A New and Powerful Operating Principle.
Contrary to popular belief, wildfires do not propagate primarily through standing foliage, but rather are driven by the build-up of leaf litter on the forest floor. This material has an energy density of 14,000kJ/kg, meaning that a relatively modest fuel load of 3kg per square metre is the equivalent of a litre of petrol spread over that area. Under hot, dry and windy conditions, this energy is released rapidly, so much so that fire intensities of up to 50mW/m are not unknown. No existing fire suppression tactic or technology is capable of bringing such fires under control, meaning that once a fire has reached an intensity greater than 3mW/m, fire authorities are compelled to fight a running battle until conditions abate. In the case of large “system fires” in the US, this can take months.
Forest Energy Management System (FOREMS)
Wildfire Suppression Pty Ltd’s FOREMS is designed to interrupt the progress of out-of-control fires, dropping their intensity to manageable levels, or in the case of smaller fires, extinguishing them entirely. To do this, FOREMS attacks all three legs of the “Fire Triangle”, being Fuel, Air and Heat, simultaneously. FOREMS does this by explosively delivering a water/long term retardant mix directly to the seat of the fire, on the forest floor, in a fine mist. The patented Fire Suppression Module (FSM) is the core element of FOREMS, each unit containing 20L of water/retardant mix, which is atomized upon impact with the ground by a pyrotechnic bursting charge, triggered by an extremely inert proprietary fuse.
FOREMS is also designed to smoothly integrate with existing military cargo platforms, with FSMs being deployable from a rapid-loading cartridge. In the case of the Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, this cartridge can deliver 800 FSM units, knocking out up to 500m of fire front. These units can be delivered from altitudes of more than 1,000ft or 320m AGL, reducing risks to crew and aircraft, and enabling the interdiction of fires at night, when intensities are lower, and ground assets are not in proximity to the fire front.
Tactically deployed, in tandem with existing techniques and assets, FOREMS will enable fire fighters to bring major blazes under control in hours and days, rather than in weeks or months, dramatically reducing losses and the cost of wildfire suppression.