Lethbridge Fire and EMS bolstering firefighting capabilities with new wildland sprinkler trailer

As temperatures climb, so does the grass fire risk, but a new piece of equipment enhances the capabilities of Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services.

A new piece of equipment has been unveiled to help bolster wildfire response capabilities and fight any approaching grass fires and wildfires.

Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services (LFES) has added a $137,000 wildland sprinkler trailer to its fleet.

The trailer is equipped with multiple water pumps, hoses, sprinkler heads and built-in storage to help bolster resources needed to protect the community from a fire.

“When we say sprinkler, you may think of your lawn or garden sprinkler, but these are a lot larger,” said Chris Jorgensen, a qualified fire officer with LFES.

“It’s more of an agricultural-style impact sprinkler, and so each one will do about 100 to 150 feet of radius. So, it covers quite a large area.

“The idea is that we can put up a series of large impact sprinklers to create a wet line—or a wall, if you will—to stop wildfires from moving.”

In the event of a fire, trained firefighters within LFES can set up the sprinkler system within an hour.

The hoses can stretch for nearly a kilometre and can connect to either fire hydrants or a standing static water source like a dugout or pond.

“We’re often really stretched in terms of manpower; particularly when we have a large fire or structure fire, we just don’t have enough depth of trained people to do everything all at the same time,” Jorgensen said.

“So, the idea is we will invest two or three people to set this up, and then it can be monitored by one person, so one person can look after a kilometre of wet line and keep managing that while stretching resources to be doing direct suppression then.”

The idea to purchase the new trailer came during the 2017 Kenow Wildfire in Waterton Lakes National Park, when similar equipment was deployed to help protect the townsite and adjacent properties.

“It would run for hours and hours before the fire came, so it soaked all the fuels down, so any hot embers coming in are unlikely to create ignition. It increases the humidity in the area, so fire behaviour drops down, so it’s easier to approach to actually suppress or extinguish it,” Jorgensen said.

“Actual direct fire suppression—so, if in fact the fire gets up to it, then the fuels are wet and the water hits it and it just shuts it right down.”

While the piece of equipment will live with LFES, it will be readily available for surrounding communities when needed.

“There’s mutual aid contracts in place with some of our surrounding partners, and this is available as part of that package,” said Kevin O’Brien, a qualified fire officer with LFES.

“So, it’s set up for our in-town use and out in the county.”

The department says with hydrant availability and challenging landscape terrain, the sprinkler system will add another line of defence from a fire.

“In a rural environment, you also have isolated houses and structures that are at risk; this is a good fit for those isolated at-risk structures with water nearby,” O’Brien said.