Last updated on April 7, 2018
‘Water vs Fire: Fighting Forest Fires With Water’ is the title of a 1950’s fire-fighting manual written by fire specialists from the California Division of Foresty on how to effectively use water to tackle forest fires. It looks rather old-fashioned but the principles are the same today.
The inclusion of only part of the booklet here, is not intended to turn anyone into an amateur fire-fighter or to take any form of risk when threatened with fire. However, there is a section on using a water hose effectively which you may find useful, if you have to extinguish small ember fires, or after a fire when you come across smouldering tree stumps that may burst into flames.
So as an important part of your home fire prevention strategy, always install an external water tap with a good decent length of good quality hose and good quality fittings on both ends. We personally find brass fittings better than plastic – the last thing you need is the tap fitting pinging off when you are yards away down the garden. Make sure your nozzle has a spray feature and is fully adjustable so you can alter the water pressure and shut it off at the nozzle.
Fuel + Oxygen + Heat = Fire Triangle
- One of the best ways to break the fire triangle is to COOL the FUEL.
- Water acts on the fire triangle by breaking the HEAT and diluting the OXYGEN with vapour at the same time.
- It is important to remember the fire triangle has the habit of getting back together again. So…
- After you have knocked the fire down, it is always a good idea to put a line round it and keep it down.
The pictures above represent the big job a little water can do
- The flames will burn on unless the water is spread over the FUEL and cools it below kindling point.
- It will take very little water to cover volumes of FUEL, especially if you break the water up into a SPRAY, so…
- Many droplets can cool many units of FUEL simultaneously.
Use your water wisely putting it where it will do the most good
- If a bush is burning – hit the base of the bush.
- If a tree is burning – hit the bottom of the tree before working up the trunk.
- Work to the edge of the fire with the finest spray that will do the job.
- Make sure every drop of water finds a piece of hot FUEL to land on.
Always have control of your nozzle
- If you are unsure of your water supply lasting or may be limited, master the pressure and shut-off functions of your nozzle.
- If you fully open the nozzle on high pressure, your water won’t last long.
- Reduce the nozzle opening and lower the pressure. Remember…
- Low water discharge rate = longer use time = more fire caught = more FUEL cooled.
- Adjust your spray to match the amount of water to size of the fire.
Use the straight stream reach ONLY when you need it
- The straight stream discharges a lot of water fast.
- Only use it when you need it, such as…
- Cooling a hot fire in order to get closer, or…
- To knock out fire in trees or snags (American for a standing dead tree), or
- Hit dangerous spots ahead of you.
Use water with care – turn off between moving from one spot to another
- Spray the FUEL not the air.
- Shut off the water at the nozzle when moving – no need to use it on cold ground.
- Squirt water at the base of the flames – shut off – and move along.
Some nozzles set at high pressure can deliver air as well as water
- This will fan the flames rather than knock them down.
- Lower the water pressure.
“It makes no difference what you use to carry water to a fire or what you apply it with – it is HOW and WHERE and in what QUANTITY that counts”.
Source: Adapted from Water Vs Fire by Californian Division Forestry .1968 Reprint
