Firefighting

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Tips on prevention

  • Preparation is the first line of defense. The house had an air entrained concrete roof which can withstand a direct fire for

over 30 minutes before the underlaying wood catches. The house had double paned windows which reduced radiant heating of the interior and flash over fires. Fire screen on all vents and stucco'd eves prevent sparks from finding a place to lodge

  • Controlling fuel around the house and heat near it. Cut back weed, keep low fuel plants near the house were kept watered.

Tips on Firefighting

Success stories

Don Bowen@12VDC_Power

In the mean time I had run several hundred feet of 2 1/2 plastic pipe to several hose bibs. The pipe out of the ground was metal and I had valves near the house that could turn off any of three lines. I had 100' of 5/8 hose near each valve. I was able to knock down flying embers and stopped the fire on the edge of the property while the wife evacuated.

Water supply was a tank about 1/4 mile away and 300' up. I had 80# water pressure and used narrow nozzles that allowed a long stream. Embers were quickly extinguished and I could change to a wide pattern to knock down grass fires.