BosQRet®, our new flame retardant

Forest and vegetation fires are becoming increasingly frequent and intense. They pose a major risk to people and wildlife, but also to forests as an economic factor and, in particular, as storage sites for CO2.

Forests and other vegetation areas are vulnerable ecosystems sensitive to external influences and are worthy of protection. Therefore, it is crucial to develop effective and environmentally friendly firefighting solutions.

BosQRet®, a Dr. Sthamer product, offers a state-of-the-art product line of biodegradable firefighting water additives specifically developed for delaying and stopping fire fronts and flanks in forest and vegetation fires. These retardants open up new tactical options in firefighting and help ensure the safety and protection of people and nature.

Crucially, the formulation of BosQRet® is environmentally friendly. The selection of highly effective yet environmentally friendly ingredients makes BosQRet® a responsible choice for combating wildfires whilst protecting the environment and increasing the effectiveness of firefighting measures.

Specific environmental reports by recognized, independent testing institutes confirm the biodegradability of BosQRet®.

BosQRet® #1801 is a liquid, pre-coloured flame retardant concentrate developed for use by fire services and support units in forest and vegetation firefighting. It can be used as either a wet or dry barrier. This flexibility allows emergency responders to stop the approaching fire front and limit its lateral spread along the flanks. Depending on the terrain and vegetation, flame lengths can be significantly reduced, enabling the active attack on the fire front. By adjusting the active ingredient concentration (proportioning rate) and the characteristics of the barrier, flame progression can even be stopped completely, requiring only a follow-up inspection of the fire area. As a flame retardant, it can also be used preventively to secure areas during landscaping measures or use of counter fires.

The special properties of BosQRet® allow for universal application by ground-based forces. With a low proportion of surface-active components, it can be used effectively at the fire perimeter or as a wetting agent for follow-up extinguishing operation of areas and objects.

The effectiveness of BosQRet® #1801 as a flame retardant develops from a proportioning rate of just 5%. At this concentration, it can be applied as a wet barrier in front of the fire front. Depending on the width of the BosQRet® barrier and the flame length of the fire front, this barrier will not be overrun. The fuel up to the barrier burns down, and the fire is extinguished, allowing for effective control of the fire situation. A further advantage is the possibility of using BosQRet® #1801 as a long-term retardant in the form of a dry barrier. When applied extensively and with a sufficient lead time, the fire front can, depending on the flame length and speed, stop at the dried-up barrier. This opens up new possibilities for tactical planning of firefighting attacks, especially in areas contaminated with munitions, where resource-efficient firefighting without endangering emergency personnel is necessary.

BosQRet® #1801 can be applied on the ground using standard firefighting equipment, but is also compatible with fog nozzle and turbine technologies. Material compatibility for use with external load containers, such as Bambi Buckets, has also been confirmed.

Saving water with wetting agents: Efficient extinguishing with reduced consumption

In many fire scenarios – especially during vegetation and wildland fires – the availability of extinguishing water presents a logistical challenge. This makes it all the more important to use available resources as efficiently as possible. One highly effective method to optimize water usage is the use of so-called wetting agents.

What are wetting agents?

Wetting agents such as the high-performance product UltraWet® by Dr. STHAMER are special additives that are mixed into extinguishing water at very low concentrations (typically 0.1–0.5%). They reduce the surface tension of water, allowing it to adhere better to surfaces and penetrate deeper into porous or hydrophobic materials like needles, leaves, or peat. Foam concentrates can also be used at low dosing levels as wetting agents. The advantages of UltraWet® include a very strong wetting effect even at a 0.1% proportioning rate and an environmentally friendly formulation.

How do wetting agents save water?

By improving water penetration and spreading characteristics, wetting agents enable water to reach and cool hidden embers more quickly and effectively. This allows fires to be fought more efficiently using less water. Tests and field experience show that the use of wetting agents can significantly reduce water consumption – while maintaining or even improving extinguishing performance.

Operational advantages:

• Reduced water consumption, especially valuable in remote or difficult-to-access areas

• Faster suppression, thanks to improved penetration

• Shorter deployment times and reduced risk of re-ignition

• Gentle on equipment and the environment, as required concentrations are very low and modern wetting agents by Dr. STHAMER are biodegradable and extensively tested by independent institutes

Conclusion:

The targeted use of wetting agents is a simple yet highly effective approach to saving water, increasing operational efficiency, and significantly boosting firefighting performance – particularly in wildland and vegetation fire scenarios.


