Sprinkler Trailer Turns Heads at BC Fire Expo

Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC Fire Expo – Victoria, BC

June 3 – 9, 2018

Over the June 9th weekend, AMDOR attended the Fire Chiefs’ Association of BC Fire Expo in Victoria, BC.  It was exciting for us to see our products featured in the booths of so many bodybuilders.  Our team is always on the hunt for interesting trucks and new technologies, and the show did not disappoint! 

In our business, we constantly talk about reactive emergency response, and this weekend was no exception.  We were introduced to a very interesting preventative technology concept during a discussion with A.S. Roach Fire Services from Parkland County, Alberta. 

The system they had on display is called the “Sprinkler Trailer”.  Of course, we stopped by to check out the set-up using our AMDOR roll-up doors and during our visit, we also learned quite a bit about wildfires.

To be clear, we are not experts in fire prevention or wildfire operations.  However, we learned some very interesting facts about forest fires and how they can damage property.  As a forest fire passes through an area, the time when maximum temperatures are present is often as short as four minutes.  Most structural fires are started by embers dropping onto structures travelling ahead of the fire carried by wind. 

The A.S. Roach Sprinkler Trailer system is designed on a simple principle: saturate the kindling or primary fuel source for an approaching fire before it arrives.  When properly deployed, the system can provide sufficient protection to survive the passing blaze.  The system is set up strategically to soak loose debris (aka kindling) and the structural elements at greatest risk, such as cedar shakes and wooden structures including decks and stairs.  The system can be set up with multiple fuel tanks for each pump feeding a line of sprinklers.  Once a water source is secured, the operator can leave the danger zone for safety or travel to another site to continue with fire suppression activities.

Thank you to A.S.Roach Fire Services for walking us through the Sprinkler Trailer System and providing our team with a lesson on wildfire firefighting strategy. For more information visit: http://asroachfire.com/

The sprinklers themselves have been designed with a number of interesting features. Head brackets are set-up to slide quickly and securely over a standard 2x4. With a 50-foot range the rotating sprinklers can each cover a 100-foot area.

The mount below is set up to be mated as a pair with a supply line running under the legs. This allows this combination to be placed on the peak of a roof. As water pressure builds the mount is pushed downward. This allows placement without using fasteners crating holes in roofing materials and reduces the time required for deployment.

The Sprinkler Trailer System can be rented or purchased outright. The equipment package can be heavily customized however the demo unit in Victoria included the following gear:

• 5 pumps
• 2 fuel tanks for every pump
• 210 sprinklers
• 1 mile of 1 ½” hose
• 3000 feet of ¾” hose
• Ladders
• Temporary water holding tanks