New Fire Fighting Products Becoming More User Friendly
By Regina Elling

A fire fighter at the Witch Creek Station demonstrates the product "Thermo-Gel." The substance is thick and gooey, but washes off easily. Photos by Regina Elling

The people who use them give them nicknames such as "gook-le" and "elephant snot." While neither epithet sounds particularly appealing, what they are nicknames for does: products that a homeowner can use to protect their home from fire.

The products include foams, gels and pool pumps. And they are the focus of attention since the October wildfires ravaged the county.

"The purpose of the foams and gels is to create a barrier preventing ignition," says Ramona Fire District Fire Marshal Calvin McVay. "They coat the surface and prevent entry of embers, and can be used on virtually anything."

Ramona resident Sherry McGarry was able to use a gel product on her home before she evacuated.

"I ordered the kit from Florida," she says. "I have never used anything like this before, but it was very simple and easy."

There wasn't much time to do more than spray the side of her Rancho Santa Teresa home facing the wildfire before she left.

It's not snow; the thick white substance on this tree is a protective gel.

"I only had about an hour," she says. "But I do believe the gel is what saved my home."

She used the brand "Barricade Gel," available at www.barricadegel.com. "I call it 'gook-le' because by the time it mixed with all the debris from those Santa Ana winds and landed on my house, it was pure gook," she says. "Despite how awful it looks, it hasn't been that hard to wash off."

There are several brands of gel products, says Thomas "Tag" Gaines, captain at Intermountain Fire and Rescue Department. "Barricade, Thermo-Gel and NO Char come in a liquid form that is mixed with water," he explains. "Products such as Aqua-K and Flame-Guard are powders that are mixed."

Thermo-Gel comes out of fire hoses in a thick liquid the firemen jokingly call "elephant snot."

Each of the products has pros and cons; some are only useful if applied four to six hours before a fire, while others can be applied up to four days ahead of time. Some are also more caustic than others to house paint.

"It is important for the homeowner to be familiar with the product they are using," Gaines says. "But it is even more important for the homeowner to make sure they have plenty of time to apply the product before evacuating and not put themselves in danger by staying behind to use these substances."

Liability issues prevent fire officials from endorsing any specific product. But they all agree that the current products "work" and are a far cry from materials available just a few short years ago.

Pool pumps, which homeowners can use to get the water from their swimming pools onto their homes, have also generated quite a bit of interest. At least two Ramona residents were able to use these type pumps during the Witch Creek fire to save their homes.

Homeowners are encouraged to do research before ordering any type of home-use firefighting substance or tool. But fire officials are pleased that the products are becoming both more affordable and more available.

"It's good for people to know these products are out there," says McVay. "They aren't going to solve all of our problems during future fires, but they are effective, and that in itself is a help."

There is a wealth of information on these products available online. Homeowners are also encouraged to inquire at their local fire fighting agencies for additional information.