Vancouver, British Columbia (MMD Newswire) November 1, 2012 -- Fire chiefs are being introduced to a new tool in the battle against wildfires and urban interface fires. The Wasp in a Box is an automated sprinkler protection system designed by a firefighter with over 16 years' experience fighting wildfires. It follows on the success of the original Wasp trailer mounted units, but in a much smaller package which can easily be carried by two firefighters.
Designed to be attached directly to existing fire hydrants (or control a pumping system should a fire hydrant not be available), the new Wasp in a Box is able to control water disbursement from offsite, removing firefighters from potentially dangerous situations. It can operate day or night to provide a protective wet zone to properties at risk in a wildfire situation.
"After speaking with hundreds of fire chiefs at the recent convention in Denver, I realized there was an immediate need for a smaller and more affordable way to protect structures at risk to wildfires" says Darrell Pyke, Technical Director for Wasp Manufacturing. "The Wasp in a Box allows communities to use their existing water infrastructure to provide sprinkler protection over a very large area."
Roughly 3 feet long by 18 inches wide and 18 inches deep, the Wasp in a Box weighs in less than 100 lbs. Depending on available water, once attached to a standard fire hydrant it can easily manage over 5,000 feet of line with 100 sprinkler heads, protecting an area far larger than most NFL stadiums.
"Once deployed to protect homes and commercial structures, it can be remotely operated through the standard satellite modem" says Pyke. "It can then be programmed from any location on the planet, via any computer, satellite or cell phone, to turn on and off when required, conserving water and protecting against flooding."
All Wasp units are also customizable to account for varying conditions and the existing equipment of fire departments. Standard units also allow offsite operators to monitor water flow to ensure efficient use of available resources.
"So many of the photographs of the recent Colorado fires show burned out homes, all with fire hydrants in close proximity" says Randy Cowling, President of Wasp Manufacturing. "A large number of these homes could have been saved with proper sprinkler protection while keeping firefighters out of harm's way."
The standard Wasp in a Box costs $19,500. The company will sell or lease units worldwide to fire departments, companies, various levels of government and independent home owners. Rental programs begin at just $307 per month.
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