malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 29, 2021 9:31:46 GMT 10
Being a RFS member, and property owner, I am very aware of the dangers that a bushfire poses. Some years ago, after the shed burnt down when the tractor battery shorted out, I turned my attention to having some on farm firefighting equipment. For the last bad fire season, I had installed sprinklers on all roofs, gravity fed from a 45 Kl tank. I also set up a 550 liter water tank on a trailer, with a Honda firefighter pump and standard 35 meter hose reel, with a second 30 meter hose wound around an old car rim on the side. Its totally self contained and can be attached to almost any vehicle, even the quad (although it would probably damage the tow point), in an emergency. The fittings are all compatible with the RFS Storz type couplings, so I can couple to or they can use the unit as well. The old Triton ute that usually tows it has a 1,000 liter IBC water container on the tray, as well as another length of hose and a sufficient length of suction hose to connect to the trailer pump. This gives over 1,550 liters of water, although I would be reluctant to take such an overloaded truck off road too far, in an emergency situation, if it saves our houses, and I did break it, a $1,000 truck vs $ Multi thousand houses, is a no brainer. The pump set also has enough suction hose to get to the dam from the top of the dam wall, and adapters to attach to garden hoses if needed. In practice, during a fire emergency, you mostly find that brigades have enough people, but limited resources, usually two trucks and several portable pumps. As a deputy captain, I would be happy to leave a couple of experienced members with you to protect your property with your gear and we can concentrate on protecting others who are not so fortunate. Now for the plug, please consider joining your local RFS unit. You will learn so much and contribute to your local community, meet neighbors and socialize. Remember, it is voluntary, so if you don't want to attend an incident, say the fire is approaching your property, you aren't compelled to do so. WTSHTF you may not be able to call the local fire brigade to help and will be on yr own.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 29, 2021 9:48:20 GMT 10
I'm looking at buying a firechief pump. What pump would you recommend?
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Apr 29, 2021 10:52:27 GMT 10
I'm looking at buying a firechief pump. What pump would you recommend? That’s a top of the range setup and will not let you down. Make sure you match it with a decent reel, high quality hose, suction pipe, fittings and adapters for RFS units. Add a Rake hoe and driptorch holder and consider the option of using foam combined with a specific foam applicator, your water will work better and go further. Don't forget space for chainsaw and other things like spares and toold. A storz wrench or similar is handy at times. The best “tool” is the bloke or sheila backing you up, maybe compensate for this with extra hose and tools for them to use. For those using IBC's consider heat shielding them to avoid melting your unit when empty or near empty. It could mean saving your property or watching it burn.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 29, 2021 11:55:45 GMT 10
Thanks Beno. Is there enough difference in the plastic and canvas hoses to justify the price difference?
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 29, 2021 13:29:35 GMT 10
Surplus rubber hoses from factories are perfectly ok, even in the sun, they will last years. Yes, forgot to mention the rake hoe that fits on a holder and the chainsaw that lives on the floor in the back, add spare petrol etc, and yes it is a good setup, but invaluable if/when needed. Canvas hose is easy to store, but must be kept dry and out of the sun for max life. A canvas hose or two would be a good idea as they take up almost no room in the shed and last for years if looked after. Pumps....I have 2 Honda powered firefighters, but stay away from Chinese stuff, stay genuine Honda, they start first time every time, even after sitting for months. I turn the fuel off and let it stop emptying the bowl of fuel and preventing varnish forming and blocking things up. They prime easily, and just work. I also have a trailer with 2 off 205 liter plastic drums we use for watering, and a 12 v electric pump. Not high pressure, but can be towed to a structure u want to protect and will work. Robin engines are also reliable, as is Suzuki, etc.
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Beno
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Post by Beno on Apr 29, 2021 13:30:47 GMT 10
Plastic hoses do burn and melt but a skilled and carful operator will watch out for this i.e. don’t drag it over burning logs, glowing coals etc. It does take a bit to damage them though so don’t worry too much about that. The advantage of plastic is rapid deployment of hose from a reel whilst the hose is pressurised and ready to go and slips through the bush well. Get the plastic hose first. Also don’t be convinced to buy a plastic reel regardless of fireproof claims. Some may disagree with that but why risk it?
Get good quality hose, i!ve seen cheap crap burst and put a cockies fire rig out of action, he did have a dual stage Davey pump which is overkill in my opinion. If you need to put that much water out in a hurry you probably should not be there! you can’t pressurise rolled up flexible hose due to burst risk so it needs to be rolled out then pressurised. That could be a problem for a single bloke operating a unit. Canvas hose is good for where you need an extension to get to difficult places away from your ute. canvas is more likely to get damaged from cuts due to mishandling. Canvas can also allow a lot of water to flow but is obviously limited by the branch you intend to use.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 29, 2021 17:28:31 GMT 10
Good advice Beno. Oh and don't forget a drip torch, I bought mine 40 years ago and I'm not sure that you can still buy them as a private person. Perhaps farmers can. Check the gear every 6 months, start the pump and put a tank of water through it. Add a 1/2 cup dishwashing liquid to a steel tank to slow down rusting. Try and keep IBC type tank in shade or a shed to prevent the plastic rotting. Have a fire drill with your troops, show everyone how it all works. Invite your local RFS captain over for a cuppa and show him what you've got. In a emergency, if he knows you know what yr doing and have some gear, it takes the stress from him and he can allocate some personnel to you. I usually drain the fuel out when winter approaches, but leave perhaps a 1/2 cupful, just in case. Fuel additive could be used as well. Don't forget a UHF 2 way radio in your fire vehicle. All RFS units that I've been involved with have a UHF CB in the trucks, I've got one in every vehicle, including the tractor and quad bike. A rubberized plastic type fire hose, like you see on the wall in Coles etc., wont burn through quickly, and are suitable and available from building dismantling companies for less than $50, and new for $150 or so, complete with a metal reel. The standard nozzle is crap, so get a proper coupling and adjustable brass fire nozzle. It will last a lifetime. Have a play with your gear, spray some water around, get wet, learn how far the pump can throw water, how long the tank can go for at full revs, how much water does it use at 1/4 throttle, what the fog position on the nozzle does, how to prime the pump from a dam and so on. The time spent working all this out could save your house, or even a life. Its good advice to have a second hose available for a second person to operate. Mine isn't as long as the primary hose, but its purpose is to protect you and the gear in case of overrun. When you get to the stage of a Duel stage pump, different gear is needed, stay with a standard single impeller pump. It will put out as much water as you need and if you need more, get out of the way, its too intense. 550 Liters will last for about 4 minutes at full noise with a standard pump, so a duel stage pump is overkill. Canvas hose is also somewhat fireproof as it leaks until it takes up and will tend to not be damaged by a brush with a lighted tuft of grass. Make sure you stretch it out and get it dry before rolling it back up, as it will go moldy if stored away wet.
