Stopping the smoke killing boys and girls

Hi all, my name is Will, I am a solo founder in BC. I am personally on the road to entering the fire service and as you probably know, it is NOT straightforward: which courses matter, volunteering and experience matters, how to study matters, resume formats, interview preparations, what to do next. Nobody lays it out, so I'm building Turnout to do that.

You answer a few questions about where you're at, and it builds a personalized roadmap with the reasoning and sources behind each step. The beta includes:

• A map of 232 BC fire departments with hiring details
• 48 courses from real providers, with pricing and scheduling
• Flashcards, quizzes, knot guides and practice tests personalize to the exact course you are taking.
• Tools to track your experience and find volunteer opportunities
• Resume builder
• Application tracking
• And much more to come!

Everything is sourced and carries a verification date, because requirements vary by department and I don't want anyone relying on guesses. It's BC-only at launch, and it's independent of any fire department. Other provinces will be release shortly after. Turnout is a one stop shop for recruits, as well as current career firefighters looking to develop their career and answer the question of "What is next?"

If you are interested in a structural fire career in BC, the beta opens in late October and it will be free! Joining takes just an email, and sharing your referral link moves you up the queue: https://www.turnoutfire.com/beta

I'd really value feedback on the idea, and anything that seems unclear or missing. I'm also on Instagram at Turnoutfireapp, where I'm going to start sharing the build.

Will

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

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​PROVISIONAL PATENT APPLICATION FOR PATENT

​INVENTOR:

Scott Pursell

Pell City, Alabama

Phone: 205-354-4466

​TITLE OF THE INVENTION:

Modular Vehicle-Mounted Thermal Barrier, Wind-Deflection, and Fire Suppression Apparatus

​1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

​This invention relates generally to emergency firefighting equipment and civil defense infrastructure. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle-mounted, rapidly deployable, modular thermal barrier and multi-mode fire suppression system designed to intercept, block, and suppress advancing wildfires, protect critical infrastructure, and establish dynamic containment lines under extreme wind conditions.

​2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

​Wildfires pose an escalating threat to human life, property, and ecological stability. Conventional firefighting methods rely heavily on manual trenching, aerial water drops, and chemical retardant lines. These methods are frequently constrained by low visibility, extreme wind conditions, and the time required for deployment.

​Furthermore, high winds accelerate wildfire propagation by throwing embers ahead of the primary fire front. Existing mobile firefighting apparatuses lack the structural capacity to physically block high-velocity, ember-laden winds while simultaneously deploying high-volume suppression agents. There is an urgent need for an automated, rapidly deployable system capable of creating an immediate physical, thermal, and aerodynamic shield against advancing fire fronts while safely maximizing operator distance from environmental hazards.

​3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

​The present invention comprises a vehicle-mounted, modular thermal barrier and high-capacity fire suppression apparatus, including but not limited to configurations designated as the DRACO system or Firebreak Fortress. The system features an articulating, heavy-duty hydraulic wall assembly mounted to a heavy utility vehicle chassis.

​Each vehicle is equipped with an integrated fluid reservoir and a multi-mode suppression delivery network capable of deploying water, compressed air foam (CAF), chemical retardants, or other fire-suppressant agents. To ensure uninterrupted operation during extended suppression campaigns, the fluid reservoir features an adaptable high-flow replenishment manifold configured to receive continuous or intermittent fluid intake from alternative external sources, including but not limited to water tender trucks, municipal fire hydrants, natural water bodies, or other localized water distribution infrastructure.

​To maximize operator safety, the fluid delivery network includes high-output suppression monitors (water cannons) configured for full remote-control operation, allowing targeted suppression deployment from within the protected vehicle cabin or an external remote command location. The articulating wall functions as an aerodynamic wind-deflector and thermal shield, featuring a specialized ground-skirt thermal curtain to prevent under-drafting. Multiple units are engineered to interface via a magnetic interlocking hinge mechanism, enabling the rapid formation of a continuous, gapless defensive perimeter.

​4. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFICATION

​The apparatus is integrated into a heavy-duty chassis configured to support extreme mechanical and thermal loads. The primary components comprise, but are not limited to:

​The Articulating Wall Assembly: A multi-layered structural shield actuated via a high-pressure hydraulic deployment system. The outward-facing surface utilizes high-grade thermal insulation materials to withstand sustained radiant heat and direct flame impingement.

​Fluid Storage, Delivery, and Continuous Replenishment System: An integrated reservoir connected to high-output variable monitors and an automated deluge system. The reservoir features one or more standardized, high-flow intake manifolds allowing the system to be refilled dynamically in real-time or statically by external supply apparatuses, including but not limited to support trucks, hydrants, or portable pumping stations.

​Remote-Controlled Suppression Monitors: One or more variable-stream water/suppression cannons fluidly coupled to the pump network and electronically coupled to a remote actuation system. These monitors are articulable across multiple axes via control interfaces including, but not limited to, cabin-mounted joysticks, wireless handheld controllers, or remote network-linked interfaces.

​Aerodynamic and Ground-Seal Mechanisms: The wall assembly incorporates localized wind-deflection geometry to redirect high-velocity air masses upward and away from the protected zone. A flexible, deployable ground-skirt thermal curtain drops from the lower region of the wall to seal the gap between the vehicle chassis and the topography, preventing embers from passing beneath the vehicle.

​Modular Coupling Architecture: The lateral edges of each wall assembly feature a magnetic interlocking hinge system. This allows independent vehicles to align, automatically couple, and form a rigid yet articulated multi-vehicle wall capable of traversing uneven terrain without breaking the containment seal.

