GRASS FIRE equipment.

Grass fire containment tools

In no specific order, here are some of the tools we use to fight grass fires along with some of the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Grass backpacks

2 Varieties of packpacks. Hard and Soft.

Hard backpacks are made from Ridgid ABS plastic.Soft backpacks are make from vinvyl/plastic. Both have nylo straps and are meant to be worn on the back. They have a large opening on top for quick filling and a very simple pump mechanism attatched to a short hose. Best suited for difficult to reach areas such as coulee bottoms . Very effective on light fuels.

Fire brooms/ swatters
effective on slow burning light fuel fires such as grass / summerfallow., not tremendiously effective in running grass fires or in brush areas. Broom bristles are made from bamboo and are meant to be soaked so tehy don't burn. The trouble is keeping them moist for a long duration results in rot.


structural hoseline

The structural hoseline generally a 38mm (1.5 inch) line with a variable flow nozzle. This gives flexibility to apply a large volume of water (60 - 125 GPM) and manouverability to reach deep into brush stands. When combines with pump and roll capabilities, the structural attack line can move up the flank of a slow moving fire with a firefighter on foot.

Bush buggy

The bush buggy is our most flexible attach unit. Equiped with 200 -300 gallons of water and a small potable pump, these trucks can attack a running grass fire from the passenger seat, and can also be used as a platform from which to fight brush fires on foot. With 10 - 24 GPM nozzles, they conserve water for light fuels, but have enough punch to cool larger fuels. The buggys are entirely dependant on the water reserves of the tankers (tenders). The could draft water froma static source, but are not configured to do so.

Pump and roll (monitor)

Our larger tanker (tender) apparatus are equiped with pump and roll capabilities and either a remote control monitor, or fixed nozzels. The remote monitor is the 'most' effective of these two configurations. It can be used to patrol road ditches which is usually our fire break but can also be used in dynamic situaltions such as brush piles etc. It can be used to apply a large volume of water at 20 - 30 feet . The fixed nozzel is usefull only for patroling firebreaks (roads).