Fire suppression, fire extinguisher, condensed aerosol, FST, fire suppression tool, firefighting equipment, fire suppression systems, marine fire extinguisher, bus engine fire suppression, X-Tinguish, fire safety, firefighting system, aerosol fire suppression,extinguisher, X-Tinguish X-Treme, Fire TKO, Stat-X, Firepro
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Fire Suppression Industries
AEROSOL FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
TOLLFREE (800) 985-2173
PHONE: 847-419-3700 SALES@FLAMERESPONSEUSA.COM
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NEWS
Two firefighters taken to hospital after blaze at College Avenue home.
By Kevin Hirschfield Global News
Posted May 17, 2021 10:53pm
One person was sent to hospital in stable condition and another was treated by paramedics at the scene of an apartment fire in St. Vital early Monday morning. Elisha Dacey/Global News
Two firefighters were taken to hospital with minor injuries after a fire at a home in the 400-block of College Avenue Monday night.
Crews were called to the one-and-a-half storey home just after 7 p.m. and used a Flameguard X-Tinguish Fire Suppression Tool, an aerosol device that reduces temperatures, which allows safer access for firefighters.
Everyone in the home was able to evacuate safely before crews arrived.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
House damaged, but no one hurt in Friday morning Winnipeg blaze
By Sam Thompson Global News
Posted April 30, 2021 4:47 pm
A one-and-a-half-storey house on Church Street suffered significant water, smoke and fire damage after a Friday morning blaze, Winnipeg firefighters said.
Just before 10 a.m., the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) arrived at the house in the 400 block of Church, where crews encountered heavy smoke and flames.
With the help of an aerosol fire-suppression tool, the Flameguard X-Tinguish FST, fire crews were able to reduce temperatures so firefighters could get inside safely, and the fire was under control by 11:22.
There were no injuries in the incident, although the building was damaged and neighbouring houses also suffered heat damage.
Normandale house fire
Damage pegged at $150,000
Author of the article: Monte Sonnenberg
Publishing date: Mar 31, 2021
James Robertson, assistant fire chief in Norfolk County, says the deployment of a fire-suppression "grenade" like this was instrumental in bringing a serious basement fire in Normandale under control in the early morning hours of Wednesday. The fire on Mole Side Road caused an estimated $150,000 damage and killed a family pet. – Monte Sonnenberg
NORMANDALE – An electrical malfunction has been cited in a fire in Normandale Wednesday that left a family pet dead.
The Norfolk County Fire Department reports the alarm was called in shortly after midnight. The occupants were able to evacuate with minor burns and smoke inhalation.
“Upon arrival, firefighters discovered a working basement fire,” assistant fire chief James Robertson said in a news release. “Firefighters were able to quickly bring the fire under control by utilizing a throwable fire ‘grenade’ before the fire spread to the main floor.”
In an interview, Robertson said the pet that perished was a 30-year-old parrot. Robertson said the parrot had been with the owner since it was a fledgling.
The fire occurred at 23 Mole Side Road west of the hamlet. Two people in the home were using the basement as a temporary bedroom.
The blaze presented Norfolk firefighters with a rare opportunity to deploy a fire-fighting device which, in this case, greatly limited damage to the property and saved the home.
The “grenade” Robertson referred to goes by the brand name X-Tinguish X-Treme.
In the right circumstances, Robertson said the grenade will temporarily knock back a fire if it is in a confined location, giving firefighters an opportunity to enter the building and deal with the problem directly. He said the Norfolk department has occasion to use the grenade about once a year.
In this case, the pin was pulled on the 14-pound device and thrown into the centre of the fire through a basement window. Once the device activates, it discharges fire-retardant chemicals in all directions for about half a minute. A spec sheet says the grenade will reduce ambient temperatures in the area of a fire by 1,000 degrees F for 60 seconds.
“You have to get it in or on top of the fire,” says Robertson, adding Norfolk firefighters have had the device at their disposal for 10 years.
“They were able to put one on the nose of this fire. It’s another tool at our disposal.”
The concept is not new. In the late 19th century, property owners could purchase large glass orbs filled with salt water that were thrown at a fire in a confined location. The idea was to have enough of the orbs on hand to extinguish the fire or at least knock the flames back to allow escape.
The devices later came with fire-retardant chemicals but the fumes arising from them were toxic at high temperatures.
“This is the modern, high-tech version of that,” says Norfolk fire prevention officer Cory Armstrong-Smith. “Could you imagine a fire truck full of those glass balls? What a mess that would be.”
The occupants in Normandale were examined by paramedics but declined a visit to hospital.
Total damage is estimated at $150,000. Inspectors have concluded the fire was electrical in nature. The county department says the occupants were insured.
No firefighters were injured. Crews responded from Station 11 in Vittoria and Station 5 in Delhi. The owner of the property declined a request to speak to a reporter.
Fire grenades and aerosol mist: Launching new fire suppression tools
In confined spaces, these mini extinguishers can save lives and property
Mar 24, 2021
By Robert Avsec , FireRescue1.com
From the earliest days of “put the wet stuff on the red stuff,” there’s been the search for the next best thing in extinguishing agents. This has been especially true for the protection of high value fixed facilities once it became apparent that automatic fire sprinklers could exact more damage on the property (e.g., communications equipment and electronics) than the heat and smoke from a fire. And that quest created a domino effect of products, from Halon to “fire grenades” and condensed aerosol mist.
THE USE – AND BAN – OF HALON
In 1954, the U.S. Army and DuPont collaborated to develop Halon 1301 to provide fire suppression capabilities for high-value military assets (e.g., aircraft, mainframe computers and telecommunication switching centers) as total flooding systems. Halon (short for halogenated hydrocarbon) was a liquefied gas used to extinguish fires by chemically interrupting the combustion chain reaction – the fourth side of the fire tetrahedron.
Halon, in its various forms, was an extremely popular extinguishing agent because it was nonconducting and left no residue after being discharged. In fact, Halons were popularly described as a "clean” extinguishing agent.
Fixed fire suppression systems using Halon 1301 and its halogenated hydrocarbon “cousin,” Halon 1211, made their first entries into non-military fire suppression applications in the 1960s, quickly gaining traction with facility managers charged with protecting high-value assets. And with many of those assets containing sensitive electronics and computer technologies, assets that would be damaged or destroyed by the activation of a traditional fire sprinkler system, Halons quickly became the “gold standard” for the protection of such facilities.
In 1987, representatives from around the world met and developed an international treaty, The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which quickly became known as the Montreal Protocol. The goal of the treaty was to gradually eliminate the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances to limit their damage to the earth’s ozone layer.
The United States was among the 197 countries to sign the Montreal Protocol – the first treaty in the history of the United Nations to achieve universal ratification – and has been a leader in guiding the successes of the treaty. In 1994, the U.S. EPA banned the production and import of Halons 1211 and 1301 to comply with the Montreal Protocol, prompting chemists and fire protection engineer around the world to begin the search for a suitable replacement for Halon in fire suppression systems.
