Infinite Supply
Field stay-time is limited only by engine fuel, not water or retardant logistics.
The Technology
Meet M-DAS.
The Machine-Directed Air Stream System.
FIREBREAK is built on a patented platform that transforms wind from the firefighter's oldest adversary into a directed, controllable tool — using only the infinite, non-polluting supply of air.
How It Works
Directed Wind, By Design.
M-DAS generates targeted, high-volume, high-velocity wind that locally overcomes natural conditions to influence the flame front.
With the right wind vector and machine position, M-DAS influences the radiation, convection, and conduction that drive fire spread — bending fuels at the flame front to propagate or impede the fire as needed. Engine heat entrained into the stream lowers humidity and dries fuel, opening the prescription window for controlled burns.
The Numbers
156MPH
Discharge Velocity
337KCFM
Airflow @ 4,500 RPM
6×
Faster Flame Propagation*
0H₂O
No Water Required
*Field testing propagated the flame front nearly 6× faster than the adjacent control burn — at only 55% of maximum sustainable output (337,523 CFM at 4,500 RPM).
Why Air
The Only Medium Is Air.
No water. No chemical suppressants. No soil disruption. Just the one resource that never runs out.
No Soil Disruption
Protects land, watersheds, farmland, and archaeological sites from damage.
Cooling Capacity
Less than 2 cu ft of ambient air cools 1 cu ft of 700°F air below the 400°F ignition point.
Engineered & Built in America
Proven. Patented. Made in the USA.
M-DAS is protected under U.S. Patent Nos. 11,446,687 and 11,980,784, invented by a professional engineer with a career spanning the U.S. Nuclear Navy and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
It is powered by Panther Airboats, manufactures in weeks rather than the roughly one-year timeline of a fire engine, and transports on any vehicle that can accommodate a lifting fork — so it deploys fast and far below the cost of an engine or aircraft.
U.S. Patents 11,446,687 · 11,980,784
A new category of wildland firefighting equipment.
Weeks, Not Years
Manufacturing timeline measured in weeks; far below engine or aircraft cost.
Fork-Liftable & Mobile
Transports on existing fleet vehicles; operational on offload.
Simple by Design
No highly specialized operators required, unlike aerial assets.
The Key Advantage Is Control
Air Control>Fire Control
M-DAS is the engine behind FIREBREAK — the first time a machine-directed air stream has been deployed to influence flame fronts in the field.
Frequently Asked
Technology Questions.
What is M-DAS?
M-DAS — the Machine-Directed Air Stream System — is the patented platform behind FIREBREAK. It is a mobile unit that generates targeted, high-volume, high-velocity airflow to locally overcome natural wind and influence the flame front of a fire.
How does it influence fire?
By applying a controlled wind vector at the right speed, direction, and position, M-DAS affects the radiation, convection, and conduction that drive fire spread — bending fuels at the flame front to either propagate or impede the fire. Engine heat in the stream also lowers humidity and dries fuel.
What are its specifications?
The prototype produces up to 156 mph discharge velocity and a 337,523 CFM flow rate at a maximum sustainable 4,500 RPM. In testing it propagated a flame front nearly six times faster than an adjacent control burn at only 55% of that output.
Does M-DAS use water or chemicals?
No. The only firefighting medium is air — an infinite, non-polluting resource. There is no dependence on water and no hazardous chemical suppressant, and operation causes no soil disruption.
How is M-DAS transported and manufactured?
It can be transported by any vehicle that can accommodate a lifting fork and is operational almost immediately upon offloading. It manufactures in weeks rather than the roughly one-year timeline of a fire engine, at a fraction of the cost.
Is the technology patented?
Yes. M-DAS is protected under U.S. Patent Nos. 11,446,687 and 11,980,784 and was developed by Open Innovation LLC.
See the Technology in Action.
Request a demonstration of M-DAS and see machine-directed airflow at work.
Request a Demo