Indigenous-owned Red Deer business looking to revolutionize wildfire defense

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The self-contained equipment allows access to 3,500 gallons of water, and the ability to connect to additional water supply. It also operates detached from the power grid, ensuring continuous power.

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Furthermore, it comes with a built-in surveillance system, allowing users 360 degree virtual coverage around the Sea-Can container in which the equipment is housed.

RUFUS in action. (Supplied)

“As I witnessed news coverage of homeowners putting their lives at risk to protect their homes with a garden hose or sprinkler system, I couldn’t help but feel with ever-changing technology, there must be a better, safer way,” says Jason Sansregret, CEO of CJS Industrial.

“It was on that basis that we envisioned a solution to the ever-increasing need to protect homes, summer cabins, out-buildings that may house machinery of valuable equipment – and more importantly, ensure the safety of the property owner and their family.”

CJS says the RUFUS technology has other applications, such as at oil sites, saw mills, cell towers, and railways.

“All of this means, should the threat of fire occur, you can leave your home or other form of critical infrastructure knowing it has a much better chance of being protected,” continued Sansregret. “RUFUS has the potential to reduce costs of insurance, resources, financial losses, downtime, impact on the environment, and heartbreak for homeowners caught in the path of a wildfire.”

Sansregret, who is Metis, says firefighters should be commended for their work, “but there are only so many of them — and RUFUS can be an important element that frees up these important resources.”

“Having been involved in the fire service for almost 20 years, I bared witness to the catastrophic effects of fire and the impact it has on all who are involved from victims to first responders,” says Craig Stillings, retired Consort, Alta fire chief.

“Within the last decade, we have seen the effects of climate change and how wildfire season runs from snow melt to snowfall as witnessed in Alberta this past year. Resources have all been stretched well beyond capacity. RUFUS’s far reaching water stream technology and offsite control make it stand out as innovative fire protection. Thanks to its logical design, training is quick, and its functions are applicable to many scenarios.”

Each unit costs just under $75,000.