WITH the CSIRO warning of what looks like a potentially catastrophic fire season, it’s obvious that preparations are vital.
Australian Pump Industries has spent the last 30 years working hard to develop portable fire pumps that particularly suit Australia’s conditions.
The result is a continuing process of developing pumps ranging from Ultralites weighing only five kilograms to serious twin impeller pumps with truly amazing capabilities.
Across the country, we’re seeing firefighting authorities warning of more disastrous bushfires not only taking their toll in country areas but, also on the outskirts of major cities, towns and villages across Australia.
WHAT CREATES A BUSHFIRE?
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Professor of Pyrogeography and Fire Science, David Bowman says it takes fuel, heat and wind to create truly disastrous fires.
To quote the professor, "there is a sense of denial with many folk only realising the danger when they smell smoke and see embers flying through the air".
By then it’s too late to make a decision about staying or protecting property.
FIGHT OR FLIGHT?
We have to face the reality that some homes, due to their location, construction and design, are simply not safe enough to defend.
Australian Pump Industries warn the responsibility is with the homeowner to make sure they are prepared and follow the instructions of the firefighting authorities.
Those authorities work together closely to make sure people are warned adequately.
They spend huge amounts of money on television advertising just to make sure the population is aware of the dangers.
GET GOOD ADVICE
Aussie Pumps chief engineer, John Hales, recommends taking a scaled drawing of your property to an authorised Aussie Pumps distributor.
They will advise what you need for an external sprinkler and fire protection system.
Many of them do installations as well.
NEW FIRE DANGER RATINGS
Fire authorities around the country are promoting an awareness of the new fire danger ratings.
If you decide to stay and defend as part of your survival plan, your property must be suitably prepared.
The required planning and preparation includes the installation of reliable equipment.
As a guide to making that critical decision of fight or flight, take note of the new ratings and chart.
On days of catastrophic fire danger, even well prepared homes may not survive.
Leaving early is the safest option under these conditions.
WHAT ABOUT PUMPS?
That’s where Australian Pump Industries come into their own.
Thirty years ago the company started with the clear mission of producing products that were better than those currently available.
The result was a range of self priming centrifugal fire pumps that are unique to Australia and offer significantly better performance and features.
“We put more material into our pumps to make a bigger bowl and bigger impeller," said Hales.
“That bigger bowl gives more volume and the impeller with a larger diameter than the other major brands gives us more pressure as well.
"The key to pump design is all about balance between performance and available horsepower.”
Working with Honda engineers, Hales and the Aussie Pump engineering team have introduced pumps which produce more flow and water than competitors, but don’t overload the Honda engine that drives them.
“Match testing with Honda engineers and getting that perfect balance between performance and horsepower is critical in a fire," said Hales.
“We’ve achieved that not just in the lightweight portable fire pumps like the Aussie Fire Chief, but in our bigger pumps as well."
CHOOSE THE PUMP WISELY
Once you have a water source, the action now is for the homeowner to get equipped with a reliable pump, powered by a reliable engine and get the best possible combination of pressure and flow.
Questions that need to be asked are as follows:
Will the pump deliver enough pressure and flow to feed the sprinklers and a couple of fire hoses?
Will it draw water from a dam even when the water level drops?
Will the pump prime fast?
That’s where Aussie QP pumps, “Quick Prime” come in.
The Aussie Fire Chief, the product leader, will lift water through a vertical of 7.6 metres.
That’s significantly more than it’s competitors.
Will it start first time every time?
"That’s why we choose Honda petrol engines because they are so reliable, unless they’re on a slope when the oil alert kicks in, they will work perfectly under the most difficult conditions.
"We choose Honda because we know developing-countries copy engines are often unreliable.
"For a fire pump to have a sub-standard engine is asking for trouble,” said Hales.
THE AUSSIE PUMP NETWORK
Australian Pump Industries has a network Australia wide and more recently internationally as well, that appreciates the performance and quality and value for money of the product range.
Shipments to Indonesia, Canada, Africa are an every day occurrence for Aussie Pumps as this company continues to expand its capabilities to provide very real climate change support, whether it’s floods, fires or drought.
“We relate to the people on the land but are more and more conscious of the need for protecting people on the outskirts of key cities," said Hales.
If you’re interested in protecting your property, go see your local Aussie Pump distributor and pick up a copy of a free Bushfire Survival Guide.
It is part of Aussie’s program to educate, and help prepare for what looks like a wicked fire season.
A SALUTE TO THE VOLUNTEERS
The team at Australian Pump Industries have a huge respect for the volunteer firefighters around Australia.
Those volunteer brigades are quite unique in the sense that they have the skills and knowledge of true professionals but give their time and risk their lives, free of charge to help protect their communities.
They deserve our respect and thanks.
Further information on the above is available from Australian Pump Industries or your local authorised dealer.