SPREAD THE WORD: CONDENSED AEROSOL MIST
One Halon alternative that is gaining in popularity are fire suppression systems that use condensed aerosol mist (CAM), defined by NFPA 2010: Standard for Fixed Aerosol Fire Suppression Systems (2020 Edition) as “an extinguishing medium consisting of finely divided solid particles, generally less than 10 microns in diameter, and gaseous matter, generated by a combustion process of a solid aerosol-forming compound.”
Upon activation in fire suppression systems using CAM, an extinguishing aerosol mist is created by electric or thermal ignition of a specialized solid that produces micron-size dry chemical particulates and gases that mix to create a uniform aerosol.
There are myriad positives to the use of CAM for fire suppression in enclosed spaces:
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Zero ozone depletion potential, meaning they don't contribute to global warming.
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Included in the EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy program as acceptable substitutes for Halon 1301 as a total flooding agent.
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Extinguishing capability three times that of Halon 1301.
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No oxygen depletion: CAM suppresses fires at exceptionally low concentrations by interfering with the fire's free radicals, making the atmosphere safer for firefighters and any trapped occupants.
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Reduces interior temperature in the space quickly, providing increased victim survivability and less heat stress for firefighters.
Most commonly, those condensed aerosol particulates consist of potassium carbonate (K2CO3) that result from the thermal decomposition of a solid aerosol-forming compound that includes potassium nitrate as an oxidizer. In addition to being effective, fire suppression systems using CAM are easier to install, maintain and operate in part because there are no pressurized cylinders or propellant gases required because the pyrogenic generation of CAM provides sufficient energy for a rapid discharge and efficient distribution.
CAM: HOW IT WORKS
The CAM is self-generated upon activation of the system. Manufacturers and installers for many fire suppression systems using CAM (e.g., Pyrogen, Ltd. and FirePro) create systems that consist of a series of canisters containing the solid aerosol-forming compound being strategically placed within the risk area and electrically connected to most types of manual or automatic fire control panels. When heat/flame detectors identify a credible fire threat, the system identifies those canisters that need activation and then sends an electrical current to the canister(s), which ignites the aerosol-forming compound.
CAM has proven to be effective in extinguishing fires, particularly those involving hydrocarbon-based materials, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, hydraulic liquid, lubricants, natural gas and wood. The micron-size aerosol particles exhibit gas like 3D qualities that allow the agent to rapidly distribute throughout an enclosure and reach into the most concealed and shielded locations.
NOT JUST FOR FIXED FACILITIES
Fire suppression systems using CAM are extremely scalable and cost-effective, making their installation possible for practically any civilian application, in many cases using a pre-packaged kit, that include, but are not limited to:
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Marine applications protecting engine rooms, machinery spaces and cargo holds on commercial vessels, barges and tow boats, plus civilian watercraft (e.g., power boats, yachts, and sail boats).
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Automotive applications protecting automobiles, trucks, trailers, RVs, and emergency vehicles (e.g., fire apparatus and ambulances), as well as commercial vehicles like motor coaches and buses and just about anything with four wheels!
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Aviation applications for the protection of general aviation aircraft and helicopters as well as cargo bays, ground support equipment, and maintenance shops for commercial aviation.
LAUNCHING FIRE GRENADES INTO THE TOOLBOX
Manufactures such as Fireway, Inc. and Flame Guard USA have taken CAM technology and put it into a portable unit for use by firefighters and other public safety personnel and civilians. While those manufacturers, and others, may refer to their products as a "fire suppression generator" or “CAM generator,” I’m sure the term fire grenade is catchier with firefighters.
The Stat-X First Responder from Fireway is a compact, lightweight canister unit that’s small enough that it can be carried on a person’s belt (using a holster designed for that purpose). For instantaneous fire suppression, the user pulls the actuator and tosses it into an enclosed space where a fire’s located (just like pulling the pin on a grenade and hurling it toward the enemy!). And it’s small enough that it can be tossed up or down stairs, even through a second-floor window (depending on one’s arm strength and aim!).
The X-Tinguish X-Treme from Flame Guard weighs in at 13 lbs., including the weight of the compound, but isn’t much bigger than were some of the first handheld thermal imaging cameras. But its larger size gives it more fire suppression “punch,” as it can effectively “mist” an enclosed area of roughly 5,300 cubic feet.
When used by first-arriving firefighters aboard fire apparatus, these devices can buy time for fire attack handline set-up, impede flashover and provide an emergency egress route for occupants seeking to exit the structure. This can provide a valuable fire suppression tool for under-staffed volunteer fire departments providing more time for enough firefighters to arrive to conduct safely conduct fire suppression operations.
USE BY OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES
In many communities, especially those relying on volunteer-staffed fire department for fire suppression, a law enforcement officer or EMT/paramedic may be the first person to arrive at a working structure fire. If that officer or EMS member has a portable CAM generator (fire grenade), they could use it to slow a fire long enough to enable occupants to get out and allow fire departments assets to arrive.
Consider this scenario. An ambulance (not staffed by firefighters) arrives at a vehicle fire resulting from an accident. There are occupants trapped in the burning vehicle and the fire department has not yet arrived. An EMT or paramedic could break a window, toss a CAM generator into the vehicle to knock down the fire and remove the occupants. Or this scenario: An ambulance arrives first at the scene and encounters an early-stage fire. After evacuating people, and before fire apparatus can arrive and set up for operations, one of the ambulance crew members pulls the actuator on a Stat-X First Responder, or activates a X-Tinguish X-Treme, and tosses it into the room where they see the fire.
AED FOR FIRE
Long ago we learned that fog pattern fire streams are more effective on a fire in an enclosed space, and that’s the case with fire grenades as well. That's because the confinement keeps the aerosol mist from dissipating so that it can keep "mixing it up" with those free radicals.
With that caveat, I don’t see any objective arguments for to not have these fire suppression units carried by public safety agencies. Think of them as the AED for a fire.
I foresee the fire grenade becoming a cost-effective alternative to fire extinguishers for a few reasons:
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Reduced maintenance requirements (e.g., annual inspection like those for fire extinguishers);
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Keeps distance between user and fire; and
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Minimal user training required.
I'm all in for anything that helps firefighters do their jobs more safely, effectively and efficiently. Let's not forget Firefighter Life Safety Initiative 8: Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety. From my point of view, that means getting fire grenades into the hands of not just firefighters but all members of public safety agencies who could find themselves in the position of first-arriving first responder.
About the author
Battalion Chief Robert Avsec (ret.) served with the Chesterfield (Virginia) Fire & EMS Department for 26 years. He was an instructor for fire, EMS and hazardous materials courses at the local, state and federal levels, which included more than 10 years with the National Fire Academy. Chief Avsec earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati and his master’s degree in executive fire service leadership from Grand Canyon University. He is a 2001 graduate of the National Fire Academy's EFO Program. Beyond his writing for FireRescue1.com and FireChief.com, Avsec authors the blog Talking "Shop" 4 Fire & EMS. Connect with Avsec on LinkedIn or via email.
St. Croix County Sheriff's Office
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2021
Contact: St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson, 715-381-4320
Fire suppression units donated to St. Croix County law enforcement community
HUDSON, Wis. — Twenty-two fire suppression units have been donated to law enforcement agencies within St. Croix County. These units are used in early-stage and fully developed fires. They generate an aerosol mist that expands, filling the space and suppressing the flames within seconds.
