BRANDON – Ponder some potential uses for an on-farm fire truck – grass fires, yard cleanup or burning derelict buildings at a remote farmyard.
The on-farm fire truck is a good tool for days when a producer is doing deliberate controlled burns. But it’s especially important for that day when a true emergency happens such as fire in the combine, barn or worst of all, the house.
One option to create an on-farm fire truck begins with equipping a pickup for double duty by putting a rubber bladder and small pump in the box, suggests Dave Donaghy, president of FireTak in Winnipeg.
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FireTak sells a variety of polyester bladders for use in environmental protection, shelter and emergency situations. Its FT FireBraker is a pump and bladder rig designed to turn a half-ton into a mini fire truck.
Donaghy said the pickup has to be licensed and in good running condition anyway, so why not have it ready to fight fires for less than the price of a decommissioned municipal fire truck?
“The standard size bladder for a half-ton is four feet wide, five feet long, 12 inches high and it holds 125 imperial gallons,” Donaghy said.
“It fits neatly right up against the cab so the weight is central in the truck. All the weight is low, right on the floor of the box.
“And it has internal baffles running lengthwise to reduce sloshing and load transfer when you’re driving.”
The standard FT FireBraker is just about a full load for a half-ton. However, most farm trucks are now either three-quarter ton or one ton. FireTak has a bigger bladder for those trucks.
“Here at Ag Days (Jan. 22), most of the inquiries are for the 250 gallon bladder. It’s still four feet wide, but it’s six feet long and 20 inches high.
“You have to make sure your truck can carry the weight. Water is heavy. It’s about 10 pounds per gallon. So the standard tank is 1,250 lb. when it’s full and the bigger tank is 2,500 lb.”
Rural fire departments are interested in the water bladder because a 4×4 truck with the larger bladder can get into tighter spots or on softer ground than can regular fire trucks.
For producers who cannot tie up that much carrying capacity in their truck, there is another method of moving water to the fire via the FT FireBraker.
Snowmobile trailers typically sit idle with the sleds tied to their deck during the off-season. A double-wide trailer holds two sleds with an average weight of 600 lb. each. That’s about the same weight as the standard sized bladder filled with water.
A four-sled trailer should be rated for about the same weight as the larger bladder.
The bladder is constructed of 28 ounce woven rip-stop PVC-coated polyester material. The seams are heat-sealed. The filler is four inches in diameter and the outlet is two inches.
When empty, the bladder rolls up into a carrying case that can stay in the truck year round. When it’s needed, it only takes a minute or two to un-roll it and make the pump connections. Filling time depends on the water source.
“One of the key elements is the nozzle. You can ratchet it down to get a fog or a fine spray. That pattern is efficient because it lets you fight the fire without wasting water.
“The pressure is 50 to 60 psi when you’ve got it set for a fog. At that nozzle setting, it sprays about six gallons per minute. That gives you about 20 minutes with the small bladder.”
The nozzle also can open up to a straight stream if the heat doesn’t allow a person to get close enough for the fine spray.
“The pump is a Wick 80-4H powered by a 1.5 horsepower Honda four-stroke engine. It’s self-priming so that’s never a problem if you’re in a hurry.”
The pump is normally positioned on the tailgate so the truck can be manoeuvred more easily. It’s at the same level as the tank, so no power-wasting water lift is involved. If the truck is stationary, the pump can be positioned on the ground so gravity forces water into the pump.
The 125 gallon FireBraker sells for $2,649. Add $100 for the 250 gallon rig.
For more information, contact Dave Donaghy at 204-975-0334 or visit www.firetak.com.
