Deployment Stories

Ara Safety Pro Knocks Down Attic Fire and Saves $80,000 in Property Damages

Sechelt, British Columbia
January 2009

Fire Chief Bill Higgs was first to arrive on scene of a fire that had started from hot wood ashes in a bucket by the wall of the garage, and had quickly spread from the outside wall of the detached two-car garage into the attic. Fire Chief Higgs grabbed his Ara Safety Pro as he left his command vehicle.

Fire Chief Higgs made the decision to deploy the Ara Safety Pro through an attic hatch opening. All visible flames were extinguished in 15-20 seconds and the little remaining hot spots were overhauled with the CAFS line of the department's light attack engine.

“In this situation the quick knock down of fire by the Ara Safety Pro reduced our need to use water on the structure and allowed our crew and trucks to return to the station in less than two hours”, said Fire Chief Bill Higgs. The department estimates that the $100,000 structure suffered $20,000 in damages, and would have been a total loss without the Ara Safety Pro.

“In my opinion, this technology is the next evolution in fire suppression and probably the best tool you can have as a fire department.”

The above picture shows the impacts on the fire shortly after the Ara Safety Pro was deployed.

Approximately 5 minutes after the Ara Safety Pro was deployed, the crew at Sechelt work to overhaul the remaining hot spots.

While damage was limited to about $20,000, the above picture shows the potential damages that could have been had the fire not been knocked down in time and contained.

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