An illustrated view of an exemplary fire fountain for preventing a home from perishing during a fire is presented. The fire fountain is useful for providing protection for rural homes and during forest fires for rural homes that are in danger of being emblazed in a fire before firefighters can provide assistance at the home. Also, the fire fountain is useful for providing peace of mind to the rural homeowner. The fire fountain is cost effective and cost efficient while being in a constant state of readiness. The fire fountain is useful for reducing a chance of a fire and therefore saves lives and property which in turn can reduce insurance costs.

A sheet for providing an air gap is provided. The sheet includes a body defining a first surface. The sheet also includes cusps. The cusps extend from the first surface of the body, and one or more channels are formed between the cusps. The sheet includes fire-resistant material. This fire-resistant material may be fiberglass, talc, calcium carbonate, powdered metal, or another material(s). The one or more channels may be configured to permit liquid water, air, and/or other fluids to flow through.

A method of preserving a building or similar asset (16) from destruction by a bushfire is disclosed. The method includes the step of shortly prior to the arrival of the bushfire at the asset or building (16), spraying the exterior of said asset or building (16) with a water-based fire retardant (17) ejected from a nozzle (10) located above the asset or building (16) and mounted on a helicopter (1) carrying the water-based fire retardant (17).

A fire retardant delivery system for use with a source of carrier for protection from wildfire is provided. The system includes a retardant tank for storing a fire retardant. The retardant tank is in fluid communication with the source of carrier. A metering valve is constructed and arranged to meter a flow of fire retardant injected into the carrier discharged from the source of carrier to maintain a predetermined proportion of fire retardant to carrier, thereby creating a fire retardant and carrier mixture. At least one distribution nozzle is configured to deliver the fire retardant and carrier mixture to a desired area.

According to an aspect, a computer-implemented method for water volume estimation includes detecting water based at least in part on sensor-based data; determining a volume of water based at least in part on the sensor-based data; determining a location at the water for an aircraft to retrieve water via a water retrieving apparatus; and translating the location of the water into pilot inputs to guide the aircraft to the water.

An intelligent sewage system designed for use in municipalities around the Wildland Urban Interface incorporates a decentralized network of wastewater treatment units to process wastewater from a plurality of parcels. The decentralized wastewater treatment units spread a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) reduction of the wastewater throughout the system and effluent is delivered efficiently through a pressure sewage system. Non-potable and potable water supplies are generated and delivered to individually separable water distribution zones throughout the municipality. The system also provides an auxiliary high-pressure, high-flow non-potable water supply to compensate during depressurization events and bolster the water distribution zones in the event of a wildfire emergency event. The intelligent sewage system also incorporates a comprehensive wildfire defense network and a supervisory control and data acquisition system which work in concert to harden the municipality against wildfire risks and combat active wildfires.

An intelligent sewage system designed for use in municipalities around the Wildland Urban Interface incorporates a decentralized network of wastewater treatment units to process wastewater from a plurality of parcels. The decentralized wastewater treatment units spread a Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) reduction of the wastewater throughout the system and effluent is delivered efficiently through a pressure sewage system. Non-potable and potable water supplies are generated and delivered to individually separable water distribution zones throughout the municipality. The system also provides an auxiliary high-pressure, high-flow non-potable water supply to compensate during depressurization events and bolster the water distribution zones in the event of a wildfire emergency event. The intelligent sewage system also incorporates a comprehensive wildfire defense network and a supervisory control and data acquisition system which work in concert to harden the municipality against wildfire risks and combat active wildfires.

A forest fire retardant composition contains water and a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a liquid concentrate or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

A forest fire retardant composition contains water and a retardant compound that includes a halide salt, a non-halide salt, a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide, or combinations thereof. The halide salt may be magnesium chloride, calcium chloride, or both. The magnesium chloride hydrate has a formula MgCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of x=1, 2, 4, 6, 8, or 12. The calcium chloride hydrate has a formula CaCl.sub.2(H.sub.2O).sub.x, wherein x is at least one of 1, 2, 4, or 6. The composition may be in the form of a liquid concentrate or a final diluted product. The final diluted product is effective in suppressing, retarding, and controlling forest fires while exhibiting corrosion resistance and low toxicity.

Aerial firefighting systems and methods involve suspending a water-filled sack from an aircraft (e.g., a helicopter or an airplane) and controllably releasing the water out through a valve at the bottom of the sack to quench a target area over which the aircraft is flying. The valve is open and closed by an hydraulic valve actuator (e.g., an hydraulic cylinder), which is attached to the valve. A controller determines how far the valve is opened by monitoring how much of a finite amount of hydraulic fluid is conveyed to or from the hydraulic valve actuator. The finite amount of hydraulic fluid is determined by the action of a positive displacement apparatus in the aircraft. Some examples of a positive displacement apparatus include a gear pump, an hydraulic cylinder, and a plunger pump. The systems and methods avoid the need for installing an electric valve position sensor in the sack.