Successful WUI response is not built around a single piece of equipment – it requires a flexible package that can adapt to the situation and deliver in the wild.

A solid foundation starts with a high-performance pump paired with quality forestry hose and the right accessories from Mercedes Textiles:

• A fast-deploy, multi-position WICK® 100M or 100-4M with hand priming pump

• 6’/8’/10’ length of DraftLite® supply hose with foot valve/strainer

• Up to 1,000’ of 1.5” FireBreak II® or FireBoss®

• Self-carrying hose bags – perfect for easy storage and rapid deployment

• Hose clamps/stranglers – required for progressive hose lays

• Straight-stream or multi-orifice forestry nozzles

This setup allows crews to get water where it is needed, establish and strike quickly, then adapt or relocate as conditions change. Mercedes water delivery systems like this have been proven to deliver around the world.

In addition to the above, departments can consider:

• Collapsible water tanks or portable pools

• Pump carry backpacks

• Gated wyes and adapters

• External fuel tanks

• Mop-up kits

These components determine how efficiently crews can establish and maintain water flow in dynamic environments. The goal is building a system that works together under real incident conditions. Mercedes offers a full range of the above equipment.

Many things, including our unique Mertex® lining, Permatek HP™ treatment for hose jackets and the Hydro-Wick® weeping process, all developed by Mercedes Textiles Limited.

The Mertex® process for our hose lining is a unique process producing superior adhesion (no delamination), it allows for the use of high strength Filament Polyester yarn in both the warp & weft directions for a greater burst safety margin, provides for increased flexibility, results in lower friction loss therefore higher flow and finally lower elongation of the hose when under pressure.

Our innovative Permatek HP™ treatment guards against abrasion, moisture pick up, mildew and can be applied in a variety of color-coding combinations.

The Hydro-Wick® weeping process is an innovative solution to address the need for a more efficient and controllable weeping hose to use in forestry firefighting applications. Hoses with Hydro-Wick® technology provide a weeping (self-protecting) fire hose with minimum pressure loss, no clogging, a 300% faster completely wet time (when compared with needle-prick methods), and superior protection provided against heat and other forest fire conditions.

Lastly, every one of our fire hoses meet or exceed all performance requirements of NFPA 1961, Underwriters Laboratories, and Factory Mutual.

Single-jacket forestry hose falls under two main categories: untreated & treated.

Type I forestry hose refers to standard untreated fire hose used for wildland operations. This includes the USDA Type I S518.1.11 spec, as well as ULC-S518.1.11 / ULC-S519.1 (Percolating).

Standard white, all-synthetic, single-jacket forestry hose is untreated to maximize flexibility and minimize weight. Its lighter, more compact design allows crews to carry longer lengths with less fatigue—an advantage during extended incidents or in areas inaccessible to apparatus.

This category of forestry hose is available in both percolating (weeping) or non-percolating. USDA specifies Type 1 as non-percolating like Mercedes’ ForestGuard II®.

Percolating hose is preferred by many departments for offering protection against unexpected fire exposure. Rather than the standard needle-prick process, Mercedes uses a patented Hydro-Wick® process that allows their FireBreak II® and PercoLite® to achieve wet-out up to three times faster with minimal pressure loss.

Single-jacket forestry hose falls under two main categories: untreated & treated. 

Type 2 forestry hose refers to treated/coated fire hose used for wildland operations. This includes the USDA Type II S5100-187C spec.

Color-treated to improve visibility, the coating on standard yellow all-synthetic, single-jacket forestry hose also offers improved abrasion and heat resistance, as per the USDA Type 2 specification.Mercedes’ FireBoss® features their exclusive Permatek® protective coating.

For municipal departments moving into WUI applications, this hose may be an ideal fit as it offers a more rugged option that can withstand the occasional drag during direct attack.

Treated forestry hose is also commonly used as the first line off the pump before transitioning to percolating hose, helping avoid excessive mud around the water source.

Yes! Our FireBreak II® is the # 1 choice for weeping hose among forest fire agencies worldwide. We developed our patented Hydro-Wick® weeping process with a special weave that allows a controlled amount of water to seep out and self-protect the hose with significantly less pressure loss. Wet-out is achieved 3x faster than the needle prick method!

Learn more here.

When the Forest Services of North America needed a more finely controlled weeping (self- protecting) hose than the previous technology could provide, Mercedes Textiles Limited created this clever, yet simple design wherein carefully spaced yarns were exposed into the waterway.

Through capillary action, a controlled amount of water is allowed to WICK through the yarn and quickly soak the jacket thoroughly. This action produces a wetted outer surface without reducing flow or creating additional turbulence. When the jacket is fully wet, the capillary action automatically stabilizes.

• The Hydro-Wick® weeping process results in considerably less pressure loss than competing products, while still maintaining protection against fi re and heat
• Virtually eliminates clogging, as compared to competing products
• Complete wet out is achieved in up to 300% less time than the needle prick method
• The resulting wet jacket provides excellent protection against heat, i.e., forest fire applications