Twelve of these units were received in February with 10 additional units scheduled to be delivered in mid-March. The first 12 are portable whole-house units that can be carried in squad cars and instantly deployed into larger house fires. The additional 10 will be smaller canister units for use on car and other smaller fires. The larger units were immediately shared between the county and six local police departments. The remaining units will be shared with other municipal departments.
Pictured are: Dianne Kiel, Wanda Nielsen, North Hudson Police Chief Mark Richert, Hudson Police Chief Geoff Willems, St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson, St. Croix County Board Supervisor Bob Feidler and Hugh Gwin.
“For those deputies and officers who are first on scene of a structure fire, these fire suppression units will give us our best chance to slow the spread of the fire,” St. Croix County Sheriff Scott Knudson said. “Time is limited and these units could give us a couple extra minutes that may result in saving someone’s life or preserving property.”
The fire suppression units were presented by Wanda Nielsen, Hugh Gwin, and Dianne Kiel during a brief ceremony at the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office. Receiving the units were Knudson, Hudson Police Chief Geoff Willems, North Hudson Police Chief Mark Richert and St. Croix County Board Supervisor Bob Feidler, who chairs the Public Protection and Judiciary Committee. The Republican Party of St Croix County donated the units.
Fire suppression units were donated during a presentation at the St. Croix County Sheriff’s
WINNIPEG | News
Crews called to Beverley Street apartment fire
NEWS4.ca
Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to a fire in a two-storey apartment building on Beverley Street at Ellice Avenue minutes after 9:00 pm Tuesday night, January 5, 2021.
As crews arrived heavy smoke was coming from the building and an offensive attack was launched. Firefighters deployed the Flameguard X-Tinguish Fire Suppression Tool, an aerosol device that dramatically reduces temperatures making the area safer for firefighters. The fire was declared under control within an hour.
There is no word on injuries.
Crews remained on scene after the fire was out to ventilate the building. Residents were able to return to their suites once crews completed their work.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
SASKATOON | News
Firefighters evaluating a new tool to help knock down fires
NEWS4.ca
Winnipeg, MB-Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to a fire around 2:50 am Friday morning, November 13, 2020, in the 800 block of Burnell Street.
When emergency crews arrived on the scene they encountered a two-storey house with an attached garage. The garage was fully engulfed in flames. An immediate offensive attack was launched but due to uncertain condition firefighters transitioned to a defensive attack and deploy a new tool to them called a Flameguard X-Tinguish Fire Suppression Tool.
The X-Tinguish is a one-time use aerosol device that is placed into a fire and within a minute can not only knock down flames but also reduces the temperature of the fire by hundreds of degrees and prevent flashovers. It does this by generating an aerosol mist that expands to flood the space and suppress the flames.
Once the X-Tinguish tool was used firefighters were able to re-enter the the garage put out the flames. The fire was declared under control at 4:00 am.
No occupants were found inside the home after a search and no injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
WFPS is evaluating the effectiveness of the X-Tinguish as part of a pilot project. According to the companies website the cost of each tool is about $700.
SASKATOON | News
New tool used to extinguish house fire in Daniel McIntyre neighborhood
Charles Lefebvre Supervising News Producer - Digital
Published Friday, November 13, 2020 9:57AM CST
WINNIPEG -- The Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) used a new tool to help extinguish a house fire in the city’s Daniel McIntyre neighbourhood Friday morning.
Firefighters were called to a fire in a vacant two-storey house in the 800 block of Burnell Street at 2:51 a.m. When firefighters arrived, the attached garage was fully engulfed in flames and heavy smoke could be seen coming from the house.
Due to uncertain fire conditions, crews began fighting the fire outside of the home and deployed a Flameguard X-Tinguish Fire Suppression Tool. The tool is an aerosol device that can help knock down fires, reduce temperatures, and prevent flashovers, allowing safer access for crews. The WFPS is currently using the tool as part of a pilot project.
Crews were able to re-enter the home after it was used, and the fire was under control at 4 a.m.
No occupants were found in the home, no injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.
Drivers in the area should drive with caution, as water used to fight the fire covered the road and froze. The city said it will monitor the area and apply sand and de-icing agents when needed.
SASKATOON | News
No injuries in North End house fire; firefighters testing new device
10/29/2020 6:38 AM
Winnipeg, MB –Firefighters put out a blaze in a house in Winnipeg’s North End on Wednesday with a tool that knocks down fires with an aerosol mist, reducing overall water use.
According to a city release, the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service responded to reports of a fire in a one-and-a-half-storey home in the 600 block of College Avenue at 6:45 p.m. on Oct. 28.
All occupants self-evacuated before authorities arrived — although crews did locate a snake in an aquarium and brought the animal to safety. No injuries were reported, and the fire was declared under control within half an hour. As part of an ongoing pilot program to evaluate a new device, crews used the Flameguard X-Tinguish Fire Suppression Tool when they encountered smoke and high heat conditions on the scene.
The device, which generates an aerosol mist that expands to flood a space and suppress flames, significantly reduces temperatures and prevents flashovers. It results in safer conditions for occupants and firefighters and reduces water use, the city said in a release.
An investigation into the cause of the Wednesday fire is underway; no damage estimates were immediately available.
SASKATOON | News
'You pull the two pins': How a new grenade-style tool will help Saskatoon firefighters
Janella HamiltonOn the Go Reporter
Published Thursday, August 20, 2020 3:04PM CSTLast Updated Thursday, August 20, 2020 9:39PM CST
SASKATOON -- The Saskatoon Fire Department has added a new piece of equipment to its firefighting toolbox, that aims to keep firefighters safe when battling a blaze.
The X-Tinguish FST is a tool that when deployed in a fire, sprays an aerosol mixture, helping suffocate the flames which allows firefighters to gain access to an area, in a much safer way.
“Unlike a fire extinguisher, this tool is on a time delay, so you do not have to be close to the fire to apply it. You pull the two pins. There is an eight-second delay. The unit which weighs about 12 pounds is then tossed into the compartment that is on fire," Assistant Fire Chief Wayne Rodger said on Thursday.
"Once it starts to work, there is an aerosol that will then interact with the heated gases within that space, reducing the temperature and depending upon the size of the fire."
Data shows it the device can take the room temperature from around 540 C degrees celsius to around 90 C in about a minute, according to Rodger.
By suppressing the fire temporarily, Rodger said it makes it safer for firefighters to gain access to the area that is on fire so firefighters can continue extinguishing the fire more efficiently) and search for occupants.
The new tool was used for the first time this past weekend, during a large fire at two homes on Ave R South in the Pleasant Hill Neighbourhood.
The X-Tinguish FST is made by Flame Guard USA with units costing about $900.00.
New Tool Improves Safety For Firefighters
Saskatoon, SK, Canada / Country 600 CJWW
Aug 20, 2020 4:46 PM
A new tool that the Saskatoon Fire Department has had on hand for a few months had its first official use in a fire on Sunday afternoon that turned out to be 2 fires on Avenue R South.
