HELIXPOOL: Supporting Aerial Firefighting with Portable Tanks

Wildfires are escalating in frequency and intensity, fuelled by climate change and prolonged droughts. Rapid response is essential to containing these blazes before they devour critical infrastructure and pristine ecosystems. Makstelar’s HELIXPOOL system answers the call with an innovative portable tank that can be air‑lifted, ground‑deployed, and remotely monitored within hours of an outbreak. Constructed from the same rugged PVC‑coated fabric trusted in maritime salvage operations, HELIXPOOL integrates structural ribs that pop into place as the tank is filled, eliminating the need for external frames or tools.

The tank’s design was born out of collaboration with helicopter firefighting pilots who demanded fast turn‑around times. A hinged lid prevents rotor wash from contaminating the water with debris, while a self‑sealing filling port allows bucket snorkels to dip without snagging. At capacities ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 liters, a single HELIXPOOL can sustain continuous bucket runs, reducing ferry time to distant lakes or reservoirs and keeping water drops tightly synchronized with ground crews.

HELIXPOOL goes beyond being a passive container. Embedded pressure sensors and ultrasonic level gauges stream data via a LoRaWAN gateway to a cloud dashboard, giving incident commanders real‑time visibility of remaining water volume and tank integrity. If the system detects a sudden drop—perhaps due to liner damage—it triggers an SMS alert and automatically closes the bottom drain valve to minimize loss. These smart features are invaluable during night‑time operations when situational awareness is at its lowest.

Deployment logistics are optimized for rugged terrain. The collapsed tank and pump kit fit on a standard pallet capable of external helicopter sling load or pickup truck transport. Once on site, two firefighters can position and connect the integrated diesel pump in under twenty minutes. The pump includes a foam‑induction module compatible with Class A and Class B concentrates, broadening the system’s applicability to fuel‑based industrial fires as well as forest blazes.

Sustainability and reusability underpin HELIXPOOL’s lifecycle philosophy. All fabric cut‑offs from production are recycled into ground sheets that protect the tank base, while end‑of‑life liners are repurposed into tarps for humanitarian shelters. By combining nimble deployment, IoT intelligence, and eco‑conscious manufacturing, HELIXPOOL provides firefighting agencies with a versatile tool that transforms remote water scarcity into tactical advantage.