Again and again, huge fires are destroying large parts of nature in this world, destroying the habitat of humans and also animals, destroying agricultural land and property. At this time, the forest fires on this planet can not be enumerated. In particular, the entire Asian region was not considered. And the specified fires are just a few examples of the great forest and bush fires this year.
Like many other European countries, Portugal experienced a heat wave in the summer of 2018, with temperatures in excess of 45 degrees. Last year, in 2017, 114 people were killed in devastating forest fires in Portugal. In southern Portugal, in the Algarve holiday region, this year more than 1,000 firefighters and 100 soldiers with 330 fire engines, 13 aircraft and 6 helicopters fought a forest fire that destroyed 15,000 hectares of land.
At the beginning of July 2018, there were destructive and rapidly spreading forest fires in Greece in the east of the capital city of Athens, in which 99 deaths were confirmed and, by 11 September 2018, 171 people were registered with non-fatal injuries. In this holiday region bushes, forest areas and housing estates (more than 1,000 houses) with a total area of around 7,000 hectares were destroyed.
Northern Europe was also affected by forest fires. In Sweden, up to 50 fires had to be brought under control in July and August. Civil defense classified the situation as serious. Recently, the rescuers concentrated on three large areas a few hundred kilometers north of the capital Stockholm. Here the fires were so great that they could not be extinguished, but were only prevented from spreading. The forest fires in Sweden in 2018 covered an area of 30,000 hectares. They are considered the most dangerous fires of modern times in Sweden.
In 2018 Australia suffered much more from bushfires and forest fires.
In January, the Australian news agency AAP reported that a kilometer-long fire front had temporarily formed in Currum Downs, a southeastern suburb of Melbourne. Helicopters dropped water charges over the fire zone. Firefighters tried to cut burning trees. In addition to the state of Victoria with its capital Melbourne, fires were reported from neighboring South Australia. In the town of Sherwood, a fire brigade was temporarily trapped by flames in their vehicle, but remained unhurt. According to local fire authorities, 8,000 hectares of grassland and bushland were in flames.
In March, more than 70 homes and other buildings burned down in the coastal town of Tathra in southeastern New South Wales. Many of the 1600 inhabitants fled along the beach. In a neighboring village, several hundred people were accommodated in shelters. In addition, more than 1,000 hectares of land were burned in the region. More than 150 firefighters were deployed around the community to keep the fire under control.
In mid-April, around 500 firefighters fought a bushfire near the Australian city of Sydney. According to the authorities, some people living in the suburbs had to leave their homes because of the flames. Fortunately, no buildings were destroyed by the bushfire. About 2,500 hectares of land were burned.
Unfortunately, the count of forest and bush fires with counted deaths and injuries as well as the damage incurred could be continued at will. Again and again firefighters are injured during the missions.
The innovative idea of protectismundi
We have consistently asked ourselves how we can help these firefighters. That was the reason why we developed this innovative and unique fire fighting system.
Governments or even fire brigades that use this technological innovation as pioneers have a wonderful opportunity to set standards worldwide.
Description of the high pressure vortex extinguishing technology
The necessary extinguishing performance is achieved with a completely new high-pressure technology (high-pressure vortex extinguishing process). Here, the water is extremely accelerated with very high pressures of up to 200 bar and spreads in many small droplets when it is discharged from a nozzle in the spray pipes.
The spray pipes are circular and are arranged on a rotating axis. During operation at very high speeds, their angle with respect to the axis of rotation can be changed, whereby the area covered by the spray is influenced depending on the distance.
Generating the small droplets increases the surface area of the water stream manifold and thus increases its extinguishing effect. This significantly reduces water consumption, which is critically important, because a water reserve in the vehicles is of course limited.
This device is mounted in a turret/ monitor with an opening on the carrier vehicle. The control and activation of this fire-extinguishing cannon is done by a joy stick.
The PM 8 – a partially protected, manned and unmanned deployable as well as remotely controlled fire engine The world’s first forestry vehicle for fighting forest fires
The PM 8 is a heavy forestry truck in origin that has been specially developed for fire-fighting applications. The vehicle based on technical elements from Mercedes Benz in its two possible technical versions as a forestry and firefighting vehicle. This truck can even be delivered partially protected for a use in ammunition laden terrain. It can be used both manned and remote controlled.
The technical refinements of this vehicle:
1. Engine power
a. 246 hp, torque about 900 Nm
2. ergonomics
a. centrally mounted cabin with excellent all-round visibility, cabin rotable to 270°
b. suspended front axle
3. effectiveness
a. driving speed up to 30 mph
b. continuously variable power split transmission
c. all-wheel drive, articulated and Ackermann steering
d. latest exhaust gas technology particulary fuel-efficient
The fire water reservoir is tiltable and contains about 7,000 litres of water. The high pressure pump is protected under the water tank and installed behind the mobile crane. An auxiliary drive operates this pump.
This truck is equipped with specially reinforced forestry tyres. It also has a front scraper blade so that obstacles can be cleared by itself. The floor trough can be built armoured and ordered with additional protective devices.
The cabin can be optionally ordered with splinter protection and windows reinforced against splinters. A water spray system around protects the whole truck, the cabin and the cabin windows from overheating and wets the driveway.
The folding crane has a jib width of 10 meters. The high-pressure extinguishing monitor is installed on the last element of the crane. In connection with the high mobility of the truck itself as well as the crane, fire spots can be fought effectively. The monitor operates with performance ranges of 20, 30 and 200 bar.
The radio remote control is rugged enough to remain operational despite heat generation and humidity. The operation is simple. The minimum effective range is approx. 60 – 80 metres to ensure effective protection for the operator. The images recorded and transmitted in real time by the transmission cameras during operation and the extinguishing operation can be made visible on the receiving side with portable and permanently installed screens.
Our engineers are currently working on a chain-driven and remote-controlled, unmanned fire-fighting vehicle. The Vortex high-pressure extinguishing technology will be installed on this vehicle like a kind of “water-cannon”. The extinguishing water tank – in the middle of this vehicle – is designed with a capacity of approx. 7,000 litres in mind for a short interruption of operation and replenishment time and can be changed quickly.
The transportability is ensured with heavy load low loader, but at the moment according to European standards. The dimensions may be between 2,500 up to 2,800 mm in width an about 6,000 up to 7,000 mm in length.
Our conclusion at this point. To protect the firefighters involved, there will be unmanned and remote-controlled fire-fighting vehicles for the most varied tasks in the future. We are going the first step.
For more information, email [email protected]
