A dry (unpressurized) hydrant utilizes a hydrant pipe formed from PVC. One end engages a sliding swivel mount attached to a post with the other end of the pipe being free to swing and to be placed within a nearby body of water. The free end may include a strainer assembly, also formed of a PVC material. The strainer end may be placed at a predetermined depth within a body of water, such as a lake, pond or the like, by means of a second support located proximate the body of water. Alternatively, the strainer end of the hydrant pipe may be provided with a buoyant float to maintain the level of the strainer end of the hydrant pipe just below the water surface. In another embodiment, the strainer end of the hydrant pipe is provided with a rotating wheel assembly which enables the strainer end of the hydrant pipe to be rolled into position beneath the surface of the body of water. The dry hydrant is formed from inexpensive and lightweight materials and can be stored dry when not in use.

A ground and airborne system and method for fighting high rise building fires uses a ground based pump such as a mobile pumper vehicle with its inlet connected to a source of fire retardant material such as water. A rotary wing aircraft is provided with another pump, the inlet of which is connected to the outlet of the pumper through a flexible hose. The aircraft carries one or two extendable booms with nozzles affixed to the ends thereof. The booms are connected to the outlet of the airborne pump. The aircraft is manuevered to the floor at which the fire is located. The boom or booms are extended beyond the rotor tips and the ground and airborne pumps are operated to direct water into the floor at which the fire is located to extinguish or contain the fire until a fire crew can arrive at the scene.

The combination of a long elevated water distributing and sprinkling conduit and a series of longitudinally spaced apart airborne support stations for that conduit is automatically moved over a large field while above and out of contact with that field and crops thereon while uniformly irrigating such field and crops without creating ruts in the field or damaging the crops thereon. The apparatuses therefor comprise a series of airborne stations that support and move a conduit and also provide for automatically maintaining alignment of each of the airborne conduit support stations relative to others in the series.

Disclosed is a hydrated fibrous mass prepared by the steps including introducing a source of cellulosic fibers to water with continuous mixing until a ratio of water to fibers of about 50 to 1 is obtained and mixing the water and source of cellulosic fibers until the source of cellulosic fibers has been comminuted to substantially individual cellulose fibers. The mass can be effectively used as a fire controlling agents. The mass can also be used as a carrier for pesticides, and as a concrete or cement cure rate controlling agent.

A pump system for loading fluid into a tank onboard a translating aircraft includes a substantially rigid tube member having a diving device on the distal end of the tube member. A strut structure may also be provided on a front face of the tube member. In use, the tube member is directed rearward relative to the translating aircraft so that splashing of fluid onto the underside of the aircraft is substantially avoided.