By JESSE GRAHAM
A Narbethong firefighter and inventor has taken experience and stories from the Black Saturday bushfires and turned it into a potentially life-saving device to assist in residents’ firefighting abilities.
Rod Sheppard devised a way of protecting fire pumps after hearing stories of pumps giving out at critical moments, due to heat and fire-related causes, and created the Pump Defenda.
The Pump Defenda works by screwing on to an outlet on a generator and using small amounts of pressure and water to have a sprinkler-effect, spraying water on the working-generator.
He said the device was tried and tested, and stopped the generator from catching fire, stopped parts from melting and kept fuel from boiling and vapourising.
“I went through Black Saturday,” Mr Sheppard said.
“As a result of going out and protecting my community on the Sunday, it became evident how many people lost their fight to save their homes and worse, because their fighting pump failed.”
He said that many people ended up leaving late – an extremely dangerous option – because they had originally planned to stay and defend their homes, but their pumps gave out.
Mr Sheppard noted that the device doesn’t use up an outlet, saving space, and that it uses a small enough amount of water and pressure to leave fire-fighting abilities unhindered.
The Pump Defenda won Mr Sheppard the Inventor of the Year Award from the Inventor’s Association of Australia in December.
He said the fifth anniversary of the tragic bushfires was a timely reminder for safety in fire-prone areas, and that he recommended his invention to anyone who would choose to stay and defend their home.
“It’s cheap insurance,” he said.
On days of extreme and code red fire danger, leaving early or the night beforehand is always the safest option.
For more information on the Pump Defenda, visit www.pumpdefenda.com.au or call Mr Shappard on 0400 540 589.
