Australian Scientists Test Explosives To Put Out Bushfires

Picture this: a drought-fuelled wildfire is heading for a Victorian township, and fast. Millions of lives are at stake, and water can’t stop it. When suddenly, a helicopter — armed with what can only be described as a giant cannon — flies straight for flames and BOOM. There’s an explosion, and the fire’s gone. That’s what Australian scientists are working on right now: fighting fires with explosives.

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I read about this last week. It’s an interesting concept.

What if it starts sending people and animals deaf in the process??

The demonstration shows it working on a point source, but how (well) would it work on a fire front which might be several hundred metres wide?

It’s the normal way of putting out an oil well fire I don’t think it will translate to bushfires.
I’ve given it the thumbs down.

Peak Warming Man said:

It’s the normal way of putting out an oil well fire I don’t think it will translate to bushfires.
I’ve given it the thumbs down.

Traditionally oil wells are surrounded by sand. Bushfires are surrounded by highly inflammable bush.

…… very Mythbusters…..

Postpocelipse said:

…… very Mythbusters…..

With OH&S rules you’d have to evacuate the area for kms around & by the time the area was safe the fire would have spread enormously.
It may be a useful technique in some limited circumstances.

From what I understand, it’s to mainly protect property, so the area is very likely to already be evacuated.

Divine Angel said:

From what I understand, it’s to mainly protect property, so the area is very likely to already be evacuated.

What about the emergency services personnel?
Too much risk of spreading the fire for my liking.
Would the explosion extinguish all the fire in a burning hardwood branch? I think not.

Tamb said:

Too much risk of spreading the fire for my liking.

I have to admit this is my biggest concern as well, although the theory of sucking the oxygen sounds good, I wonder how useful it is in say, the Blue Mts where there is a very high percentage of volatile oils in the surrounding vegetation.

I can’t imagine how they would set off such a device on an extremely hot, dry day. Seems like a huge risk but then again, I’m just a little girly brain and not a physics or fire expert.

Divine Angel said:

Tamb said:

Too much risk of spreading the fire for my liking.

I have to admit this is my biggest concern as well, although the theory of sucking the oxygen sounds good, I wonder how useful it is in say, the Blue Mts where there is a very high percentage of volatile oils in the surrounding vegetation.

I can’t imagine how they would set off such a device on an extremely hot, dry day. Seems like a huge risk but then again, I’m just a little girly brain and not a physics or fire expert.

Some of the recent fires had 1 km ember attack. I don’t like the idea of blowing glowing embers everywhere.
I’m happy that the idea is being tested because some new knowledge may come form it.
I’ll ask the Queensland Rural Fires people for their thoughts.

In dry conditions explosions often cause fires even when nothing else is burning. Range days are often delayed with breaks for firefighting.

AwesomeO said:

In dry conditions explosions often cause fires even when nothing else is burning. Range days are often delayed with breaks for firefighting.

The pressure wave would probably obey the inverse square law so at the seat would extinguish but further out would spread the fire.

On a side note, the residents of Springwood and Winmalee have launched a class action against the energy company for failing to maintain tree breaks around power lines. It’s been established that the power lines sparked in the wind, causing the fires of October last year :(

Divine Angel said:

On a side note, the residents of Springwood and Winmalee have launched a class action against the energy company for failing to maintain tree breaks around power lines. It’s been established that the power lines sparked in the wind, causing the fires of October last year :(

The power companies would have to go to bare earth to prevent fire. I have seen sparking power lines ignite dry, close cropped grass.

The class action in Victoria over the 2009 fires was successful, so we’ll see.