Tech Vet Builds High-Powered Hose To Protect Home From Wildfires

Kiet Do reports on tech veteran in the Santa Cruz Mountains taking a DIY approach to serious fire protection (8-1-2017)

[@theoneandonly6441]

I don't get why people would even laugh at it he's just trying to protect his home it's a good idea I would have two of them

[@jeffchandler687]

He is realistic about the chances of saving his home given the height of the trees surrounding the structure. Any good crown fire will bowl right over that house. But if its a ground fire not yet into the trees he’s got a fighting chance. More power to him.

[@herbiesnerd]

Defensible space is your number 1 single best preventative measure. The hose setup is nice but it won’t stop a wind driven fire blowing through your little section of forest. Pre wetting vegetation doesn’t do any good in fire conditions. Unless you plan on standing your ground and fighting active fire, at some point you’ll be making the decision to evacuate. Once you turn the water off, all that watering you did evaporates immediately from the preheated hot dry air. If you plan on staying and fighting, you need a safety zone preplanned Out (an area of safe refuge that cannot burn you no matter what) a planned escape route you can safely use when it’s obvious you can no longer stay there AND an escape route pre planned to your safety zone, and you need protective fire fighting clothing. A realistic option to take advantage of your fire system you built would be to plumb it to sprinklers. Put them everywhere, especially your roof and around the eves and next to the house. If I owned your house, I’d cut down those huge pine trees and everything else within 100’+ of the house. Your house is just fuel. Fire doesn’t discriminate.

[@SkylinersYeti]

to create a defensible space you do not need to cut down all the pine trees. As a forester I have seen how a shaded fuel break saved a house. The crown fire in the forest dropped to a ground fire, the area immediately around the home was clear of flammable debris, the fire passed around the house leaving it standing. No one silver bullet. Need look at whole system to make it work.

[@herbiesnerd]

Z 11 well that’s the dilemma isn’t it? If you build a house in a forest (urban interface) its not an If , but a when will it burn. Here’s a reality, if firefighters are prepping and triaging homes that are in the path of the flaming front, if your beautiful pine trees are encroaching on your home, and you have wood shingles, junk and woodpiles and dead vegetation, etc, they are going to do minimal work to save your home. Why? Because they don’t stand a chance without putting themselves at high risk. Risk vs Reward If your house has well cutback defensible space, a green belt for landscaping, a tile roof, etc, they will stand and fight because they have a good chance to save the house with less risk. They aren’t magic men. They are hard working pragmatic thinkers with training, experience and equipment. They will abandon your beautiful home in the forest well before the fire gets there because they know there nothing they can do except cut back some bushes and move debris and hope for the best. Prep and Run. Live in the forest and eat bark and talk to birds if that makes you happy, but you better have an evacuation plan and the grit to rebuild after you return to the ashes. That’s harsh, but that’s the reality of living smack dab in the middle of fuel.

[@Mondo5904]

Yes, we thought the same thing. The fire pump is only one part of the response. For example, if we have a small local fire on our property, we can at least try to knock it down until the FD gets here. And if they need additional water for something larger, they can tap our tank.

[@Mondo5904]

@@SkylinersYeti Our trees are all Redwood, which is not as combustible as pine. We've also cleared out anything non-native... It's an annual process. Ah, mountain life.

[@antronx7]

@@Mondo5904 Did you do any improvements to your fire fighting setup? Around property sprinklers? Remote start or via thermal sensors? More water tanks? How about building 10x larger covered in ground water pool for water storage?

[@davidfuller4110]

That is freaking smart, I wish I had the brains of this guy and I wish I lived where he lived, its beautiful up there. I've been there before.

[@jedidiah5131]

He didn't build anything....he put a few parts together, oh ya he built the wooden box.....There is nothing difficult or new as to what he did....

[@Mondo5904]

@@jedidiah5131 Not difficult at all, just made a decision to do it. Your point is?

[@watchthe1369]

Fire wise is probably the term you want to search to get an idea of what you want to do to protect your house. The guy has good ideas, but a wooden enclosure for his system is probably not the best choice.

[@Mondo5904]

Wooden enclosure? Well, had to create something to contain the gear, and I am not proficient in welding, so there's that. It's a prototype if anything.

[@pf465]

@@Mondo5904 Hey Scott, hopefully you made it through this last round of fires in Santa Cruz. Maybe get a metal tool box type of enclosure and take the wheels off. The fear is the wood catching and that propane tank and everything inside the enclosure not withstanding the heat. Of course it's hard to tell where the pump is located in relation to the possible burning vegetation. I would also put a metal roof on your house if you definitely want a fighting chance, as that is where the vulnerable house loses the fight before it begins.

[@docsavage6636]

Plastic water tanks melt. Metal is a better choice.

[@surinamel5708]

Also he will need a fireman's outfit with oxygen tank on his back.

