The Armour Fire Solutions Blog

Wildland fire — the knowledge behind the burn.

Field-tested writing on Class A foam, portable-pump operations, wildland-urban interface safety, and the business of rural fire service. Search the archive or filter by category.

Class A firefighting foam blanketing burning wildland grass

Foam TechnologyJul 1, 202612 min

The Complete Guide to Class A Foam in Wildland Firefighting

Class A foam multiplies the effectiveness of every gallon of water on the fireground. Here is how it works, when to use it, and what to look for in a modern foam system.

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Rural firefighter drafting from a creek with a portable pump at dawn

Firefighting OperationsJun 18, 202611 min

Portable Pump Setup and Deployment: Best Practices for Rural Departments

A portable pump is only as good as the crew that deploys it. Here is a field-tested checklist for setup, drafting, and hoselay design that keeps water flowing when it counts.

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Wildland firefighting skid unit mounted on a red pickup truck

Equipment & GearJun 4, 202610 min

Building the Ultimate Wildland Skid Unit: Equipment Checklist and Configuration

The right skid unit turns any pickup or side-by-side into a legitimate wildland attack platform. Here is what to spec, what to skip, and how to lay it out.

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Wildland firefighters observing a wildland-urban interface fire at sunset

Safety & TrainingMay 24, 202611 min

Firefighter Safety in the Wildland-Urban Interface: Lessons From the Field

The wildland-urban interface is where the most complex and dangerous fires happen. Here is what a decade of after-action reports tells us about staying safe.

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Solid Foam Stick Manifold with foam stick loaded

Foam TechnologyMay 12, 20265 min

Why Solid Foam Is Changing Wildland Firefighting

The shift from liquid concentrate to solid stick technology is reshaping how portable-pump crews carry, deploy, and account for foam.

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Rural volunteer fire station at golden hour with American flag

Industry InsightsMay 8, 202610 min

The Future of Rural Fire Departments: Technology, Funding, and Recruitment

Rural fire service is at an inflection point. Aging membership, changing fire environments, and thin budgets are forcing new approaches to old problems.

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Interactive Tools

Run the numbers yourself

Quick, no-signup calculators for common wildland-fire planning questions. Bookmark this page — we add new tools every quarter.

Foam Stick Estimator

Estimate how many solid foam sticks you need to treat a given water volume at your target mix rate.

Water volume (gallons)Target mix rate (%)

sticks (approx.) at ~50 gal/stick

Estimates only. Confirm with your manifold and stick manufacturer.

Friction Loss Calc

Estimate friction loss for a single hose lay so you can set the right pump discharge pressure.

Flow (gpm)Length (feet)Hose diameter (inches)

17 psi

estimated friction loss

Rule-of-thumb approximation. Actual loss varies by hose age and lining.

Fire Danger Reference

National Fire Danger Rating System levels — quick reference for briefings and pre-shift planning.

Low
Fuels do not ignite readily. Fires spread slowly.
Moderate
Fires start easily and spread at a moderate rate.
High
All fine dead fuels ignite readily. Spot fires common.
Very High
Fires start easily, spread rapidly, and burn intensely.
Extreme
All fires are potentially serious. Direct attack rarely possible.

Open the ROI calculator

Stay Ready

Situational awareness & community

Live weather and national wildfire intel — everything a rural or wildland crew needs to keep a pulse on the season.

Local Fire Weather

Live conditions and a quick fire-danger read for your response area.

Enter a location to see live temperature, humidity, wind, and a rule-of-thumb fire-danger read.

Wildfire Intel

Live situational awareness from the agencies we trust — bookmarked in one place.

Reader Poll

How does your department currently apply Class A foam?

Anonymous. One vote per browser. 1 responses so far.