Researchers Experiment With Explosives To Fight Wildfires

aesoteric writes: "Australian researchers are a step closer to demonstrating whether explosives — rather than water — can be used to extinguish an out-of-control wildfire. The research uses a blast of air to knock the flame off its fuel source — a technique used in the oil & gas industry for decades. The latest tests were conducted in New Mexico. Firefighters are reported to be quietly optimistic about the research's potential."

Comments

You bet they are "quietly optimistic"..

[Anonymous Coward]

The reason it works with oil fires is that the oil cools rather FAST once the flame is out.

Wood... not so much. It is a good insulator and will preserve the heat - thus the vapor from wood will still be there - and HOT. Once the oxygen gets to it, it will flame again.

Re:You bet they are "quietly optimistic"..

[overshoot]

In NM, as in Oz, a lot of fires start as brushfires -- no wood, no particular heat retention -- stop it even briefly and it doesn't get into the forests.