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"World's first fire-line-in-a-box" blows up to keep brush fires at bay

By Ben Coxworth
September 11, 2024
"World's first fire-line-in-a-box" blows up to keep brush fires at bay
The Blaze Barrier in fire-extinguishing action
The Blaze Barrier in fire-extinguishing action
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The Blaze Barrier powder biodegrades into the soil once the fire has passed
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The Blaze Barrier powder biodegrades into the soil once the fire has passed
The Blaze Barrier box doubles as a warning sign when the system is
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The Blaze Barrier box doubles as a warning sign when the system is deployed
Deploying the Blaze Barrier reportedly takes less than a minute
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Deploying the Blaze Barrier reportedly takes less than a minute
All of the modules are strung together along a common line, plus each one has its own quick-burning fuse
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All of the modules are strung together along a common line, plus each one has its own quick-burning fuse
The Blaze Barrier in fire-extinguishing action
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The Blaze Barrier in fire-extinguishing action
View gallery - 5 images

If you live on an acreage, there's a constant risk that your home may be consumed by a brush fire. That's where the Blaze Barrier comes in, as it forms a flame-activated fire-retardant boundary line around the user's house.

Ordinarily, in order to protect a home from an advancing brush fire, firefighters have to dig a dry-vegetation-free trench around the dwelling. Not only does this require a lot of physical effort, it also takes up time that could be spent fighting the fire on other fronts.

Described as being "the world's first fire-line-in-a-box," the Blaze Barrier is intended to be a user-deployed alternative to such trenches. It was created by Washington-state-based product designer/engineer Jacob Schuler, and is currently the subject of a Kickstarter campaign.

Deploying the Blaze Barrier reportedly takes less than a minute
Deploying the Blaze Barrier reportedly takes less than a minute

Looking much like a string of giant firecrackers, the Blaze Barrier is being offered in 50- and 100-foot (15- and 30.5-m) lengths. Each of its red cardboard modules is filled with a proprietary non-toxic powder that incorporates monoammonium phosphate, which is commonly utilized in both fire extinguishers and fertilizers.

After receiving a warning of a brush fire in their area, the user starts by staking one end of the Blaze Barrier line to the ground. They then simply walk across what will presumably be the path of the oncoming fire, dispensing the rest of the line as they go. The whole process is claimed to take less than one minute.

Once the barrier has been deployed between the fire and the home, the user evacuates their property.

All of the modules are strung together along a common line, plus each one has its own quick-burning fuse
All of the modules are strung together along a common line, plus each one has its own quick-burning fuse

When and if the fire reaches the Blaze Barrier, the flames ignite a fuse on each module, which in turn sets off a small explosive charge. The resulting mini explosion shoots the fire retardant powder out 5 feet (1.5 m) to either side of the module, ideally extinguishing the flames on one side while keeping the other side from catching fire in the first place. The expended powder can be left on the ground to biodegrade, once all the excitement is over.

Importantly, the modules are activated specifically by exposure to flames, not just by heat. And if the fire never does reach the Blaze Barrier, the whole thing can just be stuffed back in its box for next time.

Assuming the Blaze Barrier reaches production, a pledge of US$195 will get you a 50-ft kit, with $395 required for a 100-footer. The planned retail prices are $395 and $795, respectively.

The system is demonstrated in the following video.

Blaze Barrier: A Wildfire Defense System

Sources: Kickstarter, Blaze Barrier

View gallery - 5 images

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Good ThinkingFire ExtinguishersKickstarterWildfires
9 comments
Ben Coxworth
Ben Coxworth
Based out of Edmonton, Canada, Ben Coxworth has been writing for New Atlas since 2009 and is presently Managing Editor for North America. An experienced freelance writer, he previously obtained an English BA from the University of Saskatchewan, then spent over 20 years working in various markets as a television reporter, producer and news videographer. Ben is particularly interested in scientific innovation, human-powered transportation, and the marine environment.

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9 comments
zort
How water resistant are they? Can they be put in place and left for multiple days?
Would be nice if they can be used for sites when you're not there when the fire occurs..
Pierre Collet
Even better... The belt could explode on its own (above a threshold temperature or simply by igniting a fuse ) if reached by the fire...
Karmudjun
Thank you Ben for another surprising innovation that solves half the problem! Why do structures burn in fire seasons? Especially if built with fire tolerant brick and with roof material like slate? Most building material behind the brick & slate are combustible! Burning Embers carried by the winds will find their way through vents and openings of any structure where they ignite the structure's combustible materials. While novel, and likely to work with small blazes, this may be "Too little, Too late" for the catastrophic wildfires we are seeing in the USA. Even hardscaping a perimeter 20 feet wide around structures isn't enough for many wildfires. But then limiting the destruction is a worthwhile pursuit! Thanks Ben.
Shabs
Pierre, that's exactly what this one does...FTA:

"Importantly, the modules are activated specifically by exposure to flames, not just by heat. And if the fire never does reach the Blaze Barrier, the whole thing can just be stuffed back in its box for next time."

Zort's question is a good one, I'd also be curious about shelf life. If I buy one for emergency use would it be good to go 5/10/20 years later assuming it's been stored properly?
Shabs
Ah, shelf life is on their website; replace after five years.
Blaze Barrier
@zort : great question! The Blaze Barrier modules are 100% biodegradable, which means they are designed to start falling apart in water. This was on purpose, so that firefighters don't have to go back later and pick up a bunch of small pieces!
We are working on an accessory plastic sheath that would protect it from the elements and allow it to be placed ahead of time but still function as intended, but the trade-off will obviously be that sheath would not be biodegradable.
Blaze Barrier
@Pierre Collet : that's actually how it works! No human intervention needed, just place it where it's needed. Each module in the chain is self activated only by flames.
Blaze Barrier
@Karmudjun : we love your line "limiting the destruction is a worthwhile pursuit!" You're right, there are big firestorms that can overrun almost any defense, and Blaze Barrier would have little effect. But every big fire starts as a small fire that gets out of control, and with a simple and fast product like this available, maybe we can stop more of them. In addition, we're getting a lot of feedback from firefighters about this working well on the flanks of a fire, so that when the wind changes direction and the flanks are already suppressed the head of the fire doesn't move to a new location.
Blaze Barrier
@Shabs : you beat us to it! Thanks for doing your homework. As to the 5 year shelf life, that's the "effective" lifespan of the fire extinguisher powder. We are testing our own proprietary compounds and expect to greatly extend that shelf life, but even if that is unsuccessful we'll try to reduce the burden by giving big discounts on replacement boxes. We're also going to pilot a trade-in program with fire departments for fresh boxes, because they will likely use them much sooner than a homeowner. Cheers!