Fire-Fighting Idea: Would like some feedback

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Fire is man's oldest tool-material, aside from the knife, and we need fire but obviously it can be devastating when uncontrolled and out of control. I was thinking about an idea on how to instantly or at least very quickly smother a fire from its oxygen supply and I was inspired by science fiction. I welcome the responses of anyone including any seasoned fire men on the forum.

On "Star Trek The Next Generation" they had these "Fire Suppression Fields" that were essentially force field emitters that would use computer sensors to detect an out of control flame, and would project an electrostatic force field to cover and cut off its O supply, making the fire stop.

Now, as of this writing, as far as I know, there are no known ways to generate a force field of that manner, but is the idea a good one? Example: I can envision a series of mechanical nano or micro robots made of a heat-resistant material, such as corundum or silicate, that would use the same basic principle = sensors detect out of control flames and immediately cover and surround the flames, thus cutting off the oxygen supply, thus ending said fire.

What are some simpler possibilities using known and existing technologies, or is this too far beyond us?

Also: You would not want the sensors to attack any flame, less you try to cook something on the stove top and your flame is extinguished.

[The Mastiff]

*SLAP* *SLAP!!*

Snap out of it!

[BAL]

I remember my first beer.

[The Deacon]

Seems about as feasible as a time machine that would allow a firefighter to go back, say an hour before the fire started, and prevent it.

[SpyderEdgeForever]

How is it not feasible or in the same class of problems? There is a guy named Josh Hall who came up with this concept of utility fog. I could see an extension of this for firefighting applications.

http://www.pivot.net/~jpierce/utility_fog.htm

[tonydahose]

I appreciate the enthusiasm but i would be clueless on making this work. IIRC (the academy was over 13 years ago for me) they have Halon systems where regular water or ansul (the stuff that is in normal abc extinguishers) would ruin the equipment. Examples would be high end computer equipment rooms or in the engine bays of racecars. The BIG problem with these is that while it displaces the O2 to extinquish the fire there isn't any O2 for people to breathe and they would croak unless they had SCBA equipment available and if they could put it on in time (kind of like when you are in an airplane and they tell you to put your mask on before your child's). Now factor in general stupidity of many people and lawyers well being lawyers i don't see it happening in my lifetime. Definitely not in Chicago because we have to be the most old school fire dept in the country. We just got full bunkers about 5-6 years ago, while the the most of the country and all of the other big cities had them for years before us.

[phillipsted]

Personally, I think the Fire Suppression Field (FSF) technology is being withheld from the market by the "Fire Industrial Complex". They have a strong motive to keep their fire extinguisher, sprinkler, and firefighting equipment companies profitable. Something like FSF technology could destroy their companies overnight. It's a conspiracy, I tell you!

Now, where's my tin-foil hat again?

TedP

[Pete1977]

A lot of commercial boats have remote operated fire fighting systems in their engine rooms. In the event of an engine fire, the crew or captain would pull a cable (a manual engagement since an engine room fire usually cripples the vessel's electrical system) and it releases a chemical that "sucks out" or "absorbs" the oxygen in the engine room. They tell you never to go into the engine room to fight the fire....and to never be down there when the system is in operation as it removes all of the oxygen. FWIW most engine rooms have watertight doors, hatches and bulkheads.

we were told never to use them unless the fire was out of control and to attempt to fight it with the extinguishers located OUTSIDE of the engine room or in a pinch, with the fire hoses or deck hose.

[tonydahose]

I found this. Looks interesting.

http://www.firesafetyinc.com/clean-agen ... ssion.html

[SpyderEdgeForever]

Thank you so much for the responses everyone, and Tony I want to express thank you to you and appreciation to you and other fire fighters on here for your service and risk to help people. Thank you.

[Clip]

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2 ... lectricity

I've heard them talk about putting these devices on doors and pathways to keep exits clear.