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With record-breaking temperatures scorching the earth and 'mega-fires' threatening to devour entire landscapes and communities, combating the risks that come with extreme heat has never been more urgent.

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Rising to the challenge, Hurtec has invented a breakthrough technology with the potential to save countless lives, prevent billions in damages, and transform firefighting on a global scale.

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Shortly before the time of the 2019 bushfires that left 19 million hectares incinerated and led to the loss of over 3,000 homes, Justin Hurcom, co-founder of Hurtec and owner of a rural property in rural Queensland, enlisted as a volunteer firefighter. 

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His firsthand experience made it clear—the firefighting system was overdue for a serious upgrade.

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"I was on the frontlines at a fire out in Springbrook," recalled Hurcom. "We needed to run 500 metres of hose line from our truck to get up a mountain. It was a new truck too, only a couple of years old. By the time we got up that hill, it was like trying to put out a fire with a garden hose."

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After COVID ground the planet to a halt, Hurcom found himself with some extra time. He eventually rallied a band of friends and cousins, including Jeff Summers and Andrew Newton and together they dedicated hundreds of hours towards solving ‘the garden hose problem.’

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Leveraging their unique combination of skill sets, including mechatronics, fluid dynamics, hydrology, software engineering, and frontline firefighting, they created a groundbreaking innovation that’s poised to transform firefighting forever. 

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Sparking a new era for firefighting

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Hurtec has created an electric firefighting pump that can be controlled by a touch screen, remote control, or even a mobile phone. It delivers unprecedented power and control and solves a long-standing industry challenge. 

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The pump is also more efficient, reliable, and significantly quieter than traditional diesel models.

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"Our pumps runs at around 60 decibels, compared to 85-100 for diesel. That's basically the difference between going deaf and being able to have a conversation," said Hurcom.

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“They can deliver up to double the pressure and volume of existing light and medium fire truck pumps, and they're also up to 70% lighter, allowing trucks to carry more water,” he added.  

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Hurtec's pump doesn't just boost firefighting power—it also makes filling the trucks significantly faster. That can mean the difference between containing a fire or losing control. 

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"Filling up a tank, or drafting as we call it, can take some crews up to 20 minutes,” said Hurcom, “now, with one button, we can do it in 38 seconds."

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There is also less risk of the pump malfunctioning or running out of juice. 

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"The battery lasts over 18 hours. It can run off the truck's engine or charge via solar or a 240V plug. If it does ever run low - which is highly unlikely - you can swap it out in minutes," said Summers. 

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Hurtec's breakthrough doesn't stop at fire trucks. They've also developed a smaller version of the pump that can fit onto the back of a standard ute.

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“It gives smaller vehicles almost the same fire fighting power as a full-sized truck,” said Hurcom. 

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“That could make a huge impact in areas where there is complex terrain,” added Newton, “and in developing countries or where cost is an issue. You could get four or five fire fighting utes for the same price as one full-sized fire truck.”  

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The app store for fire trucks

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Even though Hurtec's pump is a game-changer in its own right, they've also developed an entire ecosystem that uses real-time data to remove guesswork and help firefighters make smarter decisions.

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The pump itself is integrated with cutting-edge software that automates most of its core functions, and its software solution also has an extensive range of other life-saving benefits. 

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“Our system integrates with over 30 sensors and tracks everything from the amount of water used to the exact pressure output, vehicle performance, and even temperature around the truck,” explained Newton, “It also monitors the pump and vehicle degradation in real-time, which means you can go from reactive to proactive maintenance and avoid having a breakdown in a critical moment.”

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“All of the data is stored and can be analysed,” added Summers, “which helps firefighting teams improve future operations.”

Pumped up and blown away

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Hurtec’s electrification of firefighting is turning even the most die-hard sceptics into supporters. 

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"I love watching people’s reactions when they try our smaller pump," said Hurcom. "We’ve had firefighters with 20 or 30 years of experience give it a go. The moment they turn it on, they take two steps back because they’re holding it like a regular hose. They’re shocked by how much power we get from a pump small enough to strap onto the back of a ute."

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"We even had an electrician who volunteers with the NSW RFS give it a go. At the start of our conversation, he was like, ‘Electric pump? Yeah, right!’ By the end, he was asking, ‘When can we get these on our trucks?’"

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Hurtec’s powerful pump, along with its innovative data solution, has already caught the attention of firefighting organisations across Australia. 

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"We’re on track to be engaged with every state and territory by the end of the year," said Newton.  

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Hurtec’s pumps can be retrofitted onto existing trucks and their solution works for both diesel and electric pumps. They’re rolling out pilot projects in all states that will integrate their software onto a mix of electric and traditional diesel pumps. 

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Beyond firefighting, councils and SES organisations are also showing interest in Hurtec’s data solution for use in water trucks and emergency service vehicles.

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Trailblazing with purpose

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Hurcom’s rural property isn't the only reason he's putting pressure on himself to accelerate the deployment of Hurtec's technology.

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"My uncle lives in a rural area, and during a recent fire, he refused to leave his house. He was trying to put out the fire himself because the fire service couldn't get there in time," Hurcom recalled. "If we'd had this pump back then, he could have stopped that fire before it ever came close to his property." 

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"At the end of the day, our pump has the power to save lives, save people's houses, and protect people's livelihoods.

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 "If we don't have this pump out, every fire season, that’s a potential house or person that we could have saved.

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"Fires have been getting worse and more intense over the years, but we still have the same number of volunteers using the same old technology. We're here to change that."

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