Assistant Chief Wayne Rodger says this high powered fire extinguisher is deployed and has an 8 second delay so it can be thrown into a building to suppress the fire and the heat before the firefighters go in, making it safer, but it’s not effective in all circumstances.
It’s up to the incident commander to make the decision when it should be used.
Rodger says on Sunday, when firefighters first responded to a blaze on Avenue R, there was only 1 reported fire, but when they got there, they realized there were 2, so while more crews were on their way, the fire suppression grenade was used on the second boarded up home.
Rodger notes that new technologies have really improved the tools they have.
For instance, the breathing apparatus has changed lots in the last 50 years and the nozzles have better options in hose stream applications, so this new extinguisher is just another example of the advancements in technology.
Workboat Magazine introduces the X-Tinguish® X-Treme as a Method of quickly responding to onboard fires!
March,2020
Vernon Hills, IL USA
Wind Turbine Generators (turbines) experience failures that may lead to small contained fires and, at times, devastating large fires that render the turbine a total loss. Causes such as loose glowing electrical connections, short circuits, arcing and component failures can cause direct and secondary damage throughout the equipment. Secondary damage, also known corrosion, is caused by residual chemicals after a combustion event. When measured in remediation cost, secondary damage can be 10-15 times more severe than direct damage.
Flame Guard USA, an industry leader in aerosol fire suppression systems, released the X-Tinguish® XT-3000, a fixed condensed aerosol generator that is used in early stage and fully developed fires. Once the X-Tinguish®XT-3000 generator is triggered, an aerosol mist is generated. The mist expands volumetrically, engulfing the space and suppressing the flames within seconds. This tool successfully reduces the temperature by as much as 1,000°F in as little as 30 seconds, reducing the need for water by as much as 80 percent in applicable environments.
In an effort to quantify what, if any, adverse effects the aerosol mist may have on various metals and electronic circuitry, Flame Guard USA partnered with AREPA, a professional equipment reconditioning firm, to conduct an experiment.
THE EXPERIMENT
AREPA www.arepa.com Page 1 Turbines contain metals such as copper, aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, as well as both non-conformal coated and coated circuit boards.
In an effort to simulate extreme field conditions, AREPA secured the noted metals and electronic circuitry, exposed them to the X-Tinguish® XT-3000 aerosol mist and placed them in a chamber with elevated moisture and heat.
AREPA harvested analytical samples on the exposed components after seven days, 14 days and 30 days in order to properly understand the chemical reaction that was taking place on the sampled surfaces.
Click here to review the results:
https://www.arepa.com/media/4fin1jqa/arepa-whitepaper-flameguardusa.pdf
AREPA has more than 200 employees with 25 different locations across Europe and North America. We’ve helped businesses in more than 60 countries. And although we’ve been in business nearly 40 years, we still hold the title as one of the largest, and most experienced teams of technical restoration specialists in the industry and the world.
The X-Tinguish FST helped save the structure.
Describe your image
The X-Tinguish FST helped save the structure.
Village of Waterford successfully deploys X-Tinguish® FST in structure fire.
*** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ***
On Tuesday, 04/23/2019 at 01:47 hours the Racine County Communications Center (RCCC) received a 911 call reporting a possible Structure Fire in the 200B of 1st Street. Within 5 minutes from Time of Call, Incident Command reported a haze in the street and active fire on the first floor of the structure.
An off-duty firefighter from WFD, responding direct to the scene from home, was able to successfully deploy a department-issued X-Tinguish FST into the front room of the building and maintain control of the flow path.
Within 6 minutes from Time of Call, E721 arrived on scene and performed an aggressive Targeted Transitional Positive Pressure Fire Attack using the Ultra High Pressure (UHP) Attack line equipped on the engine. Utilizing thermal imaging technology, E721 crew was able to see the “seat” of the fire from an exterior window and get water flowing onto the fire within 8 minutes from the original time of Dispatch. Because of the speed in which the E721 crew worked, the Under Control Benchmark was achieved within 16 minutes from Time of Call.
After preliminary interviews and investigation into the cause of the fire, it was determined that the area of origin was a bedroom used for storage. An electrical appliance, plugged into an extension cord running along the floor, had failed and ignited the mattress, bed frame and nightstand. Fire extension was limited to the room of origin. Property damage is estimated at $65,000. At the time of this release, the investigation remains open and on-going.
1 Firefighter was treated for fatigue and ultimately released at the scene. There were no other reported injuries.
Additional Customer Service was performed and concluded without incident - crews were able to assist the displaced occupants with the retrieval of some personal effects.
Reporting to the incident were 1 staffed Engine company and 1 staffed ambulance. 2 Chief Officers and 11 members made up the On-duty and Off-duty personnel resources.
Fire Chief Rick Mueller commented, stating "this was a textbook example of a research based, data-driven fire attack using the latest technology by well-trained firefighters. I couldn't be more proud of their professional display of effectiveness and safety, saving this customer's home and property."
Assisting fire departments at the scene:
VILLAGE OF MUKWONAGO FIRE DEPARTMENT
ROCHESTER VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
TICHIGAN VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
TOWN OF VERNON FIRE DEPARTMENT
Law Enforcement agencies at the scene:
WATERFORD POLICE DEPARTMENT
Flame Guard USA receives ISO 9001:2015 Certification
January 3, 2019
Lake Barrington, IL USA
Flame Guard USA was issued their certificate by AMTEC / American Management Technology, Inc. on Thursday, January 4, 2018.
ISO 900:2015 is defined as the international standard that specifies requirements for a quality management system (QMS). Organizations use the standard to demonstrate the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.
Because ISO 9001:2015 is an internationally recognized standard, it has become the basis for creating a quality management system around the world, replacing many previously published requirements. ... Attaining ISO 9001 certification can be a powerful marketing tool.
The ISO 9001:2015 standard is recognized worldwide. Companies and customers alike understand the benefits of working with companies that are ISO 9001:2015 certified. Some entities will only do business with certified companies because it gives them assurance that the management systems are constantly assessed and approved.
They will know from experience that working with ISO 9001:2015 certified company provides many advantages:
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Minimizes mistakes
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Improves reporting and communications
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Better quality products and service
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More reliable production scheduling and delivery
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Standards maintained by annual assessments
We are very proud to have passed all the requirements for ISO 9001:2015,
enabling our Certification.
Our certificate is available in the download section of our website.
Columbus Fire Department uses fire suppression tool to save house
January 3, 2019
Columbus, WI USA
by KEVIN DAMASK kdamask@wiscnews.com
Thanks for visiting!! FDIC 2018
Indianapolis, IN
April 24-26 2018
Columbus Fire Department put one of its newest devices to action recently, snuffing out a fire that could have threatened a home in Columbus.
Fire Chief Randy Koehn used the X-Tinguish FST, a fire suppression tool produced by Flame Guard USA, during a basement fire in mid-December. The fire suppression device, housed in a portable red box with a durable black handle, is a highly effective tool which has been used by fire departments, police, first responders and the armed forces for several years.
“It breaks down the air and interrupts the chain reaction of the heat, fuel and oxygen that it takes to produce a fire,” Koehn said. “It more or less snuffs the fire out. It does not take oxygen away so if someone were in the room yet it wouldn’t harm anybody.”
