-25 deg, Snow in the forecast, the final push to breakup is on. Perfect time to check your fire response equipment
9 February 2025Off the shelf pumps from yard and garden suppliers: These pumps are inexpensive and easy to find but they may not be specifically engineered for the demanding use of wildfire response. They often produce low to medium pressures that may not get water where you need it, when you need it. When they don’t work, they are usually just replaced or parts are scavenged from the bone yard.
Pumps specifically engineered as wildfire response units: These will be more expensive and may take some research to find. They will have higher quality parts and produce higher pressures than generic units. They usually come with detailed service manuals that, if followed, will better ensure you have the water where and when you need it. In the unfortunate event of a worksite wildfire, you may be better able to demonstrate your due diligence by utilizing high end equipment.
So far BC Wildfire doesn’t have any specific standards for water delivery capacity when they hire heavy equipment. This mostly relates to skidder tanks. I have suggested to them it is time to detail expectations in the hiring agreement to ensure they get as safe, standardized and effective systems as possible.
2. Pump Maintenance
Wildfire pumps may sit for years unused. Problems can develop and be unnoticed due to this lack of use. When you need them, they need to move adequate water and produce required pressure in minutes. Hence, they require some additional maintenance actions than lawnmowers and snow blowers.
As well as the regular engine service (air filter, oil change, spark plug) fire pumps require some additional checks. The pump end should be removed, inspected and required parts replaced as per manufacturers recommendations. Make sure your pump mechanic has a spot to test run the pump, move water and has a gauge to check the discharge pressure and general operation of the unit. The mechanic should record the discharge pressure on a tag which should be attached to the throttle or off/on switch so users can tell if the pump has been operated since the last service and know it’s capacity.
Modern fuels start to deteriorate very rapidly depositing materials similar to varnish and shellac in the fuel system of pump engines. As part of the service ensure the mechanic drains the fuel from the tank and replaces it with a synthetic type, or at least new fuel with a high-quality stabilizer. The mechanic should then run the pump for five to ten minutes to ensure the good fuel is circulated to all parts of the system.
The old practice of turning the fuel off and running the engine until dry will still leave some fuel in the system which will increase the chance of unwanted deposits.
Good Fuel Practice
Label your spare fuel jugs as straight or mixed. Include the mix ratio and the date the fuel was purchased. Discard unused fuel annually.
3. High Pressure Pumps
High pressure speciality pumps (e.g.: Wajax, Wick) have specific detailed maintenance requirements. I had my Mark 3 in to a local repair shop for what I thought was a carb problem. After installing a carb kit and doing a service it still wasn’t running properly so I sent it to a certified Wajax mechanic. It turned out to be a faulty over-rev switch that was identified through the troubleshooting guide and the experience of the mechanic.
The only two Wajax mechanics I am aware of are Walkers Saws in Nanaimo (video below) and Cedarside in Chilliwack (604-991-0441). Let me know if there are more of you out there and I will share your contact info. Again, by using a certified pump mechanic and shop you will be better able to demonstrate your due diligence if something untoward happens.
Pump Tricks
Keep and extra jug of two-stroke oil in every pump tool kit.
If you are the person in charge of a two-stroke pump on a fire you will inevitably be faced with the dilemma of being down to one last full jug of fuel but it isn’t labelled as mixed or not. Don’t guess. Some people sniff, feel or look and declare it mixed or unmixed. I call BS. The risk of seizing a pump is too great.
If it is imperative that you keep the pump running add the extra jug of oil to the gas. If it was straight gas, you will now have the correct mix. If it was actually already mixed you will now have a richer mix. You may have to change the plug a few times and you will get a smoky exhaust but the pump will move water for you until you get properly labelled fuel delivered.
Keep an extra pull start cord recoil assembly in the main tool cache.
It is very common, in the heat of the battle, for someone to pull too hard on the start cord and damage the recoil assembly. Trying to restring the cord and re-tension the spring can get pretty frustrating, espceially under pressure.
Many crews keep an entire spare assembly for their main pump in the main tool cache. It is very quick and easy to undo the three or four half inch bolts, replace the assembly, and the pump is back up and running.
Increase Readiness and Checks as the Fire Risk Increases
During periods of elevated fire risk, keep the pump hooked up and the system in a grab and go condition. Run the pump and check the system daily. Document the checks in your diary or on your time slip or, at a minimum, take a time stamped photo of the pump moving water to prove your diligence.
4. Hose
Hose wears out just rattling around in trucks and shop trailers. Once the snow leaves string your hose out on a lawn or on clean pavement. Hook several together, cap the end and charge them up to +/- 50 psi. Inspect them for leaks or damage. Repair or replace them as necessary. Dry, drain and re-roll after testing.
Ask your hose supplier if they can fix the hose and replace couplings. If you are cutting out damaged sections try and keep the hose length as close to 100′ or 50′ as possible to avoid the disappointment of coming up 10 ft. short when actioning a fire.
Consider purchasing at least a few lengths of new hose every year. Keep your newest hose secure for initial attack on new fires.
Hose Tricks
One contractor paints differed colored marks on the end of each hose to identify age and condition. Green = new and/or good. Safe for response. Yellow = older/minor damage, use as backup. Red = old/damaged use for washing and refilling only.
Switch to 5/8″ econo as soon as possible during initial attack. A 100′ length of charged 1.5″ hose weighs about 90 lbs. 100″ of econo weighs about 13 lbs.
We aren’t getting any younger or fitter. Your water and you will last longer fighting fire with econo.
5. People
BC Wildfire is a taxpayer funded organization, we all hate paying taxes, and there are numerous other demands on government. BC Wildfire only have so many resources to go around. When multiple fires occur simultaneously BC Wildfire will prioritize who gets the help. Several times in recent years they have been unable to provide help on industry fires or turned the fire back over to industry sooner than anticipated. We have been on our own more than we have been prepared for.
Meet now with your local BC Wildfire Zone staff early in the spring to discuss how these kinds of situations will be managed. Policies and procedures change regularly and the time to discover things have changed isn’t when there is smoke in the air.
Organize appropriate training for your crews. I am partial to the MacLeod S100 Wildfire for Industry.
People Tricks
Generally, most equipment operators are not physically capable of safely dragging hose around a fire for an extended period of time. On industry managed fires getting enough trained people who are physically capable of doing the grunt work has been a problem.
Two of the Licensees I provide services to have included their treeplanters in their response plan as potential resources. Terms and conditions are all pre-arranged to streamline call out, response and administration.
In the past, under the Industry Agreement, BC Wildfire would re-imburse Licensee’s for their expenses of providing crews and equipment at cost plus a 10% admin allowance. I am not sure if this is still in place so should be part of your pre-season planning discussions with the local BCWS Zone staff.
These Licensees have also re-established or upgraded their central fire caches. Some have placed their cache in a large cargo trailer so it can be delivered directly to any wildfire.
Contact me anytime for more information, comments or if you have more tricks of the trade to share.
Doug
