Software and fire hose enhances fire-fighting resources

Effective fire fighting of high intensity fires in woodland and other open environments such as suburbs is made easier with advanced knowledge and technology. In response to these challenges, a German company has designed a software information system and an explosive hose for more effective combat techniques.

Climate Change and Environment

Fighting natural and technological fire hazards requires expertise knowledge on the correct equipment to be used with particular emphasis on the hose configuration systems that best suit the given environment. To this end, the development of the "2RS Information System" can now provide fire fighters with additional on site knowledge, thus facilitating correct hose configuration selection. Software fire propagation simulations are faster than existing competitive products, because they can achieve their results from a vector orientated simulation procedure of between 10 and 100 metres. The software is made available with sample maps and vegetation data according to the PROMETHEUS fuel classification, whilst future upgrades can quite easily have new maps implemented into the existing system. In addition, the explosive hose prototype presents increased fire extinguishing efficiency and shorter preparation time. Because the explosive hose is able to minimise on site preparation, the number of fire fighting personnel can also be minimised, thus optimising crew resources and deployments. During field test experiments with controlled burnings, the explosive hose system demonstrated its ability and suitability in dealing with high intensity fires like those found within the Mediterranean climate. Both the 2RS Information System and the explosive hose are able to operate independently of one another, but their combined potential offers future fire fighting with minimal on site preparations. Therefore with known fire parameters and weather conditions, fire fighters of the future will be able to take effective control in some of the most extreme conditions. With the use of retardants instead of pure water, the explosive hose is especially beneficial for fire crews that need to be independent of pure water supply. The future potential for these two systems should therefore provide fire crews in isolated areas with both the knowledge and, the power, to extinguish high intensity fires much more effectively.