News

Every fire season we talk about air tankers and big fire engines, but there's a piece of equipment that rarely makes the news and turns out to be decisive where neither the aircraft nor the truck can reach: the portable pump. In July 2026, the Vallfirest technical team travelled through six departments of Colombia alongside the DNBC and our distributor Makei Soluciones, training more than 120 firefighters in its use and maintenance. In this article we bring together that experience: what a portable pump is, how it compares to a fire engine, and what determines whether the water reaches the point where it's needed most with enough pressure.

We use hand tools less and less, and that's a mistake. On steep slopes, rocky areas or spots with no access, they remain the only resource able to reach the fire and act on it. We go through the five technical actions (cutting, digging, raking, smothering, cooling), the reference tools —from the Pulaski to the Vallfirest Gorgui— and the four basic manoeuvres where they make the difference.

Comparing the Vallfirest Water Hog against traditional, legacy helicopter buckets across model sizes, capacities, empty weights, packaged dimensions, deployment speed, valve functionality, power requirements, drop patterns, precision, accessories and operational versatility isn’t always any easy task. Having a technical guide to understand some of the differences, determine the options available and make an informed decision on your next helicopter bucket – one that matches the safety and operational needs of your aerial wildfire operations.

Extreme climate cycles like El Niño are intensifying wildfire conditions worldwide, making preparedness more critical than ever. Vallfirest's integrated response ecosystem — Inflatable Tanks, Heliskid, UTV and Pickup Skid Units, BP4 and BH4 pumps, and the Water Hog — ensures agencies have the water logistics, rapid intervention, and aerial suppression capabilities needed to face modern wildfires. Because wildfires are fought on the fireline, but won through preparation.

Vallfirest welcomes Francesc Gomez (Frank) as Corporate CEO, joining Founder & Executive Chairman Javier Baena. With extensive experience scaling high-performance organizations, Frank brings operational discipline, decision-making clarity, and a focus on sustainable growth. Together, their complementary leadership will drive Vallfirest's transition into a more structured, globally scalable company — while maintaining the innovation and customer focus that define the brand. Welcome, Frank!

FEMA has opened $648 million in grant funding across three programs — AFG ($291.6M), SAFER ($324M), and FP&S ($32.4M) — with a hard deadline of June 22 at 5 p.m. ET. For departments with urgent equipment needs under $75,000, the AFG Micro Grant is the fastest path to funding. Vallfirest's North America team supports departments throughout the entire application process, with AFG-eligible equipment ready to ship — including portable pumps, protective clothing, hand tools, and skid units. Don't wait — reach out at vftnorthamerica.com/contact.

Vallfirest will be at FDIC International 2026 (April 20–25, Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis) — Booth #11016. Discover our safety clothing, pumps, and grant-approved Skid Units for wildland and WUI firefighting — NFPA-compliant, built with rotomolded tanks and designed for demanding conditions. Scott Reimann will present at the Metro Officers Summit (April 21), and Vallfirest will sponsor the Officers Club Summit. Our full team will be on hand throughout the event. See you in Indianapolis!

Vallfirest will be at VERTICON 2026 (March 10–12, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta) — Booth #B3220, Building B & C, Level 1. Come discover the Water Hog Bucket, our latest aerial solution engineered for precision, speed, and maximum water delivery in helicopter wildfire operations. Our team will be available throughout the event. Tickets and info at verticon.org. See you in Atlanta!

Vallfirest North America welcomes Devin Ross to the Canada team. Focused on supporting distribution partners and end users with qualified sales solutions, product expertise, and reliable follow-through, Devin brings a clear commitment to responsiveness and operational excellence. His arrival reinforces Vallfirest's dedication to ensuring wildfire professionals across Canada have the right equipment when it matters most. Welcome, Devin!

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Slip-on Tanker Pilot Program is funding 97 emergency response agencies across 26 states to strengthen wildland fire response in communities under 50,000 residents. Vallfirest skid units are fully aligned with the program's objectives — NFPA-compliant, built with durable rotomolded tanks, and available in 200, 300, 400 & 500 gallon configurations with a 12-month warranty. If your department qualifies, this is an opportunity to maximize grant funding while upgrading your operational capabilities.

Vallfirest welcomes Peter Novak as Sales Director for the US market. With extensive experience working alongside first responders and a deep understanding of wildfire management challenges, Peter joins at a pivotal moment of growth. Driven by servant leadership and a commitment to customer-centricity, he will champion the adoption of innovative tools — including the Dronster, Skid Units, and Heliskid — to keep first responders safer and more effective. Welcome to the team, Peter!

