PyroLance North America

The use of a cutting extinguisher is a fire extinguishing technique that combines abrasive waterjet cutting with water spray extinguishing, through a single handpiece or nozzle. The fire-fighter approaches the fire from outside the main fire area, then uses the cutting action to drill a small hole through a door or wall. Switching to a water spray then allows the fire to be fought, as with a conventional fog nozzle.
The main advantages of this system are in increased safety for the fire-fighter, as they may remain outside the most hazardous area. In particular, the need for highly-dangerous smoke diving is reduced. The small size of the access hole also reduces any risk of flashover or backdraft. Flashover is reduced by avoiding the need to open up a large access hole, backdraft by the flow of water through this small hole keeping any flow cooled and directed inwards, towards the fire. they have also developed the same core waterjet technology into areas such as a Cold Tap that can tap or vent flammable fluids, such as fuel tankers or pipelines, without risk of ignition or explosion.
Local adoption has been enthusiastic. Of the 400 Cobra systems in use so far, 50 are in Sweden.
The equipment for Cobra is small and lightweight, with good water efficiency. This allows its installation into small, lightweight and faster light vans, as well as full-sized fire appliances. These may then be able to arrive on scene more quickly. Water supply is at 300 bar and a flow rate of 50 litres / minute through up to 300m of lightweight hose. With 350 litres of water carried on-board this allows several minutes active use, even without connection to a fire hydrant. It can cut through 15cm of concrete in 75 seconds and 10mm steel in 60 seconds.<ref name="Hong Kong" />
PyroLance USA
PyroLance is a firefighting system that cools and contains fires and fire gases. Utilizing a combination of high-pressure water and a nonsparking abrasive material, the PyroLance pierces exterior structures, and blankets the thermal layers inside with a fog of atomized water. The PyroLance introduces its fine mist of water through a small opening; therefore, a rapid reduction in temperature occurs without introducing large amounts of oxygen, reducing the likelihood of flashover or backdraft.
During piercing operations, the abrasive aggregate is carried with the high velocity water, allowing the PyroLance to create a pea-size hole in any material. Once the opening has been made, a second trigger allows the operator to switch to plain water and/or water with foam. Starting the flow of water turns the PyroLance into a fire confinement tool injecting its high-pressure fog stream directly into the thermal layer while the operator remains in a protected position outside.
Pyrolance is currently in a legal process since it has lost its license to the patented technology which originates from Cold Cut Systems in Sweden.<ref name="CCS Cobra" /><ref name="ColdCut Cobra" />

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