[@darkwaters1010]

The only thing I would add would be mixing non toxic biodegradeable foam with the water pump to better wet down anything. Otherwise fantastic, especially converting the gasoline engine to propane.

[@SkylinersYeti]

I did the same, have foam, makes water go much further. I also manage vegetation on my property to keep fuel loading lower and make property looking better. We had a wild fire within 1/2 mile of our home 2 summers ago. I will add Wild fire zones to my automated irrigation system that I can activate from my smart phone in case of wild fire in the future.

[@yarpos]

This is news? a honda (or Briggs) powered powered pump is a standard $600-700 item in Australia Still way to much bush too close to the house

[@giordano8525]

A very smart man..well done..

[@The000chirag]

I don’t know why it’s wired in Australia people have been doing it for years so much so you. can buy everything from this video at a local hardware store in Australia

[@chrish1590]

I think we have been clickbaited🤣

[@martinencinal3073]

This comment didn't age well.

[@jedidiah5131]

I agree he built a wooden box lol...

[@Mondo5904]

Yup, anyone can buy this stuff anywhere. Not rocket science, just being practical.

[@KosukiFire]

Would be better using sprinklers on the house it self

[@Mondo5904]

Thats the next project

[@jamesjacobus6605]

KosukiFire should be manitory is wooded areas

[@robc.5745]

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,I completely agree with this solution. And if you live in an area like this and can afford it you would not regret it.

[@dearthworm]

"Tech Vet Builds High-Powered Hose ..." ?? Home owner who has a home in a fire prone area installs a standard fire pump and hose which he admits will still only delay the fire for a few minutes before his house burns down anyway. Shocking story, film at eleven.

[@Mondo5904]

Nice snark Javier. Would rather do something than nothing. if local outlets think it's newsworthy, great. Hope to inspire others to be mindful about this issue up here.

[@nemo227]

He still has trees pretty close to his house and some exposed parts are made with flammable materials. I've seen homes in similar environments survive raging fires.

[@amerie1987]

I mean raking those floors will seemingly also help...

[@sgtpepper1138]

Gotta rake those forest floors ;)

[@mondogecko01]

Smart enough to build his own.. Nice

[@antn8387]

nice set up

[@watchthe1369]

I would go with sprinklers instead, that water would evaporate in a few minutes in just about any fire sustaining weather. The sprinklers could maintain a nice wet spot for hours probably. If a crown fire ever sweep thru the area, his house is toast with all those big trees, hopefully he has them pruned well up off the ground to keep brushfires from climbing them.

[@angelo00ism]

Can you please tell me what brand is your pump and where to buy the nozzle and hose thank you

[@alexandersalarms5380]

It's just a fire hose

[@Mondo5904]

Better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick, no?

[@PepeDeezNutz]

STFU

[@Karmazov]

On the other hand he has plants and trees located right next to his house.

[@michaelhilber8284]

You could install sprinklers on your roof. that gives you the best chance of saving it. Sprinklers along the east edge of the roof especially for the hot dry wind from the east. And you need the tank, and the gas powered pump, or electric pump and a generator. Figure you need enough water and gas for the pump to run the sprinklers for 3+/- hours. turn them on and evacuate when flames get close.

[@ChannelOne-1]

I like the concept, but Considering the height of those trees there is no way that low spraying will stop a high wall of fire coming thru and destroying that hous. You need a full on house sprinkler that will completely soak the house and keep soaking it.

[@Mondo5904]

Thanks. It was never meant for me to stand around and fight the fire. The area has very few hydrants. I set iy up for mostly first responders to use if they needed extra water or gear. That being said, it would come in handy for a small fire on the property, as the closest fire department is 10 miles away. Just a precaution.

[@Nadyamantra]

How does he fill the 5000 gallon tank? Is it rain water or from a well or something?

[@Mondo5904]

Initially, I had the water trucked in. Then maintained it with water from the house.

[@LeonardoDaVincisGrandson]

most people water the plants this dude waters his trees🐐😂

[@sallieskakel2251]

IF YOU HAVE HORSES (and you live in a dry climate), double-fence your property to create a "pasture" that is actually an alleyway circling your property. In a dry climate, the horses will turn this "pasture" to dust in short order; in winter, when grass wants to sprout there, the horses will churn the sprouting grass into the mud. (Creating such a "pasture" in chaparral would require heavy equipment.) The alley will also encourage the horses to move more, and thus they will get more exercise.

[@kevinbehrendt9924]

I would like to see a follow up on this.

[@Mondo5904]

The follow up is we sold the house and moved to a less fire prone part of the US.

[@tropicallyfit]

@@Mondo5904 What part of the US did you move to? Thanks!

[@beingsneaky]

Ah yeah clearing brush around the place would help way lot more. Us I think a sprinkler system would help more then one fire hose too.

