Preparing for Fire Season: Essential Equipment for WUI Operations

HISTORICALLY, wildfire season in North America has spanned from five to seven months—from early spring to mid-fall, depending on the region. Changes in climate and other factors, such as new structure and critical infrastructure development, have increased and intensified the wildfire season. As populations grow, new development expands and encroaches on wildland, forests, and other natural vegetation, creating what are called wildland urban interface (WUI) zones.

Urban fire departments that have traditionally focused on structural fire suppression have had to learn specialized strategies, techniques, and tools for protecting, managing, and suppressing fires that occur within these WUI zones (photo 1). Departments that have traditionally focused on wildland fire suppression are having to learn about fire suppression in structural environments. This convergence of mindsets around firefighting in the WUI has resulted in a level of complexity in operations—one that requires thoughtful planning and the ability and willingness to change paradigms.

There are many aspects to preparing for fire season, including educating and engaging the community, training personnel, managing vegetation by reducing the fuel load, implementing standards for constructing fire-resistant buildings, coordinating emergency response through interagency collaboration, and evacuation planning. This article focuses on operational preparedness and the specialized tools and vehicles that are being used in the WUI.

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WUI Operational Preparedness

As in all firefighting operations, WUI zone preincident planning is key to readiness. Neighborhood surveys help departments identify the makeup of the neighborhood (e.g., residential homes, buildings, parks, schools, churches, businesses, locations of vulnerable populations), evacuation routes, water sources, access points for staging firefighting equipment, and areas that may be deemed temporary shelter areas.

This knowledge enables the department to identify proactive ways to protect structures and critical infrastructure before the fire can reach them. Preincident activities include identifying access for firefighter resources; clearing extraneous brush, especially around fuel tanks; removing combustible materials near buildings; creating fuel breaks near critical structures; and identifying strategies for deploying Structural Protection Units (SPUs), which are mobile units equipped with sprinkler systems, portable high-pressure pumps, and cart systems (photo 2). They are used to wet down homes and the surrounding areas to prevent ignition from ember showers or radiant heat. Because SPUs can be deployed quickly, they offer a solution to community protection and resiliency.

WUI Zone Apparatus

WUI operations require vehicles that can bridge the gap between structural firefighting and wildland maneuverability. WUI fire trucks combine the aspects from Type 1 and Type 3 fire trucks to best manage WUI zones. This fusion of requirements to facilitate firefighting in multiple environments requires apparatus to be versatile and flexible with all-wheel- or four-wheel-drive systems, a high-ground clearance, and a complete fire suppression package. They need to be able to navigate rugged terrain as well as narrow streets. Cabs need to be roomy enough to accommodate many firefighters, especially in the case of long-term operations. There is no need for multiple types of training, as the apparatus works in both urban and rural communities.

Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) Skid Units are designed specifically for use in WUI zones. They are self-contained and compact so that they fit into the cargo bed of a UTV. They serve as an SPU in rough terrain, carrying water, high-pressure pump, hoses, nozzles, modular storage, rescue equipment, and other equipment appropriate to the WUI zone they serve (photo 3). UTV Skid Units can access locations inaccessible to larger apparatus. They are easy to load and deploy and can perform multiple roles (e.g., fire suppression, medical rescue). They are very affordable for smaller and volunteer departments.

WUI Fire Suppression Tools

In January 2025, the Palisades Fire in Los Angeles, California, fueled by the wildland vegetation on the Santa Monica Mountains, raced to the Pacific Ocean stoked by hurricane-force winds and engulfed the coastal neighborhood of the Pacific Palisades. According to CAL FIRE, at least 6,800 structures were destroyed, but 4,100 were undamaged. The 4,100 that survived likely did so because of a variety of reasons, including effective planning and proactive homeowner actions like those of the Gollings family.

Gene Golling created his own firefighting pump that was attached to his swimming pool. The generator sucked water from the pool and sent it to a sprinkler system that was capable of covering a large area that included his house and yard. The device also had a hose attached to give Golling the ability to be more targeted when fighting fire. When the Palisades Fire was headed to his home, he turned on his makeshift device and let it run for about five hours. He and his family left the home to check on their neighbors. When they returned, the vegetation outside the area covered by their sprinkler system was charred, but their home was safe.

