Excerpts from kmph.com:
FYREBX photo
California could soon have a new firefighting tool called the FYREBX. It’s a skid steer attachment that holds 300 gallons of water. For context, the Type III engines Cal OES uses carry 500 gallons, and the Type VI engines carry 300 gallons.
Sean Henry is the CEO of 137 Industries, which manufactures the FYREBX. He has been contracting as a wildland firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service since 2017 and created the FYREBX out of frustration with a requirement to have water accessible within a quarter mile when crews are clearing out ladder fuels.
It has a Tier 4 Diesel exhaust and uses the machine’s hydraulics to pump the water. Optionally, it can hold either 300 gallons of diesel fuel, 3,000 gallons worth of foam, or it can spray de-icer while plowing out snow.
“I can drive the FYREBX into a lake, a body of water, a pond, a stream. They can open a valve and they can actually pump water from that water source and then we can pump that water to a fire truck or to a water truck and fill it up,” he said.
The US Air Force is negotiating to buy four units – the Firebx and the Fuelbx. Several logging companies have placed orders and they are pitching to Cal Fire and other fire agencies.
thanks martin
#1 by BOB on July 23, 2022 - 10:50 AM
Mike L there is actually a mistake in the story listed above, from the company’s site it says,
the 300 gallons of water can be turned into 3000 gallons of foam which is either air aspirated or compressed air injection.
For forestry and wildland it does seem like it could so really good job, especially in spots the trucks won’t work or fit.
#2 by harry on July 22, 2022 - 2:57 PM
mike l well it does look like it could do the job just fine esp. in tight spots
#3 by Mike L on July 22, 2022 - 1:07 PM
Gotta love the college interns tv news hire to write their stories. I’d like to see that skid steer carry 3,000 gallons of foam or diesel fuel. What does harry say? I’m sure one of his public works guys or fire guys has given him inside information.