over the T-handle," he says, "which