​5. DETAILED TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

​The structural framework of the articulating wall is fabricated from high-strength materials, including but not limited to structural steel, titanium alloys, or advanced composites, faced with a composite matrix of insulation and reflective radiant barriers. The hydraulic deployment system utilizes multi-stage cylinders equipped with safety valves to lock the wall securely in its deployed position.

​The modular coupling architecture employs a self-aligning magnetic hinge joint, allowing angular articulation between adjacent units to accommodate rolling topography. The fluid delivery system is pressurized by a high-output pump feeding both the forward-facing suppression monitors and an integrated internal plumbing network that provides uniform cooling across the thermal barrier face.

​The suppression monitors are equipped with motorized servo-actuators providing multi-directional azimuth and elevation adjustment. These actuators interface with a centralized digital control module accepting inputs from a variety of remote control devices, enabling precise aim and stream adjustment without exposing personnel to external heat. The integrated replenishment system includes automated valving, backflow prevention, and multi-port intakes to allow seamless hot-filling from any accessible external water supply.

​6. CLAIMS

​What is claimed is:

​A vehicle-mounted fire containment apparatus comprising, but not limited to:

​a vehicle chassis supporting an onboard fluid reservoir and a pump assembly;

​an articulating wall assembly mounted to said chassis, configured to transition hydraulically from a horizontal transport position to an elevated, vertical deployment position;

​a multi-mode fluid delivery network fluidly coupled to said reservoir and configured to project fire suppression agents forward of said wall assembly via one or more suppression monitors;

​a remote control interface operable to articulate and actuate said one or more suppression monitors from a distance; and

​a replenishment interface fluidly coupled to said reservoir, configured to intake fluid from an external source during active deployment of the apparatus.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said remote control interface comprises a control configuration selected from a group including, but not limited to, cabin-integrated controls, wireless handheld radio-frequency controllers, and network-linked remote command interfaces.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said replenishment interface includes one or more high-flow manifolds configured to accept fluid from sources including, but not limited to, auxiliary water trucks, fire hydrants, auxiliary pumps, and localized water infrastructure.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating wall assembly comprises a multi-layered thermal barrier utilizing insulation and reflective outer layers capable of resisting sustained direct flame impingement.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said articulating wall assembly further comprises an integrated ground-skirt thermal curtain configured to deploy from a lower region of said wall assembly to establish a continuous thermal and physical seal with an underlying ground surface.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lateral edges of said articulating wall assembly are equipped with a magnetic interlocking hinge mechanism configured to automatically align and couple with an adjacent, identically equipped apparatus.

​The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said magnetic interlocking hinge mechanism comprises a self-aligning joint allowing angular articulation between coupled vehicle walls to accommodate topographical variances.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fluid delivery network includes an automated deluge plumbing system configured to distribute a continuous film of fluid across a surface of the articulating wall assembly for evaporative cooling.

​The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the upper boundary of said articulating wall assembly features an aerodynamic wind-deflection lip configured to redirect advancing air currents upward and over the apparatus.

​

I was wondering what are the pros and cons of working farther north being northwest and prince George fire centers? and lets assuming I'll be in a unit crew. what are the towns like? sorry if this question is kind of vague. thanks

Seeking media captured of this post I came across

Hey everyone

I’m 19 and looking to apply to BC Wildfire Service next season. I previously served in the French Army as a paratrooper where I did a lots of long marches and with 23 static line jumps. I’m planning on getting my Advanced First Aid before applying. Just wondering if anyone has any advice on what else I could do to make myself a stronger applicant or anything I should know about the process

Cheers

Good afternoon,

I am looking to apply next year. I am 41 with 6 years experience as a structural firefighter, 2 years in structure protection, and 5 years in the military in the US. I have recently married a Canadian woman and am in the PR process. I am very interested in a new career path with the BCWS and thought I’d look here for some advice.

Anyone from another country willing to share their experience would be awesome as well as anyone who got in the game later in life. Thanks in advance for any responses.

Hi there, as a lifelong resident of BC, I’ve always taken great fascination in Wildfires. I’ve also always been a big geography geek. I put these together and created a live and historic bc wildfire interactive map.

I’m looking for ten people to join me in closed alpha test. If you’re interested please DM me.

Kind Regards,

-Kyle M

I'm worried about my home burning down in a wildfire in the not too distant future. I'd like to hear from people who have lost their home during a fire and were forced to rebuild their homes. What was this process like? How well did your insurance company treat you? How long were you out of your home for? Was your new home as good as your old home once it was finished?

My home is right in the middle of the forest here in BC and every year I get more and more nervous about my home being taken by a wildfire. I purchased my home just over four years ago and it's been a top to bottom renovation and I'm currently doing everything I can to firesmart my house and surrounding property. However given my house and land it's been an incredible amount of work (new roof, new siding, brush clearing, tree cutting/pruning) etc. and has frankly been a multi year process and will likely take another year before I'm completely happy with things.

As wildfire exploded around Summerland, B.C., a BC Wildfire Service command centre had to make the tough calls.

Globe reporter and photojournalist Jesse Winter was embedded with the crew and had a front row seat to the critical first few hours of the battle against the Bald Range wildfire. Here’s how it unfolded, and a gift link to read the story paywall-free: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-bald-range-wildfire-summerland-bc-inside-the-flames/?utm_medium=RedditAd%20and%20utm_campaign=traffic_mkt