Columbus FD purchased two fire suppression tools in February 2018 for $600 each. Since the devices can only be used once, the department must be selective when they are used. Koehn said the device works best in smaller, more confined areas.
“If a house is fully engulfed, we’re not going to use it,” he said.
Last month, Koehn responded to a house fire, noticing heavy smoke coming from the basement. He entered the home, found the basement stairway, pulled an activation pin on the device and flung it into the basement.
Within minutes, the fire had been expunged. Koehn said the tool cuts down on water usage, which can sometimes damage a home.
“Insurance companies love it because you don’t have the water damage that’s typical when you go in there and put it out with a hose,” Koehn said. “If we can put a fire out and minimize water damage, hopefully people won’t be displaced as long as they used to be.”
After the device is activated, it generates an aerosol mist, containing potassium-based chemical components that expand volumetrically, flooding the space and quickly suppressing the fire.
The device can reduce temperature inside a room by 1,000 degrees in 30 seconds. Koehn knew departments in Waupun and Hartford also used the suppression tool and was intrigued.
“I talked to the chiefs at both departments and they endorsed them,” Koehn said. “I wish I had gotten them sooner.”
Koehn said the device may also be used in a car fire, especially if a person is trapped inside. Columbus FD carries one in Koehn’s truck and the other in the first-out vehicle.
Koehn thought about purchasing the device for awhile, but was skeptical. After talking to chiefs in Waupun and Hartford and hearing about the tool’s success, Koehn believed in the investment. He said the tool could help save a life.
A video demonstration highlighting the X-Tinguish FST can be viewed on YouTube by searching “fire suppression tool.” Koehn said battery life lasts five years, but chemicals in the device are good for about 15.
“Even within five years’ time we would have enough opportunities to use both of them,” Koehn said..
We would like to thank the hundreds of firefighters, first responders and attendees for stopping by to find out more information about the X-Tinguish FST and Flame Guard USA.
This year, we were located in booth 4249 in the Indiana Convention Center. We could not have had a better spot.
We met many new departments as well as more than a few that already use the FST. The 2018 expo was the best yet in all the years we have attended.
Many new distributors found us from a host of countries as well as many new fire departments from across a few different continents.
We truly look forward to attending in 2019.
Fire suppression tools now in city squads
By Carl Cooley Editor; Chetak Alert Newspaper
Mar 7, 2018 Chetak, WI
A new handheld firefighting device has been added to the equipment that Chetek police officers carry in their squad cars, in hopes they can knock down interior fires and prevent them from overtaking a whole building.
Chetek Police Chief Ron Ambrozaitis recently purchased two X-Tinguish FST units—which stands for fire suppression tool—from Flame Guard, based in Lake Barrington, Ill. He came across the FSTs while at a police chief convention earlier this year.
The fire suppression device is about the size of a large purse and weighs just under 12 pounds. Once activated and thrown into a room on fire, it emits a cloud of aerosol that smothers any flames. The units have a 15-year shelf life and batteries must be replaced every five years.
Joseph Kuesis, a partner with Flame Guard, explained that the aerosol emitted doesn’t remove oxygen from the air, but instead disrupts the fire’s thermal reaction, essentially sucking all the energy out of the flames and rendering the fire’s combustible gases inert. It also reduces the risk of flashovers.
Because the potassium-based aerosol compounds are nontoxic and don’t displace oxygen in a room, they are safer to use for firefighters, or anyone who might still be stuck in the building, Kuesis said. But smoke from the fire itself is still a concern, he noted.
Tests show that 1,000-degree fires drop to 200 degrees or less in less than a minute. The device is designed to suppress flames in a room 5,300 cubic feet or smaller—about the size of a 2.5-car garage.
For example, if a fire is larger than what a normal, handheld fire extinguisher could handle but still contained to an enclosed room, an FST could be used to knock down the flames.
Many modern furnishings and materials burn fast and hot, meaning fires spread quickly. Fires double in size roughly every 30 seconds, and every second counts. Because Chetek has officers on duty 24/7, they are usually the first to arrive at any emergency. Volunteer departments, like the Chetek Fire Department, cannot respond as quickly as professional departments that are always on call.
Still, it won’t turn police into firefighters. It is designed to keep officers outside and out of harms way. The FST’s large handle makes it easy to throw it from a safe distance.
The FST won’t replace the need for fire departments; firefighters will still need to come in and make sure any deep-seated embers and other hot spots are extinguished. But it will make their job easier and safer if the initial fire has been knocked down.
Remodeling a damaged room is a lot cheaper than rebuilding a whole house lost to a blaze, Ambrozaitis said. If police would have had a FST to use earlier this year, Ambrozaitis believed it would have saved a building that was destroyed by a fire in January.
Ambrozaitis noted an FST doesn’t need extensive training to use. Pull a safety pin, pull the ignition pin to activate it and throw it at the base of the fire, or near it. Within eight seconds of pulling the ignition pin, it will start emitting a cloud of extinguishing aerosol.
It will work on class A, B, C and K fires—like wood, paper and plastic; gas and liquids; electrical; and cooking fires, respectively.
Kuesis said in Wisconsin, it has been used successfully around 12 times. In one case, it saved the Christmas presents under a tree, and in another case, firefighters barely had to use any water in the mop-up. He also noted that SWAT teams are purchasing the units to use when responding to subjects threatening to light themselves on fire with gas or other accelerants.
Kuesis noted the technology was developed in Russia and arrived in North America around 2004. Their company has improved upon the original design.
Costing $600 per unit, Ambrozaitis has asked the Chetek Fire District and the Chetek Chamber of Commerce, as well as the public, for donations in support of the devices. Donations for the FST can be dropped off at Chetek City Hall or the Chetek Police Department.
“I don’t want to have to use it, but I’m a firm believer that it will work,” Ambrozaitis said.
Woodruff Fire Department donates fire suppression tools to Woodruff Police, $600 item given to each patrol unit
1/23/2018 7:28:00 AM
The X-Tinguish FST.
Evan J. Pretzer
Lakeland Times reporter
Last year, the Minocqua Fire Department was the recipient of a new piece
of equipment and, this year, on Jan. 19, the same thing happened for law
enforcement in Woodruff.
On Friday, assistant fire chief Victor Gee gifted detective William Nichols the first of five
X-Tinguish FST tools, one for each unit, from the Illinois-based Flame Guard USA LLC.
As Gee tells it, the desire to give the items out was driven by police in the area beating
the fire department to a number of calls.
"They've really helped us out on several occasions by using fire extinguishers and things like that," he said. "In a couple of cases they stopped flames before we even arrived. After that happened in December, I asked the department if this device would be useful and when they said yes, we used some leftover fundraising money to buy five of them."
The X-Tinguish FST can reduce temperatures by as much as 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than a minute and has a shelf life of 15 years. Though the items do expire, Nichols expressed confidence they would have no problems replacing them in the future.
"I don't see any problems in getting more money for new ones. It is a very good tool and is good for safety," Nichols said. "People in the community very seldomly have trouble supporting us. They care and when we need something we see a lot of support that way."
