Intelagard’s compressed air foam systems

The forecast for wildland fire potential issued on February 1, 2022, by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) predicts that over the next four months, the potential for wildfires will be higher than average in the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, parts of New Mexico and Arizona, and the central and southern plains, in the United States of America (USA).

Over the last decade alone, fire ‘seasons’ in the USA have increased in length by two and a half months. In addition, the average area scorched by fires in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) has doubled in the last three decades, now encompassing nearly seven million acres per year. This figure is only expected to grow. Wildland firefighting is unpredictable, dangerous, and physically exhausting.

Need for fire suppression systems to be modernised

Since wildfires are not going away and will only intensify in the future, fire suppression systems must be modernised, in order to meet this increasing and dangerous demand. Fires can no longer be effectively fought using the same outdated methods, which were used in the past. Solutions that boost firefighting response and effectiveness, while significantly reducing maintenance and manpower are not only a good idea, but a critical necessity.

All WUI communities play a crucial role in protecting the surrounding ecosystem and can aid in doing so by making the decision to equip their fire departments with tools that are dependable, easy to operate, and costs less than the traditional firefighting equipment.

With Intelagard suppression systems:

• Stretch water resources. One gallon of water and foam concentrate can create up to 35 gallons of firefighting foam.
• Get closer to live fuels.
• Pretreat poles and fencing from unwanted burning.
• Create visible wet lines.
• Draft from alternate water sources (i.e., river, pool, ocean, hot tub, etc.) with a 6-to-19-foot vertical lift.

Powerful wildland firefighting in a compact package

The SwiftCAF ATV/UTV is a small-to-medium scale, Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) that is perfectly suited for rapid incident attack in restricted emergency access areas, such as cross country, off-road and rugged terrain environments.

Its (optional) terrain spray bar, when combined with foam solution from the 14-gallon tank can apply a 4-foot, half mile long wet line, before needing to refill. Once the unit runs dry, it can be refilled from a stream, creek, pond, pool, or lake in a snap (even dirty and brackish water with debris up to 1/4 inch can be used).

To read more exclusive features and latest news please see our February issue here.

Media contact