The Fire Attack Vehicle
By S. Kriyu

Compared to other fire suppression methods, the FIRECAT Fire Attack Vehicle (FAV) is, in a word, different.  It doesn't need water or chemicals to suppress an active fire line at point-blank range.  No bulldozing, no backfires; no back-breaking, hand-built fire lines; no risk to fire personnel or apparatus.  And because the FIRECAT is thermally armored, it can be used as a last line of defense to save property.

But is the FIRECAT supportable?  How is it going to protect property?  What is the likelihood that it will be available? What are the odds of its success in protecting the property?  What are the trade-offs to be considered when selecting the appropriate fire-suppression method?  What is the cost: FIRECAT versus the Superscooper?  FIRECAT versus a hand crew?  FIRECAT versus a conventional fire truck?  FIRECAT versus a helicopter?  In comparing the potential for successful wild land fire suppression of one method against another, many factors need to be considered.  Wind, fire fuel type and density, terrain, time of day, air temperature and humidity - all are  critical factors, as well as road conditions, accessibility and availability of water supplies.

A Superscooper aircraft can dump 1,500 gallons of water onto most targets very quickly.  But air attack isn't available after dark or when winds exceed 25 MPH.  Additionally, Superscooper operations are severely limited when there is no wind to help move some of the smoke that will often times obscure the target fire line.  In 1996, LA County Superscoopers received 98 dispatches, 13 of which were actual "water-dumping" incidents.  Two (2) Superscooper planes dropped a total of 423,000 gallons of water in 87 flying hours, about 282 total drops, at an average cost of $6,187 per drop, or roughly $4 per gallon.

So how does the FIRECAT compare to the Superscooper?  In many ways it doesn't.  It can't fly over a target, at least not yet, although models small enough to transport by helicopter are planned.  And it doesn't haul water, although it does have a small retardant reservoir.  But it can work tirelessly after dark; under power lines; in stiff wind conditions; in heavy brush; on steep hillsides.  And it can do all of this - and more - for about $1 per foot of raging fire.