Evan J. Pretzer may be reached via email at evan@lakelandtimes.com.
Assistant Fire Chief Victor Gee (L), Det William Nichols (R)
Woodruff Fire Department used money from fundraising to help police officers stay safe.
SUBMITTED: 01/19/2018 WOODRUFF, WI
Note: An earlier version of the article quotes Woodruff Assistant Fire Chief Victor Gee saying the device removes the oxygen in the room. This is incorrect. According the company that makes the "X-tinguish FST", the device breaks up the oxygen bond.
The unit also does not work like a BOMB. It is not dangerous.
A Northwoods fire department used some of its money gained through fundraising to help other first responders stay safe.
"For lack of a better term it works like a bomb," said Woodruff Assistant Fire Chief Victor Gee.
The Woodruff Fire Department invested in five "X-tinguish" fire suppression tools. You pull the two pins on here and throw it in and it essentially extinguishes the fire," said Gee.
But the fire department didn't buy the tools for its own firefighters. "The tool is a lot more effective in knocking down a fire than a single fire extinguisher," said Woodruff Police Detective Bill Nichols. The $600 devices were purchased for each Woodruff Police squad car. Nichols says police officers have often used fire extinguishers to help slow down fires. "Officers are out on the road driving around all day, if we get a call somewhere we might be a block away, so our response time is going to be a lot quicker," said Nichols.
"Anytime that they can get in there and get a head start on things for us it makes it safer for us because it exposes us to less of the dangers that we come across on the fire ground," said Gee.
The devices will help ensure officers don't have to get too close to a fire. "The officers have to get close to utilize a fire extinguisher, with this unit they don't have to enter the area of the fires," said Nichols. Detective Bill Nichols appreciates the fire department's support. "We're all here for the benefit of the people. So it feels good to work together like that," said Nichols.
Gee says the investment will help both departments. "As part of their daily job they're helping us out, and by doing this it keeps them safer and it makes our job easier, so it's just a good fit to do this," said Gee.
The fire department gave the devices to the police department last week.
Grand Rapids, WI Volunteer Fire Department Saves Home
This was the results of our 1st use of a new fire suppression tool this morning. Fire contained , minimal water damage.
Another successful FST (Fire Suppression Tool) deployment! Congrats to this department in Wood County, WI! The fire was contained to this room, with less than 50 gallons of water used (including to fill hoses and mop up hot spots). Fire suppression started when the first emergency vehicle arrived on seen. Another house saved (this one for Christmas)! Both their fire and police departments understand the value of the FST's!
The X-Tinguish FST was deployed 4 to 6 minutes before the Fire Chief got on scene by a police officer. The engine company was behind the chief by a few minutes. The fire was free burning from all the information that we received. Bottom line, less than 50 gallons of water were used during this fire and much less damage to the home because the Police officer started the fire suppression arriving first on scene. Second save in the past month were police started the fire suppression.
Flame Guard USA attends a Very Successful Firehouse Expo 2017 in Nashville, TN
October 17-21, 2017
Nashville, TN
Behind every great firefighter is a department. And behind every great department is Firehouse Expo, the leading trade show and expo for the fire industry, offering all the behind-the-scenes tools, training, equipment and exposure to the ideas and inspiration firefighters need to be the best, the brightest and the bravest in the business.
Flame Guard USA hosted a booth at the 2017 edition of Firehouse Expo at the Music City Center in Nashville, TN last week.
This venue offered an exceptional and excellent opportunity to talk to fire departments and first responders that other shows do not.
We had an excellent show and would love to thank all of the firefighters, first responders and other guests that took the time to stop and chat.
If you did not get a chance to visit, we will see you in San Diego at Firehouse World in March 2018 and at FDIC 2018 in Indianapolis, IN in April.
Flame Guard USA launches new campaign to assist First Responders
October 1, 2017
Lake Barrington, IL
The X-Tinguish FST is now being utilized by Tactical teams as a response to criminals utilizing Fire as a weapon. With the ability to be carried into a building(13 lbs.) and having an extremely robust suppression ability (up to 5,300cu.ft.) , the FST is the perfect tool for all SWAT and Tactical teams to utilize when combating possible Fire as a weapon scenarios.
RV Fires and Extinguishing Them Safely
September 1, 2017
Posted by Coach-Net in RV Information, RV Safety
Recreational vehicles, campers, motorhomes in all classes contain large amounts of flammable materials. Do you have a plan in the event of a fire? RVs may become fully engulfed in flames within a matter of minutes. From 2009 to 2013, an average of 5,540 fires per year involved motorhomes and other recreational vehicles, according to estimates provided by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
The absolute first rule of RV firefighting is:
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Save lives first and property second.
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Get your occupants and yourself to safety before attempting to extinguish a fire.
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Use the firefighting tools on hand only if you can do so without endangering your life or that of others. READ ARTICLE
Flame Guard USA is proud to support Ladders Up for the Foundation
May 6, 2017
Toronto, ON Canada
Ladders Up for the Foundation - Funds for the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation
All Funds raised go to supporting the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation which honors firefighters
who have been killed in the line of duty and helps support their families. Every dollar raised
goes to towards the foundation’s education fund for the families of fallen firefighters.
WATERFORD, WI
The Waterford Fire Department is testing a new tool some departments call “the bomb” for tackling a fire before fire engines can get on scene.
The X-Tinguish FST or Fire Suppression Tool is a handheld device that when electronically activated sprays an aerosol that helps suppress the fire.
Waterford Fire Chief Rick Mueller explained how easy it is to use.
“You pull the pin and throw it in,” Mueller said.
The spray coming out of the device doesn’t completely put out the fire, but does stabilize conditions so firefighters can finish the job.
Mueller said potentially the device could reduce the heat in the room in which a fire is burning from 1,000 to 1,700 degrees down to as low as 200 degrees in as few as 30 seconds.
“It will suppress fire in a 5,000 cubic feet (space). It works best in an enclosed area. If I can open the door, throw it in and close the door, it works better than if the windows are out.”
Mueller ordered 10 units and a training unit and put his firefighters through the training last week.
“If a volunteer firefighter looks out his window and sees fire coming from the Village Hall, he could throw this in the window before the engine gets there and reset the fire for us,” Mueller said.
FDIC 2017 is a complete success.
The largest show turnout ever.
Indianapolis, IN
April 26-28th Booth 3369
This year, FDIC set record attendance for the show and at our booth. Flame Guard USA switched from Lucas Oil center to the Indiana Convention Center and Booth 3369.
We enjoyed hundreds of conversations from individuals representing fire departments all over North America. We look forward to working with many of our visitors in the near future as they adopt the X-Tinguish FST as part of their departments tool box.
X-TINGUISH® FST STOPS FIRE IN ITS TRACKS IN LESS THAN 30 SECONDS.
Washington County Insider
by Ron Nabb
Posted in Allenton, Kewaskum and Washington County
Jan. 8, 2017
Scott, WI –Beechwood FD used an X-Tinguish® FST successfully to stop an attic fire.