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Post by milspec on Apr 30, 2021 5:22:30 GMT 10
Thanks for the fire trailer tips. I built mine last year. Might add a few upgrades this year (steel reel). It proved to be handy for various water cartage/movements on the farm already.
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Post by Joey on Apr 30, 2021 7:49:11 GMT 10
Don't forget the option of "weeping" hoses as well to protect the hose if you are dragging it over the burnt ground. Probably the biggest thing is to find out who your local fire warden is in your area, as this person will be your permit issuer if ever you want to backburn or light up some tree stacks. Also, don't be afraid to tick your pump suction in your pool (just make sure you give the pump and gear a bloody good flush and clean afterwards) had to do this to protect a house on a mega burn off we were working and a pile of pushed up gum trees that the owner didn't even know was on the property lit up and started showering massive plums of embers towards the house, and this was in the evening after the support tanker truck had left for the day. It took me and my crewmate another 2hours of playing tag team with each other on the hose to bring the wood stack under control, and we were knackered for sure and wet and black and miserable lol
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 30, 2021 9:26:59 GMT 10
I bought a 36m canvas hose last night, half price at $129. I went with canvas because I think it will take up less space in transport and storage (to move between my two properties) but drying it might pose some challenges.
Now to buy the pump. Either the fire chief with the gx160 engine or the next model up with the Davey pump and the gx200 Honda. Hmmmm.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 30, 2021 10:49:33 GMT 10
Honda GX200 engine is one of the best and most reliable Honda has ever made. Parts are cheap, easy to get, I have one that is 20 yrs + old, still starts first pull, runs seemingly all day at 1/2 throttle on a tank of petrol, uses a bit of oil, but all older engines do, so I just keep an eye on it. It has the oil alert that will stop it if the oil gets to low, and is quiet....sort of depending on how hard u push it. Davy firefighters, with Honda engines. Unbeatable combo. There is a self priming model as well. Anything Japanese is almost as good, Subaru (Robyn), Suzuki, Yamaha, but stay away from the Chinese crap, yes they look like a Honda, but are not as well made and wont last. Fire foam, as far as I know, the RFS uses 2 types, FFE and FFA. Both are quite corrosive, and I think its FFE must not be used near waterways as its toxic. You will need a special mixing valve/nozzle, and a adapter to suck it from the drum. I haven't bothered with it, here on the farm, as if its to that extent, I'm bailing out. Its too much for me. The foam does prevent reignition from heat though and also smothers fuel fires, but if its to that point, ill be the first one out of there, and wait for the big red truck to turn in. A cup of washing up detergent in the tank acts as a surfactant and prevent corrosion as well. If Sony made toasters, the "Toastman" would be the same size as a piece of bread, and would attach to your belt. New word to impress your friends, or those you have left !! Vaccidents.. coming to a road near you soon. www.healthrangerreport.com/
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Apr 30, 2021 12:16:58 GMT 10
I also have been thinking of a water moving system of one kind or another.. A small trailer, with a 275 gallon tote, a 1" trash pump (cheapest size easily available) to pull with the tractor.. You must keep in mind that amount of water is close to a North American ton or so...
If hooked up right, the pump will fill the tote from the pond, and disperse water to the garden and fruit trees as needed saving well water.. As well as some sort of rudimentary fire protection..
But it will take me a bit to organize all this.. And in a way it can be kept from freezing and breaking over winter.. Need to be sketching some ideas in my "good idea" note book...
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Post by Joey on Apr 30, 2021 13:23:31 GMT 10
You can hoist the canvas hoses up a flag pole or similar for a day to dry out, that's what we used to do our my old brigade
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Apr 30, 2021 14:17:24 GMT 10
You can hoist the canvas hoses up a flag pole or similar for a day to dry out, that's what we used to do our my old brigade [br I'll need to get a flagpole. Or perhaps put in a few poles and hang it horizontally. Edit:the Mrs said I could hang it off my ego, it's big enough.
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on May 1, 2021 9:35:28 GMT 10
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on May 1, 2021 11:50:46 GMT 10
Good one, good nozzle too, that is a proper firefighting fully adjustable type, and I use the same here. The next step up in nozzles is several hundred dollars of flow and spray adjustable types and not worth it for home use. As I said, the Honda GX200, mated to a Davy pump is an unbeatable combo, and was the mainstay of the RFS for many years.
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