A multi-additive suppressant agent–based low-flow and long-distance firefighting approach for suppressing wildfires near electrical transmission lines. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lu, JiaZheng; Chen, Bao-Hui; Wu, ChuanPing; Liu, Xing; Zhou, TeJun; Tan, YanJun
• Is Part Of: Journal of fire sciences. Volume 34:Number 5(2016:Sep.)
• Page Start: 398
• Page End: 415
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Wildfire suppression -- transmission lines -- high lift -- suppressant agent -- suppression additive -- low flow -- high pressure -- water mist -- mist nozzle; Flammable materials -- Periodicals; Combustion gases -- Toxicology -- Periodicals; Fireproofing -- Periodicals; 628.922
• DOI: 10.1177/0734904116659499
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0734-9041

Abstract

The key challenges of the wildfire firefighting were long-distanced and high-lifted fire events and limited water access in wildlands. This article proposed a new low-flow and high-lift firefighting approach for the application of wildfire near transmission lines. To solve the challenges, we developed a comprehensive firefighting equipment set which consisted of a high-effective suppressant agent with properties to prevent reignition and a mobile firefighting platform with long-distance and high-lift features. The liquid suppression agent improved the effectiveness of fire suppression while reducing the consumption of water significantly. As the hydraulic flow was decreased for a given volume of water, the hydraulic pressure was increased. In this way, the platform can produce a hydraulic pressure over 120 bar for an effective lift of 500 m. The results of field experiments demonstrated that the proposed approach is able to control wildfires over a long distance and high lift, which proved the effectiveness of the approach.