A Low Pressure Soaker Hose Containment System for Wildland Fires

Abstract

Water is frequently used to contain wild or prescribed fires in a wildland situation. In this paper, we show why the commonly-available, relatively inexpensive garden-type soaker hose can be effectively used to contain fires. We present results on such performance characteristics as: water pressure, height of water spray and water volume as distance from pump increases. A Wajax Mark 111 pump, 3.8 cm dia (1.5") lined fire hose and RCR-strata soaker hoses were used in all tests. Also, using commonly accepted engineering principles and equations, we present the optimal design when the above materials are used.