Fire Science Independent Study

Cadet Danny Gray ’18 conducted baseline fire science experiments at the West Point Fire Department (WPFD) Draeger Training Site. Danny is completing an Independent Study project on novel fire suppressant chemical formulations intended for deployment in a developmental canister round that would allow warfighters and fire fighters to extinguish small fires with standoff distances approaching 100 meters. Chief Keith Thomas of the WPFD assisted Danny in the design and initiation of a small, controlled, enclosure fire. The data collected (mass, temperature, flame height) will be used as a baseline for subsequent tests. Danny is working with a Mechanical Engineering Capstone Team that is focused on developing the deployment system and cargo round that would disperse the suppressant on a small, early development, enclosure fire. The team is being supported by Dr. Weinschenk, a renowned fire scientist at Underwriter Laboratories.