Vallfirest welcomes Shawn Bethel as National Sales – Canada & Aerial Division Head. With 40 years in wildfire — 20 in operations and 20 in the private sector — Shawn brings unmatched expertise to lead Vallfirest's growing aerial portfolio, including the Water Hog, Heliskid, and Inflatable Tanks. His appointment reinforces Vallfirest's commitment to delivering reliable, high-performance aerial firefighting solutions to the wildfire community worldwide. Welcome, Shawn!

VFT North America will be at the H.A.C Conference (November 4–6, TradeX, Abbotsford, BC) — Stand #324. Come discover the Water Hog, our advanced aerial firefighting bucket for helicopters of all sizes, and the Heliskid. Built on 25 years of reliability, the Water Hog delivers proven performance, maximum stability, and operational efficiency.

Vallfirest acquires Aerial Fire Control to expand its global aerial firefighting capabilities and accelerate the development of new solutions for extreme wildfire events.

FDIC International 2025 is just around the corner, and Vallfirest is gearing up to bring groundbreaking solutions to Indianapolis from April 7-12! As one of the largest fire and rescue conferences in the world, FDIC is the place to explore the latest innovations, connect with industry leaders, and discuss the future of firefighting.

Wildland Urban Interface 2025 (WUI 2025) is just around the corner, and we are excited to announce that we will be exhibiting at this must-attend event for the wildland firefighting community! Taking place from March 27 to 29, 2025, at the Kansas City Convention Center, WUI 2025 is the premier gathering for fire management professionals, first responders, and industry leaders dedicated to protecting communities at risk.

Vallfirest is excited to announce our participation in a series of key events in North America focused on wildfire management, fire safety, and community protection.

Vallfirest is going back to FDIC, this time with all sorts of new developments.

In 2023, unprecedented wildfires, intensified by drought, ravaged British Columbia. Of the 2,231 fires, burning nearly 25,000 square kilometers, costs exceeded $560 million. Innovative solutions are urgently needed. Vallfirest's equipment aids in controlling fires, emphasizing the need for advanced technology

Wherever there’s knowledge, Vallfirest is there. We’re at the International Wildland Fire Conference presenting three new products.

Vallfirest is going back to FDIC, this time with all sorts of new developments. Last year, we landed in North America to provide the market with breakthrough wildland firefighting products and we’ve done just that.

Vallfirest introduces Deane Seeger as the new Director of Sales for Vallfirest North America. Deane has more than 30 years of experience and his addition to the team is a source of pride for the company.

From October 31 to November 4, the Wildland Fire Canada Conference takes place in Edmonton, Alberta. The WFCC brings together wildland fire management agencies, partners, and collaborators in Canada and around the world. vft North America will be present leading the solutions for wildland firefighting in collaboration with our distributor in Canada Motion Industries.

From the 25h to the 30th of April, FDIC International is coming back in Indianapolis for its 2022 edition. Vallfirest will be present leading the solutions for wildland firefighting with our partners and distributors Western Fire Supply, Iturri and Ilus.

The global forum for aerial firefighting community, moderated by Tangent Link will return to California for its biennial event in spring 2022 featuring conference, exhibition, awards ceremony and workshops. From the 22nd to the 23rd of March the Aerial Firefighting North America 2022 will take place at the Town and Country Resort of San Diego. Vallfirest will be present leading the solutions for wildland firefighting. Visit us at the booth 232.

The Wildfire Diaries is an audiovisual series designed for social media. In a direct narrative format, each episode provides insight into the experience of a wildfire professional. The project aims to build bridges between the community of wildland firefighters and pool everything individually learned, to enrich our collective knowledge. A Vallfirest production.

A step by step guide on how to start operating with the BH4 portable fire pump, and get the most out of your equipment. Follow our tips to learn how to avoid any cavitation or damage on the pump. Mastering the art of choosing the right equipment for your fire suppression operations is essential, but knowing how to set up and entertain your machinery and gears is equally important.

A step by step guide on how to start operating with the BP4 portable fire pump, and get the most out of your equipment. Follow our tips to learn how to avoid any cavitation or damage on the pump. Mastering the art of choosing the right equipment for your fire suppression operations is essential, but knowing how to set up and entertain your machinery and gears is equally important.

Vallfirest presents the vft pumps family, a new range of portable high pressure fire pumps for wildland fires. Light, powerful, efficient and highly durable motor pumps, manufactured in Europe with materials of the highest quality and EN Certification. The Black Line Series includes the Black Phanter 4 (up to 26.5 bar and 380 l / min), the Black Hawk 1 (up to 6.9 bar pressure and 280 l / min maximum flow) and the Black Hawk 4 (up to 28.8 bar and 397 l / min maximum pressure and flow).

Astrea Materials and Vallfirest have been invited to present their new CO filter at the Fire Safety Summit Human Dimensions Conference in the USA. A gold nanoparticle filtration formula that is the result of 15 years of research and industrial development. The result is a long-lasting CO filter capable of removing carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, VOC, and NOx to protect firefighters from the most dangerous contaminants in a wildfire.

