In the wake of last year’s record-breaking wildfires in British Columbia and throughout the duration of this year's fire season, how is BC Wildfire Service (BCWFS) preparing for years to come?

Photo Credit: NowMedia

Michael McCulley, Research and Innovation Senior Officer with BCWFS, says that BCWFS is exploring a multitude of options and multi-faceted approaches to wildfires in the future.

Among the list of budding technology and innovative creations, mass water delivery systems is one of the high-priority units they have been investigating.

"We're looking to stay at the forefront of cutting-edge. We know that wildfires are changing, we know the behaviour is changing so then, accordingly, our responses need to change,” explained McCulley.

"Part of that would be looking at trying to adapt different systems and implement different tactics into our suppression efforts and that would include, for lack of a better term, these mass water delivery systems — and really what those are, are larger pumps, bigger hose and a different way to move larger amounts of water across the landscape."

Photo Credit: KelownaNow

BCWFS is currently engaging with several companies and potential suppliers that offer this sort of equipment but has only had one chance to test the product.

Some mass water delivery system can work as a transport while others operate like a massive sprinkler with the potential to spray water 100 feet in a wide diameter to suppress the fire.

During last year’s summer, which flooded the lakes and scorched the land, BCWFS attempted to test a mass water delivery system on the Elephant Hill fire in the Cariboo Fire Centre.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

McCulley was hesitant to issue a verdict on the efficacy of the product in that situation, explaining that the intense circumstance made it difficult to put the equipment through a proper, measured trial.

"We have to ensure what we're doing out there is, one: going to work [and] two: it's effective and the way to do that is to do it through trials and testing and in a challenging season like last year it's really hard to move forward with trial and testing during that type of fire season," commented McCulley.

Despite the inconclusive testing, the mass water delivery systems are not off the radar and BCWFS has the equipment at the front of the lineup for the future of wildfire suppression in B.C.

Like any innovative invention, McCulley said they’ll have to test the efficacy of the equipment in B.C. elements, the applicability to the varying situations, how it may affect the safety of citizens and the environment (including ecosystems in the area) and how quickly it can be deployed to fight fires immediately.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

As a water transportation product, the mass water delivery systems would have a better chance of working on flatter grounds — an issue BCWFS faced during the trial at Elephant Hill — but McCulley notes not all of B.C. is mountainous and they’re exploring all options in relation to fighting fires.

BCWFS is also looking into other improvements that will increase the impact of firefighters on-site whether it be through improved gear; different types of surfactants (or fire retardants) and technological advancements that improve mapping and hot-spot detection through the use of remote and satellite cameras that remove humans from dangerous situations.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

"You know it's very exciting there's all kinds of new ideas and thoughts and technologies out there and the trick for us is to prioritize them, make sure they're effective for British Columbians and for the BC Wildfire Service and then certainly put some rigor to them and ensure that we're moving down the right path."

"I would thank [British Columbians] for their patience as we move forward in exploring some of these technologies."

In the coming months, McCulley said the BCWFS will continue to be open and clear about their future plans as to where they’re going, what they’re doing and how they’re proceeding with equipment.

Photo Credit: NowMedia

Stay tuned to NowMedia’s Firewatch Page for the latest information on wildfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre!