The data on forest fires that occured all over the world over the past 10 years indicate that we are facing a new typology of forest fires, more virulent and destructive. These fires are spreading very quickly (there were for instance 115,000 hectares burned in a period of 14 hours in Chile in 2017, 4,200 hectares burned in 20 minutes on the N236 in Portugal in 2017 and 50,000 hectares disapperead in 48 hours in 2017 in Galicia). This new type of fire was then defined by fire experts as sixth generation fires or firestorms. In order for forest firefighters to be able to combat this type of fire, they need new tools that allow them to extinguish the flames efficiently while protecting themselves from the radiant heat emitted by the fire itself. In this case we thought that the best solution is a 25 mm high pressure (up to 40 bars) forest fire nozzle, which allows firefighters to extinguish the flames and simultaneously activate a water shield that allows the firefighter to be protected from radiation caused by the fire and to safely approach the flames to extinguish them, the whole with a maximum flow rate of 200 l/mn due to the limitation of the quantity of water available when we intervene on a forest fire. A nozzle combining all these functions didn’t exist on the market and such a nozzle was developed and then tested and demonstrated at various and several opportunities since March 2024. "TRL8-9"
In a scenario where extreme forest fires increasingly challenge human and technical capabilities, the dual-effect forestry nozzle is not only an innovation but a vital necessity for the survival of the forest firefighters and their effectiveness in extinction. Its design, which integrates thermal protection and extinguishing with adjustable flow rates in a single device, redefines the fight against fire in three irrefutable axes: 1. Extreme water efficiency: THE KEY TO OPERATIONAL SURVIVAL: The firefighters do not have infinite flow. They work with limited deposits (usually less than 4,000 litres) which requires a millimetric management of the most valuable resource: water. 2. ACTIVE PROTECTION: THE SHIELD THAT SAVES LIVES : Extreme forest fires don’t just burn trees; they kill firefighters! Radiation, scorching heat (which can exceed 800°C) and direct flames turn the first line into a death trap. 3. Fighting extreme fires: WHERE OTHER NOZZLES FAIL Megafires (such as those in Galicia, Portugal or Australia...) require tools that go beyond the conventional: precision and resistance ; adaptable strategy. The goal was to develop a nozzle with an inlet of 1’’ that uses low flow rates with the possibility to select different flow rates, that can be used with high pressure, that offers a protective shield to have different jet patterns at the same time, and that is reliable when used for forest fires.
The POK & TOÉN double-acting nozzle gathers all the features requested in a single apparatus. • Double jet simultaneously which is new on the market for a nozzle with an inlet of 1’’. It enables to extinguish fires but to better protect the firefighter offering him all the means to fight the fire in a more effective manner and therefore to avoid the fire from spreading and destroying all the landscape and from killing people. The nozzle is adjustable from straight jet to spray (straight jet, attack spray and wide angle at 135°) like all the nozzles but what is new is that it offers a combination of straight jet and spray or a combination of attack spray and a secondary spray or a combination of wide angle spray and a secondary spray. To do this, it has been necessary to add a secondary spray selection between the body and the tip of the nozzle. This secondary spray selection can be turned on and off on demand and it offers a flow rate of 65 l/mn at 6 bar. To sum up, this innovation offers: - Extinguishing: High precision flame quenching jet. - Protection: Built-in heat shield that blocks radiation and reduces the perceived temperature, allowing you to advance where previously impossible. Result: - The firefighter works closer to the front without suffering thermal stress. - Greater effectiveness: less fatigue, longer attack time and reduction of casualties. It’s not an accessory; it’s saving lives in a hell. • The nozzle is with small adjustable flow rates (25, 50, 75, 125 l/min at 6 bar) which allows you to adapt to the type of fire without wasting a single drop: - 25 l/min: Ideal for incipient fires or strategic cooling. - 50-75 l/min: Direct combat in moderate flames maximizing range and duration. - 125 l/min: Reserved for critical moments of high intensity, without emptying the tank prematurely. - A conventional nozzle of 250 l/min would empty a truck in 16 mins leaving the team at risk. •The nozzle can be used with high pressure (up to 40 bar)
Fire is a chemical reaction of combustion, a rapid oxidation of a combustible substance generating heat (exothermic reaction). This heat is transferred by different sources, one of them that directly affects the forest firefighters is radiation. In forest fires, radiation is directly linked to the length of the flames. The double-acting nozzle enables the extinguishing of flames while a water shield with a drop size of less than 1 mm absorbs and dissipates energy. When the water shield receives radiant heat, the water evaporates turning into steam. This phase change process requires a considerable amount of thermal energy, known as latent vaporization heat. Radiant heat is consumed in this process, decreasing the heat energy that would impact the firefighter extinguishing the flames, allowing the firefighter to extinguish the fire safely. In addition, as the water from the nozzle shield evaporates, the relative humidity increases in the environment where the firefighter is working, creating a bubble that can act as barriers by partially blocking the propagation of electromagnetic waves from radiant heat. This happens because the vapour and the water in scattered droplets allow the absorption and dispersion of infrared radiation. The double-acting nozzle combines the optimum flexible operational capacity while protecting the firefighter.
Forest Firefighters Unit has a Team for innovation (Living Lab) composed by 4 specialis, focused on analysing technical and operational needs and safety requirements of firefighters, evaluation of new equipments and the possible needs not provided by the market. That way they defined such technical requirements for the forestry nozzle and looked for a company to its design and manufacturing. POK French manufacturer of equipment for firefighters has an engineering department and production plant.
Forest Firefighters Unit has a Team for innovation (Living Lab) composed by 4 specialis, focused on analysing technical and operational needs and safety requirements of firefighters, evaluation of new equipments and the possible needs not provided by the market. That way they defined such technical requirements for the forestry nozzle and looked for a company to its design and manufacturing. POK French manufacturer of equipment for firefighters has an engineering department and production plant.