By Rick Neale

For Florida Today

Foreign to Florida, a new “ultra-high pressure” water hose system may someday help city firefighters extinguish blazes without entering burning buildings.

Used in Europe, these fire-suppression pump systems can propel water like a sandblaster to cut holes through walls, doors and concrete.

Once access is gained, water can be sprayed into burning rooms at 1,500 pounds of pressure per square inch — compared with 100 psi for a typical fire hose, Fire Chief Don Hughes said.

Hughes will spend the next two months or so researching the technology. He estimated it would cost $60,000 or less to install an ultra-high pressure pump on one of his fire engines, and the program could start next summer.

Last week, Hughes unveiled his proposal during a standing room-only city council budget workshop. Council members had challenged departments to reduce costs while maintaining service levels.

The high-tech pump could translate into lower personnel costs: Hughes said his department may be able to send an initial-attack team of three firefighters to battle blazes, rather than four.

Read the full article here.

Photo courtesy of Rik Jesse/FLORIDA TODAY