An increasingly large number of people are building their homes in forest regions, remote woodlands, and overlooking mountain ranges. In many cases, access to these areas, consists of country roads through rough terrain. While these areas are desired for their natural beauty, people living in these scenic wonderlands need to evaluate the danger of fires and protection for their homes and property. |
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Not all homes are equally served by fire departments. In particular, rural homes and farms may be miles from fire departments. Municipal water supplies may not serve property owners in remote areas. Subsequently, for people in these areas, fire fighting is left up to the property owner. |
| In some cases, controlled burns in rural areas may be necessary. It is foreseeable that these fires might get out of control. However, the shift from a controlled burn to an out of control fire may happen quickly. Although it will always be clear that a fire has gotten out of control, it may not always be clear that a fire is getting out of control. By the time fire fighting help arrives, containment may be much more difficult because of the fire's momentum. People living in the wildland/urban interface need to evaluate the critical response time for fire fighting companies to arrive. In a matter of minutes, a small volume fire can grow in size and produce devastating effects to a structure and property. |
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At Carba Fire Technologies, we have developed a portable self-contained fire protection unit. When used properly, the unit can assist in suppressing a fire or limit damage by containing it while waiting for assistance to arrive. The unit is mobile, and can be used as "stand-by" when conducting a controlled burn. In the event of a fire, it can be wheeled into position to bring its fire-fighting capabilities to bear on the fire. |
| The Firefighting Unit includes a tank for holding a large quantity of water and corresponding foaming agent. A pump driven by a gasoline engine supplies water to two hoses. It is equipped with drafting capabilities to provide a continuous feed of water to the tank when used with an alternative water source such as a lake, pond, stream, or swimming pool. The unit is designed with a quick release system to separate the pump, engine, and foaming apparatus from the tank, enabling the tank to be bypassed when drawing from an alternative water source. The drafting system supplies the pump with water needed when the pump is disconnected from the tank, or if the tank needs to be filled. |
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The unit is designed with a fire pump specifically intended for use in fire fighting. An agricultural pump, which costs less, is not designed for the purpose of fire fighting. The foaming unit is used to increase the volume of water being used to create a foam "blanket" over the fire and suffocating it. It is also needed to spread fire retardant gel or other fire suppressants over a structure or property for immediate fire protection for an oncoming wildfire. |
| The unit is also equipped with a telescoping light to be used in a situation where light is needed and/or the electricity is out. Power Inverters: 110 volt (normal house current) 150 watts to 3,000 watts or a 12 volt plug-in will be installed for uses such as to plug in a cell phone for recharging, using a radio for emergency updates or even supplying electricity to your home as needed during emergency situations. |
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The feature of these Firefighting Units is that it is useful in a greater variety of situations where a fire must be extinguished than would be a conventional fire extinguisher and yet more practical than the property owner purchasing a departmental fire engine. The pump unit and drafting system can also be used for flood conditions to remove large volumes of water from basements or out of areas needed cleared to protect a structure and its contents, Thus expanding the scope of uses for the unit. |
| Finally, the unit has commercial applications in addition to private ones. These units can be carried in the bed of pickup trucks and delivered quickly for use in fighting brush fires and other smaller fires. It can be used in industrial settings where fires can start easily or spread quickly, especially those where fire engines might not be able to maneuver easily. |
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These units combined with taking a few precautions can help protect your home and property and will contribute to preserving the environment you live in and enjoy. |