A call came in around 7 p.m. that there was a structure fire in a one story, two-bedroom ranch on North Mapletree Road, Beechwood, WI. Crews arrived at the scene to smoke showing from eaves of the home and flames visible around chimney. The fire had started in the chimney and spread through to the attic.
Firefighters opened the scuttle hole to the attic and deployed X-Tinguish® FST. Chief Mark Muench said “the device stopped the fire in its tracks in less than 30 seconds”.
All in all, it is estimated a couple hundred gallons of water were used in this fire.
Mutual aid companies responded from Cascade, Silver Creek, Batavia, Boltonville, Waldo and Adell.
CHIMNEY FIRE DAMAGES TOWN OF SCOTT HOME
By MySheboygan.com Staff | January 9, 2017
TOWN OF SCOTT — Firefighters were called out Sunday night for a chimney fire 10 miles west of Random Lake.
At approximately 6:32 PM on Sunday, January 9th, the Sheboygan County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from the homeowner at N571 Maple Tree Road in the Town of Scott, stating they had a fire in their chimney and the fire was going into the walls.
The first arriving sheriff’s deputy confirmed that there was an active fire in the chimney according to Lieutenant James Gottsacker. All residents of the home had evacuated. When firefighters arrived on scene, they reported embers in the attic. The fire was extinguished and confined to the chimney and a small section of attic.
Firefighters deployed X-Tinguish FST, which is a fire suppression device, to successfully to stop the fire said Chief Mark Muench of the Beachwood Fire Department. The department is the first in Sheboygan County to deploy it.
The Beechwood Fire Department was assisted by Batavia, Cascade, Waldo, Silver Creel and Adell fire departments.
X-TINGUISH® FST DEPLOYED IN HARTLAND,WI FIRE.
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Hartland, WI USA
December 29,2016
On 12/29/16 at approximately 7:45 p.m., the Hartland Fire Department was dispatched to a structure on the 1000 block of Lisbon Ave in the Village of Hartland.
First Responders arrived to find smoke and flames visible from the structure. Command deployed an X-Tinguish FST "fire grenade" into the structure prior to the arrival of the first engine company.
Fire crews conducted interior attack upon arrival. Fire damage was held to the area of origin and the attic, with smoke and water damage throughout the structure. Searches of the building were negative, though two pets perished in the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
HFD thanks our automatic aid departments (Lake Country Fire & Rescue, Town of Delafield Fire Department, The Okauchee Fire Department) and our neighbors for additional engines provided by the Lisbon Fire Department and Pewaukee Fire Dept.
Anyone interested in helping the family may drop donations off at the Hartland Fire Department or contact Chief Dean 262-367-6878.
All photos credit to Mary Fallon, HFD Photographer. Additional pictures to be posted at a later date.
Lake Country Now
X-TINGUISH® FST SAVES RESIDENTIAL BUILDING IN WAUPUN, WI.
stock photo
Waupun, WI USA
December 6, 2016
The Waupun Fire Department successfully deployed an X-Tinguish® FST (Fire Suppression Tool) on Tuesday, November 29, 2016. A fire call came to the department at approximately 12:27 pm for heavy smoke coming from a single story, multi-unit motel, approximately 900-1,000 sq ft per unit.
Upon arriving at the scene, Chief BJ DeMaa observed heavy black smoke coming from the building. He retrieved the X-Tinguish® FST unit he carried in his command vehicle. Chief Demaa deployed the FST through a window in the unit that was on fire. The Chief said after approximately 8 seconds, he heard the unit deploy its aerosol. He observed the heavy black smoke turn from black, to gray and then to white.
While Chief DeMaa was waiting for the first engine to arrive, approximately 5-6 minutes after the FST unit was deployed, he stated, “the X-Tinguish®FST took the fire back to zero.” Once the engine crew arrived and made entry into the dwelling the Chief stated “the Fire Department used approximately 10-15 gallons of water”.
Chief DeMaa also stated that they realized upon clean up and overhaul the X-Tinguish® FST unit was thrown into a bathroom inside the unit instead of the main room where the fire existed. Even though the FST was thrown into a room adjoining the fire, the aerosol from the FST was still able to reach the area of the residence where the fire was and fully suppress it in its tracks, containing the fire.
Chief DeMaa stated that he believes if he had not used the X-Tinguish®FST when he did, the fire would have had the opportunity to spread considerably and probably would have consumed more of the structure, if not most the building before the engine arrived at the scene. The successful deployment of the X-tinguish FST, the fire was contained to just the original apartment of origin.
The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and still under investigation by the Fond du Lac County Sheriff’s Department.
PACIFIC MARINE EXPO 2016 IS A HIT FOR OUR DISTRIBUTOR NORTH AMERICAN FISHING SUPPLIES,INC. AND FLAME GUARD USA
Pacific Marine Expo is the largest commercial marine trade show on the West Coast, serving commercial mariners from Alaska to California.
If you make your living on the water, you just can’t afford to miss it!
The Expo lasted from Nov 17th through Nov 19th. Flame Guard USA attended this show as the guest of our Pacific Northwest Distributor, North American Fishing Supplies, Inc. We enjoyed visits from hundreds of interested companies and individuals.
On Friday Nov 18th, Fred Mattera, President, American Fire Suppression, Inc. & North East Safety Training Company USCG Marine Safety Instructor and Joseph Kuesis, Partner with Flame Guard USA presented an educational session called:
Extinguish the Fire – Save The Crew And The Assets
The session was attended by approximately 120 individuals.
NEW FIRE SUPPRESSION TOOL SAVES VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS HOME
Boltonville, WI, October 21, 2016
On October 14,2016 The Boltonville Fire Department received a 9-11 call for a house fire at approximately 4:45 PM. The house in question was of tri-level construction located in a rural, non-hydrant area. The home owner had been inside the house when it started along with her children. She evacuated her family from the home and then called 911 and waited for the fire department to arrive.
Upon receiving the call, Tim Ramthun, son of the Boltonville FD Chief Ken Ramthun, immediately responded from his home to the fire. Tim was armed with a new technology Boltonville had just adopted, an X-Tinguish® FST. Both Tim and Chief Ramthun, each about 2 miles away, converging from different directions, could see heavy brown smoke which was growing rapidly in size and density. Via a short cellphone conversation, the two determined that Tim Ramthun should go directly to the house an attempt an extinguishment of the fire with the X-Tinguish® FST. Upon arriving on the scene, Tim reported brown smoke rolling out from the eaves and the windows which were brown in color from the smoke and heat on the first floor of the ranch style home.
According to Dave Dobson, retired fire battalion chief from Colorado, “Brown smoke is usually a sign that untreated wood is burning, meaning the fire has grown from being a room and contents type event to a structural event where the rafters and building itself are burning.”
The home on fire is the home of a fellow Boltonville Firefighter.
After failing to gain access to the exposed basement area, where it appears the fire originated, Tim entered the house through the garage entrance where he found that smoke was very heavy and about 2 feet from the floor. He crawled into an area where he was able to safely pull the igniter pin on the X-Tinguish FST and toss it into the burning room. Tim closed the door he entered through and immediately noticed a significant change in the smoke and heat level within the building.