[@streetcar6080]

You definitely need a water reservoir. I would bury a few 800 gallon water tanks if I am in forest fire area, Get a couple gasoline pumps (with plenty of gasoline) and you are all set.

[@markdavis8888]

No fireman's outfit would lead to the death of anyone staying to fight a large fire. There is nothing easy or safe about fighting a fire and one person with a hose can only fight a very small fire. Better to clean up the yard, enclose the area under the deck and hook up the pump to sprinklers. I hooked up a generator to my well pump and that can keep the sprinklers going when the power is turned off.

[@surinamel5708]

How about an EXTERNAL sprinkler system over your house

[@sullivns1]

I would say it's a lot smarter to cut down the trees that are so close to the house you stand no chance of saving anything with trees so close. Firefighter of 50 years

[@Mondo5904]

Did that. Cleared out over 30 trees on my property. It was still not enough. We had a buffer that ranged from 30 feet to 150 feet. No vegetation around the foundation. All river rock.

[@Dudebroguy22]

I Would of used a smooth bore to receive a longer reach of the hose stream before it breaks over

[@jedidiah5131]

Do you want volume or pressure....a variable nozzle is more practical.

[@jaguiar4567]

hahaha. Great Idea but anyone noticed how tall the tree are .. Lot of BTU for his little fire hose.

[@slickric41]

Why not dig a pond and pump water from it to save home

[@ericphan5857]

We need rain control to be able to handle but we need invest in NOAA

[@costa2150]

great set up, but the man has a MAJOR defensible space problem. solve that folks if you live in the WUI

[@Mondo5904]

Everyone in the SantaCruz Mountains has a major problem with defensible space. We cleared out 30 trees and removed all vegetation next to the house. After all the evacuation scares, we moved to the Pacific Northwest.. and , right into MORE fires. Lordy hep me.

[@costa2150]

@@Mondo5904 WA? OR? great country up there too

[@jaguiar4567]

I think to really protect his house he should have several ground monitors pumping 1000GPM in the surrounding area. No away his water tank containing 5k gallons of water can even slow down the fire.

[@mattgaetz5548]

So he's got wooden structure around the pump and LPG tank? Also, the plastic water tank isn't gonna stand up to fire. Just sayin' no wonder he got funny looks.

[@surinamel5708]

The plastic water tank goes under ground

[@paulmaxwell8851]

It can be impossible to stand outside your home in a wildfire. Windblown embers by the thousands, and overwhelming radiant heat from the burning trees will drive this homeowner inside. The same tank-pump-plumbing system coupled to sprinklers on the home can save it from total destruction. I hope this man figures this out. His current set-up is offering false security.

[@Mondo5904]

Fighting the fire myself was never an option or a thought. It was a precaution. I set it up mainly for first responders to use, if they needed more water.

[@Best-mx2of]

Good way to spend your money than on another useless car.

[@montecarlo1651]

Well, when the fire arrives with less than 10 minutes notice, travelling as a fireball and with a wall of flame 100 yards into the sky and roaring like a jet engine with hurricane strength winds that explode your windows and rip your roof off, I reckon this system isn't really going to cut it. Think I exaggerate? Try some real research one what wildfires are really like and don't learn the hard way.

[@Mondo5904]

Again, I never said I was going to fight any fires myself. We were evacuated twice, so I know the drill. Thanks for your compassion.

[@montecarlo1651]

@@Mondo5904 Scott, honestly, if you understood the subject you would appreciate that my response is compassionate, it could save your life. Your house is surrounded by forest, it can't survive a serious fire. Nothing you can do there is going to save it. Nothing is going to buy you time. Given the location, I am betting that there are few roads out from your place and they are probably through the forest. That is a death trap. You will die in your car, trapped before a fallen tree. You need to evacuate from a house like this the moment the weather starts looking ugly, before the fire even starts. Once it starts, the situation can change so quickly, the wind direction can change so quickly, that the fire will consume you before you have any information at hand. At the very least, you need a freestanding bunker with air supply to allow you to flee at the last moment but even that is really risky. Air temperatures in fires are known to melt glass in cars, such as headlights. You're and engineer, figure out what that temperature needs to be to do that. If you are outside and without a screen between you and the fire, you are toast in seconds from radiant heat, with a screen between you and the heat, you might have a few seconds more. Setting aside your ego and really looking into the issues will save your life. That is why I wrote the comment, to save your life. I am sorry if it came across as rude. That wasn't my intention.

[@Mondo5904]

​@@montecarlo1651 Problem solved 3 years ago. We moved to the Pacific Northwest, and the fires are here too. And yes, I DO understand the issues. I stated very clearly in the video that I had no illusions I was going to save my house, yet everyone seems to ignore this and chime in with their tut, tutting. I built this six years ago out of an abundance of caution. I would rather do something than sit around on my thumbs. All the things you say are true, and again, I know all this. Thanks for sharing.