Viscosity

Viscosity is a measure of the thickness or internal friction of a liquid. It describes how much a liquid resists deformation or flow. Simply put: the higher the viscosity, the “thicker” the liquid – and the lower the viscosity, the more “fluid” or “runny” it is.

Most fluorine-free foam extinguishing agents are low-viscose, meaning they have a thin, water-like consistency and can be easily proportioned.

An exception is alcohol-resistant foam concentrate, such as vaPUREx®-AR (AR = Alcohol Resistant). The alcohol-resistant components increase the viscosity.

The terms low-viscosity and high-viscosity are not uniformly defined for foam concentrates. At Dr. STHAMER, we refer to products as low-viscose if they show water-like flow behavior even at lower temperatures and are easy to proportion. This applies, for example, to vaPUREx®-FXS PLY, vaPUREx®-LV, as well as all products from the STHAMEX® range.


Wetting Effect of Wetting Agents and Foam Concentrates

Wetting agents such as UltraWet® or low-dosed foam concentrates like STHAMEX®-Performance reduce the surface tension of water. This allows the water to adhere better to solid surfaces and penetrate more deeply into porous or hydrophobic (water-repellent) materials. This phenomenon is known as the wetting effect.

In firefighting, the wetting effect means that water – when combined with a wetting agent – no longer beads up but instead spreads evenly across burning materials or materials threatened by fire whilst penetrating them. As a result, the water can cool burning solids more quickly and effectively and reach deep-seated embers that would be difficult to access with plain water.

Wetting agents are therefore used particularly in vegetation or wildland fires to improve penetration into dry, water-repellent substrates such as needles, leaves, or peat, and to increase extinguishing efficiency. Water consumption is significantly reduced, which shortens operation times and simplifies logistics.

In municipal firefighting, wetting agents are also used to minimize water damage during fire suppression efforts.


Wildfires: Origin, Impacts & Solutions

A wildfire is a devastating natural phenomenon that annually destroys vast areas of forest and poses a threat to humans and animals. The impacts of wildfires are not limited to the affected ecosystems but also have far-reaching consequences for the climate and air quality.

Moreover, they pose a significant economic risk to forestry and forest management. To understand and effectively counteract the danger of wildfires, it is important to consider their origin, the various types of fires, and potential solutions.

How does a wildfire start?

The emergence of a wildfire can be attributed to various factors. High temperatures, dry weather conditions, and a lack of precipitation are often key starting points. Dry plant material, such as leaves, grasses, and twigs, provides ideal conditions for the spread of fire, which can be caused by dry thunderstorms, for example. Additionally, human activities, such as discarding cigarette butts or carelessly starting fires, can cause fires. Once ignited, the fire spreads quickly through the flammable plants.

Types of Wildfires

There are different types of wildfires, each with its own origin and behavior.

-Ground fires burn in the leaf and litter layer of the forest floor and progress relatively slowly.

-Crown or canopy fires, on the other hand, spread quickly through the treetops and are difficult to control. They can generate enormous heat and destroy large forest areas.

-Subterranean fires, also found in peat or moor fires, burn beneath the surface (through humus layers or roots) and can smolder for long periods.

Impacts of Wildfires

Wildfires have far-reaching impacts on the environment, climate, and human health. They destroy valuable ecosystems and habitats for plants and animals, which often take decades to recover. The release of large amounts of smoke and pollutants can affect air quality and cause health problems in humans and animals. Furthermore, they have a direct impact on the emergency services on-site. In addition, wildfires contribute to the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, thus intensifying the greenhouse effect and climate change.

Solutions for Combating

Wildfires

How can a wildfire be extinguished?

Combating wildfires requires a coordinated and effective approach. Here are some solutions to prevent wildfires and minimize their impacts, focusing specifically on the use of foam as an extinguishing agent:

Prevention: Preventive measures play a crucial role in minimizing wildfires. These include creating firebreaks around forest areas, regular inspections and monitoring of forest areas, and raising public awareness for responsible handling of fire in forest areas. The prohibition of open fires and adherence to smoking bans are also important preventive measures. Additionally, converting forests from monocultures to mixed forests with plant species that cope better with dry summers can be understood as a long-term measure to make forests more resilient.

