MXOne deployed its trailer-mounted firefighting system to a wood recycling facility north of Spokane, helping crews extinguish deep-seated fires in large wood and wood-chip piles in approximately one-third of the time initially estimated.
The MXOne team arrived Aug. 7 after receiving a call while returning from a trade show in Las Vegas. Instead of heading home to Texas, the team diverted to Washington, met with the incident commander and local fire officials and was assigned to the active fire within a day.The response came as firefighters across the Spokane area battled multiple wildfires, including the Fairview, Autumn Lane and Old Trails fires. With high winds in the forecast and firefighting resources under pressure, quickly controlling the burning material at the recycling facility became a priority.
One trailer-mounted MXOne unit was deployed. Heavy equipment operators systematically opened the piles to expose deep-seated burning material, allowing MXOne to cool and extinguish the fire while simultaneously helping protect equipment working near the flames.The system operated directly from a hydrant connection without additional pumps. MXOne personnel, local firefighters and facility personnel all operated the unit, primarily using its remote control. A plant attendant received approximately five minutes of instruction before successfully operating the equipment, demonstrating how personnel already on-site can quickly incorporate MXOne into fireground operations.
Rather than concentrating only on visible surface flames, crews used MXOne to support a methodical expose, cool and extinguish strategy designed to reach burning material deep inside the wood piles.
The operation was initially expected to require approximately 10 days. With MXOne incorporated into the response, the fire was extinguished in 2.5 days, with the assignment completed by Aug. 11.
The deployment also provided a broader resource benefit. After MXOne demonstrated its capabilities during the first two days, other firefighting assets at the facility were reassigned to fires elsewhere in the Spokane area.
The Spokane response highlights MXOne's ability to provide a mobile, rapidly deployable firefighting resource for complex industrial and wildfire-related incidents. Its remote operation, straightforward controls and ability to function from available water infrastructure can allow fire departments, facility teams and equipment operators to work together while reducing demands on other response assets. Following the assignment, the district retained MXOne's demonstration unit for an additional 60 days for potential deployment to other fire assignments in the region.
