Wildland nozzles usually are lighter, smaller and more versatile than their municipal counterparts. They are easier to maneuver in rough terrain, help conserve onboard water supplies and deliver superior streams when used with water, foams and gels. Here are some features and advantages of these special nozzles.

Wildland firefighting is strenuous work. Lightweight nozzles can help. Here a California Office of Emergency Services strike team engine company makes a mobile attack from within the burned-out area — a method known as “attack from the black” that maximizes safety.

Lightweight construction. Old-style 1½-inch brass nozzles weigh 7 pounds or more and can quickly exhaust firefighters who have to lug them across rough terrain. Switching to a lighter material can lower the weight, but the basic municipal-type construction with a ball shutoff, bail handle and complex internal passageways results in a nozzle that still weighs about 4 pounds. What’s worse, the 1½-inch hose delivers more water than is needed, which adds to the weight of the line and wastes water. For the ultimate in lightweight wildland nozzles, many manufacturers offer 1-inch forestry and wildland nozzles that weigh less than 2 pounds, yet can flow up to 40 gpm. These smaller nozzles work well with lightweight forestry or lay-flat booster hoses in situations requiring longer hoselays or repeated deployment of the hose.

Compact design. Municipal nozzle lengths of 9 to 11 inches are not compact. Neither are nozzles that have protruding shutoff bails and pistol grip handles that can snag on vegetation. Some wildland nozzle designs are as short as 4 to 6 inches long and have simple twist-type controls and knurled grips that don’t protrude from the bodies. The compact, snag-resistant designs are especially valuable when hoselines have to be pulled backwards through heavy brush to retreat from shifting fire conditions or quickly reposition them for attacks on the flanks.

Controlled flowrate. Many municipal nozzles have adjustable flowrates far in excess of what is required for wildland firefighting. If the firefighter on the nozzle doesn’t closely watch the flow setting, that can waste water and force the apparatus to break off the attack to refill the tank. Throttling the shutoff valve can disrupt the stream integrity. Wildland nozzles usually have several settings in the range of 10 to 40 gpm to deliver the lowest flow for the job while still maintaining good stream shape.

Higher pressure. Most municipal nozzles are rated for maximum inlet pressures of 100 to 150 psi. Higher pressures typically produced by some booster and engine-driven pumps can generate uncontrollable reaction forces and cause failures of the nozzle seals and other internal parts. Many wildland nozzles are rated for operation at pressures in the range of 500 to 800 psi without adverse reaction forces or other problems.

The Akron Aussie bush nozzle is lightweight and compact. It features three flow settings with a twist-ring shutoff.

Easy shutoff. It may seem like a small point, but having to repeatedly open and close a bail-handle shutoff valve can be awkward and tiring. Many firefighters are tempted to simply keep the water flowing as they move from one position to another to attack a wildland fire. That wastes water, however, and the nozzle reaction force can make it difficult to maneuver on steep or uneven ground. Many wildland nozzle designs have simple, twist-off valves that require no effort and encourage firefighters to shut down the flow.

Foam and gel compatible. Class A foams and gels often are applied with specialized nozzles to achieve the best coverage and longest reach. Several wildland nozzles are specifically designed to aerate the foam solution as it exits the hose. Others are designed to draw gel concentrates from containers without allowing the water to flow backwards and cause problems. Some nozzles are configured to deliver long-reaching streams of compressed air foam without shearing or flattening the bubbles to achieve the most effective coating. In most cases, these nozzles produce better results than standard municipal-type nozzles.

Whether your department operates a light patrol pumper or a heavy brush truck, selecting the right nozzles can make a difference when fighting wildland fires. Check them out.