By Alan M. Petrillo
Equipment designed for wildland firefighting is arguably as important as the wildland and urban interface apparatus that carries it to the scene of a wildland fire. The recent Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) conference run by the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) at the Peppermill Resort in Reno, Nevada, had an exhibit hall filled with a wide array of equipment and gear that wildland firefighters use in suppressing wildland fires.
Eric Topacio, chief executive officer of Cedar Valve, says his company’s newly-redesigned 2½-inch valve shows a lower profile and is lighter in weight than its predecessor. The valve is used in situations when a pumper or tanker operator doesn’t want to be anchored to a hydrant or other water source, allowing the operator to quickly disconnect the engine panel while still hooked to a charged hydrant. Cedar Valve’s 2½-inch model can be easily used by a Type 3 engine on a water shuttle, Topacio says, and the company also makes a four-inch valve.
Phos-Chek, a maker of fire-retardant foams and gels used in wildland firefighting, introduced its newest product: FX, a Class B AFFF 3 percent military specification (milspec) retardant. Chris Thompson, Phos-Chek product manager, says FX is tinted pink for high visibility in air-assist applications, but that it is also being used in ground applications to protect structures and other vulnerable areas. “With ground-applied products, you get 100 percent coverage that can be applied hours, days, and weeks in advance, and even in night operations,” Thompson points out.
Scotty Fire, displayed its wildland foam nozzle as well as its 4010 Fast-Foam applicator for wildland use. To operate the Fast-Foam applicator, a firefighter opens the inlet side of the mixing chamber, inserts a Fast-Foam cartridge, reseals the inlet end cap, attaches the unit to a supply hose, and sprays Class A foam.
TenCate showed its new Tech T-4 base layer shirt for wildland use, a lightweight, tri-blended fabric product similar to athletic shirts that wick moisture away from the wearer’s skin, according to William Smith, sales manager for industrial products at TenCate. “Fire agencies like CAL FIRE and Fairfax County (VA) Fire Department are already using them,” Smith says. “And, we plan on bringing out a similar line of boxer briefs and sports bras as well.”
Amit Kapoor, president of First Line Technology, says the AmbuCarrier foldable litter his company makes, which was on display, serves as a manual transport rescue litter that can carry a Stokes, backboard, or NATO litter (used by the National Guard). “It weighs 34 pounds, has 18-inch wheels, which can be quickly changed out for sand wheels for beachside work, and fits in an apparatus compartment,” Kapoor says. “The litter also can be used for equipment transfer if needed.”