Where the HAIX MISSOULA 2.0 forest fire boot is used
‘One step in the green, one step in the burned’ – this statement is not merely pithy lip service. HAIX accompanied the wildfire fighters’ elite troops who belong to the Portuguese National Republican Guard (GNR) and fight daily on this borderline. The GNR can only successfully fight forest fires from the very front line. They complete over 4,000 deployments a year, setting out in helicopters or emergency vehicles to tackle smouldering fires before they have the chance to flare up seriously. The minimum objective is to damp down any blazes so that they can then be quickly dealt with by fire-brigade units on the ground.
The National Republican Guard (GNR) is the gendarmerie force of Portugal. The Relief Intervention Group (GIPS) is one of the GNR’s five main units. The group undertakes a broad spectrum of deployments including everything from prevention to acting as first responders to forest fires. Helicopters, ground-based fire-brigade units, search and rescue teams, countryside and forest patrol groups and flood protection and disaster relief specialists are all on hand to assist in these tasks. GIPS (GNR) is organized across 40 airbases, each of which is equipped with a firefighting helicopter and the crew to man it. The group carries out some of the toughest and most successful deployments anywhere in the world. Such missions are only made possible by truly embracing the reality of their slogan ‘one step in the green, one step in the burned’. This provides the assurance that everyone in the team is able to rely 100% on each of the other members.
Ninety minutes is the magic number that hovers over each GNR deployment like a burning fuse over the parched forests of the Iberian Peninsula. This is the amount of time the air-based first responder teams have for their dangerous job. After one and a half hours the helicopter must fly back to refuel and cool down the turbine. Ninety minutes of maximum performance for man, machine and material. Regular ground-based firefighting forces will take over once the GNR’s task has been completed.
An exercise is being staged in a burnt down forest area for this reporter’s curiosity. Blackened ash and charred tree trunks are all around. The pick-up truck and fire engine taking us to the site need to use every ounce of their 4-wheel-drive power. The Commander describes the scene of the fire: ‘Two days ago, everything here was ablaze.’ Immediately after descending from the helicopter, the five-man team was able to cut an initial swathe and thus pave the way for the ‘ground troops’.
This is an environment and an area of application for which the MISSOULA forest fire boot from HAIX was developed. Robust suede leather withstands scree and undergrowth in the terrain. Instead of the usual quick fastening systems of other HAIX firefighting boots, the MISSOULA uses a two-zone lacing system for knotting. On the one hand, this ensures an optimum fit on long marches. On the other hand, the closed lacing system prevents the risk of getting tangled in undergrowth and is even suitable for abseiling from helicopters, which is practised by many specialist forest fire units. The non-slip sole with off-road tread offers good grip even on rough terrain and is flame and heat resistant to withstand extreme conditions. The sporty sole design is lightweight and ensures increased comfort when walking. A toe cap made of fibre-reinforced plastic and penetration protection provides the necessary all-round protection.
The boundary of the forest fire runs through the hilly landscape as if marked by a ruler. The significance of ‘one step in the green, one step in the burned’ is readily apparent. This striking dividing line does not merely demarcate the border between green woodland and charred devastation. During a deployment, it can also quickly become the frontier between life and death.
Three men are at work on this very spot, using hoes and fire swatters to keep the flames at bay. Two others are making their way across the terrain. On their shoulders are 20-litre containers equipped with handheld sprays. ‘Every second counts’ until the helicopter, which dropped them off in this blazing inferno, is able to return. When it comes back, it will provide further support by bringing an initial 2,000-litre sack of water collected from a reservoir. Such deployments are able to tame nine out of ten fires during the 90-minute time limit. This then enables the firefighters on the ground to move in and establish control.
One person simply focuses on the fire. The second man behind you places his hand on your shoulder. He is your eyes, your safety back-up. You put out the flames, and you know you can rely on him at all times. ‘Fire to the left, fire in the bushes semi-right ahead, tree to the right on fire …. After 90 minutes, the worst has been brought under control.
The GNR firefighters achieve a success rate of 95%.
