Re: "Phoenix"

I think that if we sprayed with the Phoenix during all levels of fire season, ecouraging vegitative growth could be an issue, but St.Forestry generally only requires us to do so at the highest levels of fire danger. This means basically that at the time it is required, vegetative growth is pretty dry and dormant and daytime temps. are probably in the high 80's and up. Spraying is a mandated response and beyond extinguishing any hot bits of carbon that 19 might throw or embers from #3 I imagine that any moisture that might be added to the soil evaporates quite quickly.
The Phoenix also has hook ups for the rural fire district to pump off of, and besides the hose reel, it has hook ups that canvas fire hose can be hooked up to. It also makes a great auxillary water tender to stage at Sumpter when we have photo's specials or work trains operating for long periods at the upper end of the line.
The small speeder pulled fire car has storage for an assortmant of fire tools such as shovels, pulaski's and the like as well as a good size stash of canvas fire hose in 1 1/2 and 1" plus wyes, adapters and nozzles. The fire pump on it is a multistage pump that while comming to us used is state of the art. Both fire pumps also work great for performing hydros on the boilers.