Outside, Chief Ramthun requested two 1-3/4” hose lines deployed from their engine equipped with Compressed Air Foam(CAF) System; one to the basement and one to the first floor. Approximately 130 gallons of water was used to extinguish a small fire and flush the hoses of the foam. It is estimated 30 to 40 gallons of water was used in the basement area near the electrical control panel.
“When I entered the house, I was amazed how the X-Tinguish® FST “stopped the fire in its tracks.” There was a couch next to the open stair case that had been on fire and about half of the back of the couch was burned off with no extension of the fire,” said Chief Ramthun.
“I believe that the fire would have consumed much of the house if the X-Tinguish® FST had not been deployed as it was another 4 minutes for the fire trucks to travel the distance to the residence,” said Chief Ramthun. “We had windows which were cracking from the heat and a few had already broken,” the Chief continued. The crew that entered the upper floor found NO fire whatsoever, even though fire was present in the room prior to the deployment of the X-Tinguish® FST.
“The X-Tinguish® FST is way better for rural departments, even better than MABAS [Mutual Aid Box Alarm System]. Considering the limited manpower available during the day, distances to travel to a rural home from the fire station, and limited water, the faster we can control the fire and suppress it the better it is for homeowner,” said Chief Ramthun
U.S. DoD, GSA and NASA issue a Final Rule; Use HFC Alternatives Whenever Feasible
June 16, 2016
Washington D.C.
Action Plan, President Obama directed his Administration to purchase lower GWP alternatives to high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) whenever feasible. The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and General Services Administration (GSA) issued a final rule to amend their acquisition practices to meet the plan’s goals.
It’s official. Effective June 15, 2016, the U.S. DoD, GSA and NASA issued a final rule amending the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) to implement the President’s Climate Action Plan to procure, when feasible, alternatives to high GWP HFCs.
This final rule impacts high GWP HFCs used in many common applications, including fire suppression, aerosol cleaning and precision cleaning and specifically states:
Unless a particular contract requires otherwise, specify that, when feasible, contractors shall use another acceptable alternative in lieu of a high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbon in products and services in a particular end use for which EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program has identified other acceptable alternatives that have lower global warming potential.
The United States is making substantial progress in limiting use and reducing emissions of high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Not only has the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently changed the status of HFCs to “unacceptable” for certain uses under its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program, the U.S. DoD, GSA and NASA have joined forces to better align with the President’s Climate Action Plan and move toward using more sustainable substances.
The amended FAR clarifies the definition of "high global warming potential hydrofluorocarbons" to mean "any hydrofluorocarbon in a particular end use for which EPA’s SNAP program has identified other acceptable alternatives that have lower global warming potential." Clearly, SNAP has identified multiple sustainable alternatives to HFCs in fire suppression. The FAR final rule also impacts HFCs used in precision cleaning and aerosol cleaning applications.
According to the rule, this amendment will allow agencies to better meet the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals and reporting requirements of the Executive Order 13693 on “Planning for Federal Sustainability in the Next Decade”
The X-Tinguish® FST is featured in the May 2016 edition of Workboat magazine.
April 28, 2016
National and International
The following link is for the Brand new May 2016 article about how common sense technology makes sense in on-board fire suppression. The article promptly features the X-Tinguish® FST. We hope you enjoy reading the article as much as we did..
Click the picture at left and then proceed to pages 52-54.
The X-Tinguish® FST makes it debut at the Commercial Marine Expo in New Bedford, MA
April 27-28, 2016
New Bedford, MA
American Fire Suppression, our New England based distributor invited Flame Guard USA to participate in this years East Coast Commercial Marine Expo held annually in New Bedford, MA. Mr. Fred Mattera is pictured at left and is the owner of American Fire Suppression. The show was brisk and the visitors loved the unit. Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to stop by and say hi. James Mackey, partner with Flame Guard USA, attended.
Thanks to the hundreds that stopped by during FDIC 2016
AA
April 22, 2016
Indianapolis, IN
Tens of thousands of firefighters from cities throughout the world made their annual trek to Indianapolis, IN to participate in FDIC 2016. Flame Guard USA had a booth in Lucas Oil Center for the annual products exhibition. We would like to thank the hundreds who stopped by to learn about our products or just to say hi from meeting us at previous venues. 2016 was very successful and we look forward to FDIC 2017!
Alaska villages get new tools to fight fires and potentially save lives
Kendall Bautista/KTUU
POSTED: 12:23 PM AKST Mar 10, 2016 UPDATED: 12:30 PM AKST Mar 10, 2016
Alaska's Village Public Safety Officers are getting some new tools with which to fight fires.
Alaska State Trooper Captain Andrew Merrill says the fire suppression tool are like a grenade where the person pulls the pin and throws it into the burning building.
Some 200 fire suppression tools were purchased by the Bristol Bay Native Association and Kodiak Area Native Association VPSO grantees and then distributed by the Department of Public Safety's VPSO program, according to Merrill.
VPSOs are usually among the first to arrive at the scene of an emergency like a fire, he said..
National Fisherman Boats & Gear Christmas Giving
Written by Michael Crowley
Monday, 21 December 2015
All right! Listen up all you highliners and deadbeats. Only a couple of days before — well, you know what I mean — Christmas. Kids are humming Christmas carols while lying near the tree at night, dreaming of eight tiny reindeer dropping down on the roof, landing a sleigh with that jolly old guy and all the toys that are on the lists they gave you. And your spouse, significant other, partner — whatever — continues to come up with a few more trinkets she needs to make up for all those days you’ve been at sea this past year.White Glacier’s Arctic 25 immersion suit on display at Pacific Marine Expo. Doug Stewart photo.That’s why you’ve been wandering the store aisles with pockets crammed full of gift lists. Of course, as always, there’s someone you forgot. You know who it is. It’s you. So I’m here to remind you that it’s socially acceptable and not illegal to buy a Christmas gift for yourself.To assist with your personal gift selection, once again I’m providing a few Christmas ideas from National Fisherman’s 2015 Product and AAG pages. Here are four items that are a worthy gift for you know who, starting with the September 2015 issue.An onboard fire is something no one wants to experience, but if you do, you better have something that puts it out in a hurry. That would be the Flame Guard X-Tinguish FST. When there’s a fire in the engine room, or any other enclosed space, open the door, pull the yellow pin on the X-Tinguish FST, toss it in the room and close the door.There’s an 8-second delay from the time the pin is pulled until the X-Tinguish FST is electronically activated. The fire should be out within seconds
Thanks to those customers who visited our booth during the Pacific Marine Expo 2015 in Seattle.
November 20, 2015
It was the first time Flame Guard USA atended this show in Seattle. Now we wonder why we did not atend sooner. The people we met during the 3 days of the expo were outstanding. The show itself was a complete success for Flame Guard USA. Flame Guard USA took part in a give-a-way and one lucky boat owner won a Brand NEW X-Tinguish FST.
Flame Guard USA receives its first trademark
April 2015
Flame Guard USA will soon begin to distribute products under it's own Trademarked name "X-Tinguish" We are excited to enter into the US Retail Market and hope this mark becomes synonomous with only the highest quality products available.
Please check back for New Product updates as they become available.