Wildland fires are becoming faster, more unpredictable and more devastating. The Tactical Unit module can be used to implement a number of attack strategies adapted to the various scenarios that can occur in a wildland operation. A fire truck with a box of tools and an unbeatable off-road performance to reach remote areas. It can transport the Dronster emergency robot, a Heliskid, portable fire pumps, flexible tanks, tools, PPE, self-protection equipment and accessories.

Portable motor pumps are essential tools for wildland fire management and extinction. This article offers a decalogue of usage situations (surface fires, underground fires and entrapment situations during wildland fires) as well as a series of extinguishing maneuvers so you can get the most out of your extinguishing equipment (series and parallel configurations in addition to combined maneuvers).

Anna Tortosa Molina survived an entrapment situation when she was 10 years old. That experience marked her professional choice. An engineer and forest firefighter, she has been through almost every position in a firefighting core; she has been a volunteer, reinforcement, heliborne unit technician, communications operator, fire engine driver, specialist and unit chief. She has performed prescribed burns with the Karuk and Yurok native americane tribes, in California, and has participated in several TREX events. In 2011 she began combining training with wildland firefighting. Today she is a training manager at SGISE, in the Valencian Community.

Vallfirest will develop Carbon Monoxide (CO) and heat stroke sensors for wildland firefighters within the framework of the RESPOND-A project, a European Union emergency research and innovation program. These device, which will be integrated into the PPE, to detect CO concentration levels and exposure time (in order to allow the estimated calculation of COHb -Carboxyhemoglobin- in blood), as well as body temperature, humidity levels and heart rate for heat stroke control. Data transmission will take place in real time by land or satellite to the command centers.

New Xtreme Mask, the latest advance in respiratory protection for wildland firefighters. A multipurpose device that offers a complete protection of the face and the face and respiratory tract against all types of particles and vapors. Half mask with two exhalation valves, possibility to adjust a particle P3 R filter or a multigas ABEK1P3 R filter. Respiratory comfort with a high level of protection.

Top 5 Wildfire Smoke Hazards: particles, Carbon Monoxide, Formaldehyde, Oxides of Nitrogen and Sulfur and Benzene. Measurements of exposure and risks for wildland firefighters health.

At Vallfirest we say NO to Black Friday Sales, which promote actions against sustainability, the circular economy, responsible consumption and caring for the environment. At a time of climate emergency that is making wildfires increasingly changeable and devastating, we renew our commitment to the planet and emergency responders by celebrating the Green Friday. From the 27th to the 29th of November we will donate the 50% of our sales to NGOs and biodiversity projects.

Vallfirest opens a photo contest to promote talent and create community among vft users. Participants will be able to send their photos between October the 10th and February the 28th, through social networks or by email. The winning person will receive a vft Xtreme Pack, the most complete forestry backpack.

The worst environmental pollutants are present in forest fires. Some toxic substances pass through the skin in amounts similar to those that pass through the lungs. We talked about how to protect and decontaminate the skin after a forestry operation, with Doctor Miguel Sánchez Viera, director of the Integral Dermatology Institute (IDEI).

Climate change is creating a situation where there could be ignitions in places where fires are not common. We talk about Europe's 2020 fire season with the Copernicus monitoring expert, Mark Parrington.

Tools and maneuvers to manage a new generation of wildfires. 2020's fire season in the UK has been unprecedented, affecting all corners of the country. We talk with Craig Hope, Wildfire Officer and Station Manager for the stations of Aberdare and Hirwaun in South Wales. For the last 13 years, he has been heavily involved in the Wildfire project. This includes introducing specialised off-road vehicles, fire fogging systems, risk specific PPE, new tactics and training, prescribed and tactical fire use and procedures for working with observation and firefighting helicopters.

An unprecedented summer is approaching, witness of a pulse between two forces of nature advancing to collide. The fire campaign in the northern hemisphere is expected to be intense and the global pandemic of covid-19 still poses a threat to emergency departments. Numerous studies suggest that inhaling polluting particles derived from smoke from forest fires puts forest firefighters at greater risk from the virus. How can they protect themselves? The competent authorities study a tactical change in fire fighting.

Spring begins. he beginning of the year 2020 has been characterized by an increase in temperatures that has registered record figures in each continent, without exception. How will this affect the fire season? We explain it in this article.

2019 has been a year of great wildland fires. Our highly loaded landscapes are a serious problem but the trigger is the climate crisis. Pyro phenomena like fire storms have entered the scene to stay. Are we ready for 2020?

How to choose a high pressure skid unit? Choose the best option and setup your skid unit with the most suitable water pump