Two companies have collaborated to develop a helicopter water bucket that incorporates a gel-mixing system. The bucket has an electric pump in the bottom that can fill the bucket with water from a water source that is only 12 inches deep. As the bucket fills, the gel, which is stored in a bag inside the bucket, is pumped into the inbound water flow, below the pump.  Both the water and gel are drawn through the pump’s impeller, thoroughly mixing the gel into the water.

This system can eliminate the need to set up a separate tank and gel mixing operation to fill helicopter buckets.

Multiple sizes of gel bags are available, 15-90 gallons, such that at common mixture ratios (1%) the system can inject gel for a full fuel cycle (15-20 drops).

The system was developed by Thermo-Gel, which is a supporter of Wildfire Today, and Absolute Fire Solutions.