The Gollings realized that tapping into the existing water source and using that water to wet down their house and yard just might save them in an out-of-control wildfire. Wildland firefighters have known this for years and have been using SPUs equipped with pumps, sprinklers, and fire carts for fire suppression. Using effective wildfire suppression in conjunction with proactive structure protection techniques can offer robust initial attack capabilities that can save lives and property.

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Sprinkler Systems

Sprinkler systems, powered by high-pressure portable pumps, offer the best defense for structures under threat of wildfire. Sprinkler systems lower the risk of ignition that might occur from sparks and embers by moistening structure roofs and walls and surrounding foliage. Sprinkler systems form a wet barrier that slows down or prevents the progression of the fire, establishing a safer working environment for firefighters while increasing the chances of structure survival, and they increase the area limited fire suppression resources can protect.

Fire Cart Systems

Portable fire cart systems—such as the WATERAX VERSAX® Fire Pump Cart System—are mobile units designed to transport, quickly deploy, and store firefighting equipment such as extinguishers, hoses, nozzles, and portable high-pressure pumps (photo 4). They don’t require training or specialized knowledge in fire suppression. Cart systems provide a professional-grade solution to enable a proactive approach to protecting homes.

High-Pressure Pumps

Portable high-pressure pumps, traditionally used for wildfires, are versatile, movable, and effective water delivery systems. These pumps are required equipment in battling fires in the WUI. They enable firefighters to extend hoselines over long distances and to pump water uphill in rough terrain. They increase operability because they can access water sources like lakes, rivers, swimming pools, and streams that may be far from the fire line (photo 5).

WATERAX’s high-pressure pumps have proven their versatility around the globe. The MARK-3® Watson Edition High-Pressure Fire Pump is specifically for wildland firefighters. Officially qualified under USDA Forest Service Specification 5100-274E and the 100-hour endurance test in San Dimas, the Mark-3 sets a new standard of excellence for high-pressure fire pumps. The unit is 30 percent lighter and 20 percent smaller than previous models. The user-centered design demonstrates a commitment to ease of use. Its ergonomic carriage system reduces the potential for back injuries during transport through rugged terrain. The LED interface is user-friendly, indicates the status of the pump, facilitates troubleshooting, and allows for Bluetooth connectivity for monitoring via a mobile app. The pull start requires less force to start the pump than previous models and the attached foothold helps steady the pump. The MARK-3’s antiflooding feature helps prevent engine flooding.

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WATERAX’s MINI-MARK® Watson Edition 2-Stroke Lightweight High-Pressure Pump weighs 18 pounds (8.2 kg) (photo 6). The MINI-MARK can be used for initial attack for short distances but can also be used with a sprinkler system, as structure protection, for tandem pumping over long distances, and on slip-on units for vehicles like ATVs or UTVs. The MINI-MARK is compact and backpackable, making it easy to deploy to remote locations. Its simple design facilitates maintenance and repair in the field, and its multiposition capability allows for operation at any angle.

Being Prepared Mitigates Risk

Science is showing us that wildfire seasons are going to continue to increase in intensity and frequency globally. Droughts and hotter temperatures are also going to be more prevalent and prolonged. Being prepared and adopting an innovative culture that combines the lessons of wildland fire suppression with structural firefighting techniques are sound strategies moving forward in this new environment.

Preparation and innovation, as well as training, are not activities that are completed in a one-and-done manner. They require continuous attention so that decisions about equipment and personnel can be made mindfully based on changing technology and changing conditions in the WUI zones. Using the best equipment available— sprinkler systems, fire carts, and high-pressure pumps—along with the appropriate apparatus will enable firefighters fighting fire in WUI zones to be more effective and save lives and property.

For more information about the WATERAX VERSAX Fire Pump Cart System and WATERAX’s MINI-MARK and Mark-3 Watson Edition pumps, visit WATERAX.com to explore WATERAX’s fire suppression and structure protection solutions trusted by wildland firefighters worldwide.