Top Awards for Mobile, All-Terrain Fire Fighting Platform
- Technology News International 4/2000, page
30/31 Necessity is often the mother of invention. Case in point: A tragic 1997 plane crash gave German inventor Alfons Koopmann the idea for an all-terrain fire-fighting platform called the 'Bush Fire Top Line'. Koopmann still remembers the plane crash, in which three of his closest friends were tragically killed, as if it had happened only yesterday. The small plane carrying his friends plunged into largely inaccessible terrain while on final approach to a nearby airport. Because of the difficult nature of the terrain and their lack of all-terrain equipment, fire fighters were first able to reach the small craft hours after the crash. By then, all help was simply too late. For Koopmann, who also owns and operates a window factory in Markhausen, Germany, the tragic crash signaled the start of a three-year battle to develop and find acceptance for his 'Bush Fire' platform. Working closely with Stefan Hillen, a metalworker from nearby Augustendorf, the Markhausen native has designed and built a compact fire-fighting platform that attaches as a trailer to virtually any towing platform from tractors to tanks. 
Koopmann's Bush Fire Top Line in action. | In fact, says Koopmann, the Bush Fire can even be piggybacked on trucks and airlifted by helicopter to the scene of an otherwise inaccessible fire. The Bush Fire's all-terrain capabilities are matched by
equally impressive hardware. Equipped with a 6000-liter water tank, the Bush
Fire is equipped with a specially developed compressor that gives the
fire-fighting platform a 24-hour operational window at the scene of a fire. The
Bush Fire is a formidable opponent for any fire, thanks to its powerful water
cannon. Dubbed the 'Intruder' by Koopmann, it can fire off a 15-liter shot of
atomized water at speeds of 125 meters per second and over distances up to 70
meters. Foam generating equipment and a number of smaller, handheld water cannon
complement the Intruder's power. Not all of the Bush Fire's 6000-liter capacity is intended solely for fire fighting. Another highly innovative feature reserves 1000 liters of water for Crew Protect. This is a protective water tunnel that completely surrounds the Bush Fire and its towing vehicle. According to Koopmann, Crew Protect provides'15 to 20 minutes of protection from fire and heat for the Bush Fire crew, allowing them to fight forward to the main fire .or - if necessary - retreat from jm-pending danger. Crew Protect not only protects crew members of the Bush Fire, it also provides a protective layer of water for the Bush Fire's tires. Koopmann, who has found it necessary to bear the development costs for the Bush Fire without government assistance, continues to search for ways to begin series production of his novel fire-fighting idea. While his primary goal in developing the invention was the ability to save human lives, Koopmann says he also hopes to create much-needed jobs in the financially depressed areas around Markhausen. With no prospect of government funding in the offing, Koopmann has now turned to the private sector in hopes of finding financial backing. 
Koopmann's Bush Fire is compact but powerful fire-fighting platform that attaches as a trailer to virtually any all-terrain towing platform. Bush Fire can fight fires in virtually any terrain with just a three-man team. The platform includes a 6000-liter water tank that feeds the device's Intruder water cannon and also provides a tunnel of protective water for the crew. The Intruder can fire off a 15-liter shot of atomized water at speeds of 125 meters per second and over distances up to 70 meters. Foam generating equipment and a number of smaller, handheld water cannon complement the Intruder's power. | The inventor's idealism has been rewarded in large part by a stunning success at the Internationale Messe für Erfindungen, an invention trade show recently concluded in Geneva, Switzerland. Not only did Koopmann land a coveted First Prize from the German Inventor's Society, his Bush Fire Top Line was awarded a Gold Medal in international competition. Not surprisingly, Koopmann's phones are ringing off the hooks with inquires from potential customers as far afield as Spain, France, Denmark, the Middle East, China and even Australia, where authorities have expressed an interest in using Bush Line to extinguish troublesome fires in the crowns of the country's eucalyptus tress. Readers interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Alfons Koopman directly for more detailed information. For further details point your web browser to http://www.bush-fire-top-line.com or contact the company directly. Alfons Koopmann welcomes inquiries and is pleased to provide further details upon request. Please write or call: Koopmann GmbH
Franz-sin-Damm 19
D-26169 Markhausen
Tel. (+49)4496- 1207
(+49)4496- 12 14
Fax (+49)4496- 1361 - Technology News International 4/2000, page 30/31 | 
