We are located out in the boonies along with many other families. Our electrical(and therefore water) cannot always be trusted under the best of conditions. We do have a highly trained volunteer fire dept. with good up-to-date equipment. They do not have a tanker. Grass and brush fires are not a problem. As with any VFD, multiple calls could cause problems for the homeowners. I have jury-rigged my high pressure washer(motorized) to be able to feed out of my 55 gallon barrels. I do have 3 of the large ABC extinguishers also. I saw a demonstration at Texas A&M using high pressure water. Under certain circumstances they were more effective than the standard 1-1/2 & 2-1/2 application and used less water. I might not be able to suppress an attic fire with it but I will be able to hold it down until the locals arrive. Anyone else ever used it?

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), December 08, 1999

Answers

You might also consider getting a handpumped pressurized poison sprayer and keeping it full of water for fire emergencies. They are limited to about 5 gallons on the large end, because of the weight of the water. Some of them are backpack style. The cheap ones are canister style.

-- helen (sstaten@fullnet.net), December 09, 1999.

Helen: I had forgotten those old cannisters. They really do work on a limited scale. My suggestion was based on those who might have a power sprayer at home already. Thanks.

-- Neil G.Lewis (pnglewis1@yahoo.com), December 09, 1999.

Go "High Tech". Get one of those "soaker hoses", with all the little holes in it for watering your garden. Put it on your roof. Viola: Your own sprinkler system!

-- A. Hambley (a.hambley@usa.net), December 09, 1999.

Dear Hambley, I think that is a good idea in some cases. However, I would opt for an oscilatory sprinkler or two because on an older roof that has a bit of sway in it, the water from the soaker house might tend to channel to the low valleys and leave the area right over the rafters dry. Also having oscilatory sprinklers placed strategically around the house to wet down trees and grass if you see or smell a wildfire coming your way. Yes I do realize that all tese sprinklers and hoses (good ones with machined brass ends [not thin stamped] and at least 5/8 or 3/4") cost money. Unfortunately Y2K preps are all about guessing what will happen and hoping that you are putting your money where it will be needed in the future. Heck, if funds were unlimited, puting a 250 gallon tank in the back of a truck or on a trailer, with a gasoline powered high pressure pump is what everybody would like to have.

-- Ken Seger (kenseger@earthlink.net), December 11, 1999.