AFRL Technology Improves Firefighting Vehicles

  • Published
  • By Materials & Manufacturing Directorate
  • AFRL/RX
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  AFRL engineers developed a revolutionary new firefighting technology that will pave the way for a new generation of smaller, leaner, air-transportable fire trucks. The basis of the technology is a system for delivering ultra-high-pressure (UHP) agents to combat aircraft fuel fires--a capability that reduces the amount of water and foam needed to fight fires, which, in turn, also reduces the size of the vehicle itself. The compact size improves the efficiency of air-transporting vehicles to the site--a C-130 can hold a pair of the new trucks versus just one (partially dismantled) P-19 fire truck. Despite reductions in both size and water-carrying capacity (decreased from 1,000 to 730 gal), firefighting effectiveness is actually improved. Engineers envision that the new deployable vehicles will be at least twice as effective as the current P-19 fire truck, essentially matching the capabilities of three large 1,000 gal vehicles with two smaller 750 gal vehicles.

For the effort, the AFRL Fire Research Group (Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida) modified an existing P-19 firefighting vehicle to incorporate three different agent application technologies: UHP water, compressed air foam, and dry chemical. Major technological breakthroughs include the design of a bumper turret  capable of supporting both UHP and combined-agent nozzles, along with separate UHP and combinedagent  handlines. Researchers have since removed the vehicle's roof turret as well, because qualitative fire testing--as well as quantitative flow characterization--ultimately revealed the effectiveness of the 300 gal/min UHP bumper turret as equal to that of the standard 500 gal/min roof turret. Air Force (AF) firefighter feedback supporting this decision indicates that the bumper turret is more efficient, permitting improved visibility of both the agent stream and the fire from the cab of the vehicle.

Since the modified P-19's elevation to full operational capacity, the test bed has shown that the UHPequipped vehicle significantly increases firefighting effectiveness over standard P-19 capabilities, while discharging only 60% as much firefighting agent. Armed with these promising results and the endorsement of the AF major commands, researchers recommended the creation of guidelines addressing aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles of the future. Accordingly, AFRL is leading a $2.4 million effort with the AF Civil Engineering Support Agency (AFCESA) to modify five additional P-19s with UHP technology for additional field testing and evaluation. The next-generation UHP P 19s will employ a smaller, lighterweight centrifugal pump that will cost 75% less than the first-generation 300 gal/min pump system. AFCESA will use the experience gained from these five vehicles to develop specifications for the new military deployable fire truck.