Thread: My Bush Fire House protection system

Originally Posted by digger

Do you have any idea of the cost of these pumps and where they can be bought?

I think it'd be brilliant on a fire trailer Im building...

Digger, here is a link to a mob in your state, no idea on cost, sorry.

Air Operated Diaphragm Pumps & AODD Pump Supplier Australia

Cheers, Mick.

More reading.
http://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rc...2TELXkdg07hwYg

http://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rc...ivCJJd_2Rg9nDA

I put a 2" rural poly main up the centre of the house, then branched off with 1" poly under the floor to each sprinkler riser. Elbows may have looked neater but with a loss of head pressure.
Neat fittings to join to the 2" main. Clamp on, drill a 3/4" hole, screw on the 1" fitting.

Most (well prepared) houses survive the initial front and then burn down once it is gone from embers or broken windows.

The ones that go up right away have usually been left with flammable material around the place. I've been to several houses (in the RFS, responding to a fire) that have wood and kindling piles next to the house (one I didn't have time to move so I poured a barrel of retardant over it, would love to have been around come winter, when they tried to use it to light their fire hahahaha). Also stupid things like plastic contains of old engine oil etc. If you have anything hazards around your house anyone who comes to help will turn around and leave right away - so keep that in mind too. (old paint cans under the house? no thanks)

Don't use polly on your sprinkler system, and don't use plastic sprinklers. Even if they can handle the heat you are doing to be using your fire system every 10 years... and when you turn the pressure up 10 years after you install it the damn thinks will all break and then you have to run around trying to find an fit new ones when you have 100000 other things to do (ask me how I know ).

Petrol pumps (davey firefighters etc) are great but may stop in a big fire due to oxygen starvation. The best is battery / solar powered electronic or a good header / gravity feed. Budget for 30min of water (a 1kL IBC will give you <10 seconds).

One of the most impressive things I've seen is a little wooden house with a single sprinkler on the roof that was started 20min prior to the arrival of a front. This was in the 06 BM fires at Blackheath. The fire was crowning, with Tea Tree under the Eucalyptus it was twice the height of the gums as it came up the hill at incredible speed. The sprinkler wasn't huge and wasn't pumping heaps of water, just what you would expect from a decent irrigation system (ie, not a full fire-fighter sprinkler). Once the front passed (it took about 2-3 min for the peak of the front to go over us) there was a little green circle and a house that looked like nothing had happened. VERY IMPRESSIVE.

Unfortunately that was the house next door.. the one I was at didn't go so well.

But really, if you have a sprinkler system you have to stay with the house to turn it on, and then once the fire has passed go out and put the spots out. It is the little bit under the eaves that start small that burn the houses down.

Also, windows will brake from the radiant heat.. and once the do the house fills up with embers and then things go down hill quickly. Nail up woollen blankets around all the windows so that if they break the embers won't get in.

My advice is:

- keep it simple
- run it regularly
- make sure everyone in the house can start it (neighbours too)
- have petrol (if it is a petrol pump)
- have print offs with a diagram of where it is, how to turn it on and where the pump is for the RFS/ your local brigade.
- Contact your local RFS/ your local brigade and invite them / someone over to use it. That way even if you are not there and there isn't enough people to man every house when the front comes someone may be able to 'pop over' and turn it on at the right time.
- Have spares for all the components. the pump, the pipes, the valves etc. If the spares are kept in a locked shed have a spare key.

Also, have at least one fire hose for each building your want to save. The sprinkler will be great but after the front has gone through you want to be able to be out there blacking everyone out.

Lots of good points there.
The house with the rooftop sprinkler example illustrates the cooling effect of the spray. It was probably hooked up with garden hose too.
I dont forsee a problem with the poly pipe under the house or windows breaking either as the curtain of spray should prevent this. As long as I can keep the water up to it.
I am using a Honda powered Onga as a test but dont like petrol engines as they often dont start for various reasons when needed. There is a diesel one on ebay I am considering. Has a self start too which is handy if my wife needs to start it.
I bought 4 used hose reels the other day for $80 each. One for the house, One each for two sheds and one for the 2B FC with a pair of IBC,s on it.

123rover
Just wanted to say good on you!
Our fire risk is minimal but about 6 years ago after a poor wet season and long hot dry the valley we sit on was alight... I had no shed at that time and the fires never really got close to where the shed is now
BUT I still keep thinking about setting up a fire pump and hose.

The trouble is I keep thinking about it but am not doing anything!!!! Good on you for doing something even if it might not be a AAA Rated system that makes Fireman Sam happy it is most likely better prep than most

Steve

Originally Posted by roverrescue

123rover
Just wanted to say good on you!
Our fire risk is minimal but about 6 years ago after a poor wet season and long hot dry the valley we sit on was alight... I had no shed at that time and the fires never really got close to where the shed is now
BUT I still keep thinking about setting up a fire pump and hose.

The trouble is I keep thinking about it but am not doing anything!!!! Good on you for doing something even if it might not be a AAA Rated system that makes Fireman Sam happy it is most likely better prep than most

Steve

Thanks. We have been here for around 13 yrs now and a few fires have got close. It is not the dense bush type high risk area with the type of fire we saw in N.S.W. but it has always worried me.
I am an officer in our RFB as well but will be 70 soon so not too active now

Nice work. Like the peacock overseer

You could buy a little Yanmar DI diesel with starter and swap it onto your pump. Prices I have in WA - all with electric start:

L48 $2269 (211 cc)
L70 $2822 (296 cc) - I think this is the engine the Onga 384 comes with?
L100 $3334 (406 cc)