Early warning systems: The installation and deployment of early warning systems can help detect wildfires early and initiate containment and suppression measures. Modern technologies such as satellite monitoring, infrared sensors on masts, and drones can help quickly identify and locate smoke and fire outbreaks. This information is available to fire departments promptly, enabling rapid response times. In some regions, fire departments are supported by air services.

Firefighting with Foam: Foam is an effective extinguishing agent that can be used to combat wildfires. Foam extinguishes the fire by separating the burning material from the surrounding oxygen and interrupting the conditions for combustion. Using foam allows for quick containment of the fire and prevents further spread. The amount of extinguishing agent deployed is 5 to 10 times greater compared to plain water. A particularly suitable foam application is the compressed air foam method (CAF). With small amounts of water, incipient fires and flanks can be quickly extinguished, and fire fronts of ground fires can be effectively broken. Specially equipped fire trucks can distribute the foam over the fire to effectively combat the fire, but also to provide sufficient protection for buildings in the forest. The foam must be environmentally friendly to minimize negative impacts on nature. STHAMEX®-Performance or STHAMEX® 3% F-15 can be used.

Firefighting with net water: Wetting water is created by adding wetting agents or foam extinguishing agents in very low concentrations to the extinguishing water. It foams very little or not at all. Severely dry soils cannot absorb extinguishing water, so it runs off/beads off the surface or burning material and contributes only minimally to cooling and wetting. When the heat of the fire is added to the hydrophobic behavior of the soil, the extinguishing water evaporates before it can exert its wetting effect. The addition of wetting agents or foam extinguishing agents reduces the surface tension of the extinguishing water. The wetting effect is increased many times over, allowing the extinguishing water to quickly penetrate and thoroughly moisten the forest floor, dead wood, or tree stumps. Current studies indicate a doubling or even tripling of extinguishing performance and increased effectiveness. Wetting water can be applied by fire engines, firefighting aircraft, helicopters with external load containers, or fire backpacks. To prevent negative impacts on nature, the wetting agent must be environmentally friendly. STHAMEX® Performance According to studies by the Gelsenkirchen Hygiene Institute, up to 100 liters of extinguishing agent can be applied at a proportioning rate of 0.1 % per square meter of forest floor without any expected damage to the plants. Retardants are a special type of extinguishing agent additive. Retardants are flame retardants that, depending on the fire load and topography, can also lead to blocking (flame spreading). Retardants can be used to widen (natural) firebreaks or to stabilize them in munitions-contaminated areas. Firebreaks must generally be defended. This can be achieved by the fire service using jet pipes, sprinklers with the addition of wet water, and/or additionally with retardants. Especially where personnel cannot be deployed due to munitions residues, retardants can halt the spread of fires on the ground and with low to medium fire loads. Negative factors such as strong winds and flying sparks must be considered during tactical use. Applying the product to elevated terrain leads to a positive operational balance, as the changing flame lengths and burning speeds allow a flame retardant to be used in combination with other extinguishing measures to reduce flame intensity. Flame retardants such as Dr. Sthamer SILVARET® are fully biodegradable and can therefore be used for forest and vegetation fires.

Forest Management: Effective forest management can contribute to reducing the risk of fire. This includes measures such as removing dead trees and dry plant material, creating firebreaks or clearings, and conducting controlled burns to reduce the fuel load. Regular forest maintenance and planting fire-resistant tree species can also help minimize the risk of wildfires. In areas contaminated with munitions, clearing the munitions helps to remove them as a source of fire

International Cooperation: Since wildfires can often cross national borders, international cooperation in firefighting and information exchange is of great importance. Countries can share resources, experiences, and expertise to jointly develop effective solutions and minimize the impacts of wildfires. Europe has created a network with rescEU for requesting cross-border assistance and coordinated and defined support contingents. Vehicles and aircraft are available here for support.

Conclusion

Wildfires pose a serious threat to forests, ecosystems, and human safety, as well as a high economic risk. Through preventive measures, the use of modern early warning systems, effective firefighting with foam or wetting agents, sustainable forest management, and international cooperation, we can minimize the risks and impacts of wildfires. Particularly, the use of foam or wetting agents has proven to be an effective method to contain fires and stop their spread.