This one sounds positively science-fictiony:
Boffins in America say they’re on the track of a backpack electro-beam forcefield device capable of snuffing out raging fires without any need for water, hoses or other traditional firefighting apparatus. Apart from portable applications, they raise the possibility that the new technology might replace building sprinkler systems with ceiling mounted conflagration-squelching zapper terminals.
“Controlling fires is an enormously difficult challenge,” says Dr Ludovico Cademartiri. “Our research has shown that by applying large electric fields we can suppress flames very rapidly. We’re very excited about the results.”
Cademartiri and his fellow boffins at Harvard uni have tested their flame-zapping gizmo in the lab, using a 600-watt amplifier hooked up to a “wand-like probe”. This setup was apparently able to snuff out test flames “more than a foot high”. The team think that it should be possible to get similar effects with a less power-hungry system using 60W or less, raising the possibility of portable equipment.
So, not quite ready to snuff out the soaring flames of a major fire, yet.