[@montecarlo1651]

I@@Mondo5904 I wish you luck Scott and hope your knowledge is enough to keep you alive whenever you might be caught up in a firestorm that is the modern nature of wildfire.

[@Patrick5]

So Drought restriction doesn't count for him?

[@Mondo5904]

I had the water for the tank trucked in...

[@imoneixusa9742]

Scott Jamar It doesn't look like you

[@Mondo5904]

Canimaslan USA Been me all my life...

[@imoneixusa9742]

Scott Jamar :) hahaha Are you him? You can be you all your life but are you him?

[@imoneixusa9742]

Scott Jamar I don't know what the laws are in your community but if you are able to have a small herd of about 10 or more goats, they will keep the combustible materials down and be a natural fire prevention measure as long as you heard them two different areas every couple of days and not let them denude the landscape. That along with the city coming through with prescribed burning should make sure that there is little to no fire danger in your area

[@laopang91362]

No funny look from me for sure.

[@jedidiah5131]

He built a box, whoopity doo....

[@Mondo5904]

Yeah, pretty much. It was the least I can do to try and think ahead. Next I will build a rhombus.

[@joshuadunbar7655]

why not just remove the trees around his house

[@Mondo5904]

We did, as much as we could. But we lived in a forest. Better to do something than nothing. Also, first responders like it when you think of things like this, and tend to give those places priority.

[@klesk173a]

Why don't you cut those trees first....You really think tha'ts going to save your house? a wild fire burns at a temperture of 800 ~1200 degree.If you don't cut down those trees your house will burn like cheese cake...You'll be dead in 10 sec before you even reach that water hoses.Cut down all those tree's that's inside 200 meter.Its better putting fire retardent gel.

[@uscplaya69]

It’ll be funny when a firefighting helicopter comes and takes water from his tank.

[@Mondo5904]

They are welcome to it!

[@kylebarbacki7887]

Taint that water tank with 55 gallons of phos-chek lol

[@kbkesq]

Wetting down the house does nothing. Advancing heat will make that water evaporate before the flames and embers even hit. He should know that. Fires are starting in low humidity conditions 7-25%. So that water is gone fast. Foams and gels are key. He needs to consult experts rather than waste 5000gal on his DIY project.

[@Mondo5904]

I'd rather do something than nothing. Foams are on the list. Researching other automated solutions as well, and yes, I've consulted lots of experts and our local fire department. (they appreciate the effort) I set up the system for fire trucks to be able to use it to fill their tanks as well. It's interesting how people make lots of assumptions about what I should or should not be doing, but hey, thanks for the comments, really. - All the best.

[@nicolascarnot4857]

Actually, embers can travel miles in front of a fire and sprinklers are very effective. kzbin.info/www/bejne/j3SxaKqogqyhoNE There is a calculator in this app to work out spotting distance. itunes.apple.com/au/app/nsw-rfs-firefighter-pocketbook/id872370884?mt=8 This is an australian app, but some items could be useful. What you have done is great, my only concern is your water tank maybe too small to be fully effective. Good luck this season

[@npcdd1652]

Having wet roof and surroundings has to work. Evaporated water helps keep house cool. Also will not embers not catch fire so easily

[@user-zt6bt8dp2c]

kbkesq tell that to the guy who saved his home from the camp fire by wetting it down

[@SkylinersYeti]

@@Mondo5904 I also live in the forests and have also added my own fire equipment. Great start and it will increase the chances of your home surviving a wild fire. I have added class A foam to mine and will add Wildfire zones to my irrigation system that can be activated from my smart phone if not home. Home owners need to take responsibility for there own safety if you choose to live in a wild land environment. Once again good work.

[@bluecircleofsquares]

just move the house into the pacific ocean with all the money you got

[@kevinvt4174]

This is really dumb... I build high pressure portable fire pumps mounted on a dolly with wheels not in a wood box. Also why would you run it on Propane? Plus if you ever have a problem with the engine or pump you just roll it to your truck or car an go. Also, you don't need a quick connect for your water nozzle I don't get it bad design. The pumps I build will run for 2 hours on gas before filling and displace 150 P.S.I. Do your research don't waist your money building junk.

[@Mondo5904]

Dude, it's a 5K water tank. The pump will drain it in less than an hour. I test it twice per year. Did not want to deal with old/bad gas, hence propane.. As far as design is concerned, it was primarily designed for first responders to use, had never really planned on staying if a fire was in the area. Called our local fire station. They came out and inspected and appreciated the effort as there are NO stand pipes / hydrants within 1 mile. It was a precaution, nothing more. If you want to throw shade and promote your superior solutions, well, good for you. The more people who are trying to help, the better.

[@PepeDeezNutz]

Junk