MANUFACTURER Kesla has introduced a new multi-purpose trailer - which can fight forest fires. 

The HydraX can also be used for municipal and industrial wet works, and for traditional wood transport.

Unveiled during August's FinnMetko, the trailer doesn't spray just water, but instead a "fire-extinguishing agent", which the HydraX has been specifically designed for. This, Kesla says, creates a "so-called firestop". 

READ MORE: Kesla introducing two new tractor loaders

KESLA HydraX + PPO ForExt = forest fire stop

Traditionally, forest fires have been extinguished using water, but due to climate change fires are getting extreme and plain water is not always enough to stop the fire.

Furthermore, in wildland fires the rural conditions complicate the firefighting as the fires are typically located off-road.

Creating a firestop is a new method for fighting wildland fires; the burning hot fire is not fought with water, but instead a fire-extinguishing agent is used to create a so called firestop to a pre-designed location where fire is stopped from spreading.

Finnish companies PPO-Elektroniikka and Kiilto have combined their expertise and developed a forest fire-extinguishing agent ForExt for which Kesla HydraX is designed for.

Powerful jet stream can wet the ground in over 50m reach or trees even 30-40m high. In addition, a grapple can be used to open fire nests and simultaneously shoot fire-extinguishing agent to a minor fire.

An environmentally-friendly 1:100 water-ForExt admixture forms a kind of film on top of the biomass, which then prevents ignition and re-ignition. ForExt storage and dosing are integrated to the HydraX systems which automatically forms the correct mix-ratio.

Wildland fire fighting is always a game of logistics against time and everchanging conditions.

The HydraX uses natural water sources, and no time is wasted in water logistics.

The unit can operate in water supply logistics feeding the fire brigade’s tank trucks or in a small forest fire the unit can be driven to the middle of the forest and be used as effective front-line fire fighting unit carrying over 10,000l of water to a difficult off-road location. In large-scale logging sites or plantations, the HydraX can operate as a first-hand fire extinguishing unit, and it allows also the daily machinery washing works on-site to minimise fire risks.

Two versions

The HydraX is available in two specifications.

The basic version requires manual moving of suction head and suction hoses and is equipped with a 50m hose reel with an ergonomic manual nozzle.

The fully equipped HydraX comes with a drawbar mounted Kesla 325T loader with a nozzle on the boom, suction head and hoses are moved using the loader and most importantly rear part of the unit is equipped with a powerful cabin controlled water monitor and hydraulically adjustable nozzle for shooting the water or water and ForExt admixture to maximum reach.