Fire and Flood Emergency Services (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

WILDFIRE TECH

Fire and Flood Emergency Services opens first BC shop in Kamloops

Apr 30, 2024 | 7:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — Technology in the world of firefighting, when it comes to wildfires is changing, and looking to be at the forefront of that change is Fire and Flood Emergency Services. The company opened up their first shop in B.C. today at the Kamloops Airport – nearly eight years to the day after it was founded.

What started as an idea back in 2016 for founder Terry Raymond has turned into a new way to help fight wildfires. Flood and Fire specializes in moving large quantities of water to the front lines of the fight to assist services like the BC Wildfire Service (BCWS).

“We move water closer to the fire for aviation, for their aviation tanks. And we can also move water at a high-volume to the water tenders, decreasing their turn-around times. So we can actually move water to structure with constant water supply above ground with our mobile hydrants and aviation,” explains Raymond, “We can make all fire divisions on most objectives more efficient and effective. Just moving more water to the fire.”

While previously many firefighting units used smaller hoses to move water, the large scale ability of the system allows fire and flood to alter the climate around a blaze.

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“It could change the relative humidity and ambient temperature in a localized area, up to two miles we have proven, and I knew that I could get a process patent on that because no one else has tried to suppress a fire changing the climate with one gun or more over 8-inch hose,” said Raymond. “That has never been done. We were granted a Canadian patent two years ago in December for Canadian and now Australian patents for moving water through an 8-inch hose or larger over 80-psi for purpose of wildfire suppression.”

Raymond and his team are currently working with Alberta, California and B.C., after proving the ability of his system in a number of wildfires last year, including in the north Shuswap.

“We expect a little more commitment this year from BC Wildfire, they are currently on new agreements for this year. We expect them to move this technology forward after the saves in Scotch Creek last year and Drayton Valley, as well as some of the previous jobs we’ve proven our worth on,” added Raymond. “We have now gone from demonstrated ability to proven ability.”

While Fire and Flood is still working through contracts with BC Wildfire Service for the upcoming summer, Raymond highlighted the need for government to push it forward to help save lives and communities from wildfire.