Latest news with #Rings
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Associated Press
Dragonslayers Announces its Universal Blueprint To Protect Homes, Land, and Communities from Wildfire Storms
05/20/2025, Nehalem, Oregon // PRODIGY: Feature Story // As wildfire storms continue to devastate landscapes across the country with increasing speed and intensity, Thomas Troop Emonds, a former U.S. Marine, Smokejumper, and founder of Dragonslayers, is calling for urgent attention from policymakers, landowners, and emergency agencies to adopt a revolutionary mitigation strategy. His blueprint method and accompanying fire tools are reshaping how America can survive the unstoppable force of climate-driven wildfire storms. Dragonslayers 'Our traditional methods of wildfire suppression are not helping,' says Emonds. 'We can't stop a killer firestorm. But we can prepare for it, manipulate its energy, and survive it.' At the heart of Emonds' wildfire survival system is its one-of-a-kind methodology, a structured, field-tested mitigation strategy that combines combat tactics, smokejumper experience, and hands-on training. Unlike outdated 'defensible space' approaches that leave critical ground fuels in place, Emonds' model transforms properties into Black Space, pre-burned zones that disrupt firestorm mechanics and prevent ignition. This approach was inspired in part by a historic escape fire technique popularized by Wagner Dodge, an early firefighter who survived a deadly blaze by burning the ground around himself. Emonds, however, has expanded this fluke of survival into a comprehensive methodology. 'We're not just teaching fire safety. We're training people to manipulate firestorms too strong to fight,' explains the founder. The core of the method involves three circular control lines called the Dragon Rings, installed around a home or town. These circles use wind direction and burn strategy to create fire barriers that consume surrounding fuels under controlled conditions, leaving nothing behind to feed the approaching wildfire. Diagram Depicting Dragonslayers Universal Blueprint The Dragon Wizz Wheel, a compact training device by Emonds, makes the technique accessible even for first-timers. The handheld wheel features a house, wind directional arrow, and fire placement guides. Users align the device with actual wind direction to precisely determine where to place the fire so it burns into the Dragon Rings. Combined with live-fire training using paper homes and high-fuel straw bales, users quickly gain confidence and competence. Beyond strategy, Dragonslayers also manufactures hand tools that make conventional firefighting equipment obsolete. The universal handle supports interchangeable tool heads. This includes a magnum pulaski (axe/grub hoe), an advanced shovel, and the Dragon Swatter (strap swatter for grassland burns). These tools are battle-tested. They are built to last, with heads that can be re-bladed up to five times—a cost-effective, eco-friendly improvement over outdated tools. Dragonslayers Tools Most homes destroyed in wildfires aren't located in dense forests but in areas with reasonable defensible space, often surrounded by grass and light fuels. In those cases, even moderate wind can carry flames across the ground and directly to structures. 'People are pruning their trees and clearing brush, but they forget that grass is the deadliest fuel on Earth,' Emonds says. 'It burns fast, it spreads embers, and it kills people.' Dragonslayers ' method directly addresses these vulnerabilities, creating safe, systematic firebreaks and fuel conversions designed to absorb an approaching firestorm's energy. Emonds has already trained agencies and firefighters abroad. His current facility, a modest metal warehouse in Nehalem, Oregon, produces tools for global customers, but Emonds says the growing demand for Dragonslayers' tools and training far exceeds his ability to meet it. That is why he is now calling on policymakers, agencies, and landowners to fund the expansion of training programs and tool manufacturing so the system can be deployed nationwide. 'We've already lost too many lives,' Emonds concludes. 'We need to train people to survive fires too big to fight.' Media Contact Name: Thomas Troop Emonds Email: [email protected]
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dragonslayers Announces its Universal Blueprint To Protect Homes, Land, and Communities from Wildfire Storms
Dragonslayers announces its fireproofing blueprint to empower Americans against wildfire storms. The company calls for investment to expand, train firefighters, and more. Nehalem, Oregon, May 20, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As wildfire storms continue to devastate landscapes across the country with increasing speed and intensity, Thomas Troop Emonds, a former U.S. Marine, Smokejumper, and founder of Dragonslayers, is calling for urgent attention from policymakers, landowners, and emergency agencies to adopt a revolutionary mitigation strategy. His blueprint method and accompanying fire tools are reshaping how America can survive the unstoppable force of climate-driven wildfire storms. Dragonslayers 'Our traditional methods of wildfire suppression are not helping,' says Emonds. 'We can't stop a killer firestorm. But we can prepare for it, manipulate its energy, and survive it.' At the heart of Emonds' wildfire survival system is its one-of-a-kind methodology, a structured, field-tested mitigation strategy that combines combat tactics, smokejumper experience, and hands-on training. Unlike outdated 'defensible space' approaches that leave critical ground fuels in place, Emonds' model transforms properties into Black Space, pre-burned zones that disrupt firestorm mechanics and prevent ignition. This approach was inspired in part by a historic escape fire technique popularized by Wagner Dodge, an early firefighter who survived a deadly blaze by burning the ground around himself. Emonds, however, has expanded this fluke of survival into a comprehensive methodology. 'We're not just teaching fire safety. We're training people to manipulate firestorms too strong to fight,' explains the founder. The core of the method involves three circular control lines called the Dragon Rings, installed around a home or town. These circles use wind direction and burn strategy to create fire barriers that consume surrounding fuels under controlled conditions, leaving nothing behind to feed the approaching wildfire. Diagram Depicting Dragonslayers Universal Blueprint The Dragon Wizz Wheel, a compact training device by Emonds, makes the technique accessible even for first-timers. The handheld wheel features a house, wind directional arrow, and fire placement guides. Users align the device with actual wind direction to precisely determine where to place the fire so it burns into the Dragon Rings. Combined with live-fire training using paper homes and high-fuel straw bales, users quickly gain confidence and competence. Beyond strategy, Dragonslayers also manufactures hand tools that make conventional firefighting equipment obsolete. The universal handle supports interchangeable tool heads. This includes a magnum pulaski (axe/grub hoe), an advanced shovel, and the Dragon Swatter (strap swatter for grassland burns). These tools are battle-tested. They are built to last, with heads that can be re-bladed up to five times—a cost-effective, eco-friendly improvement over outdated tools. Dragonslayers Tools Most homes destroyed in wildfires aren't located in dense forests but in areas with reasonable defensible space, often surrounded by grass and light fuels. In those cases, even moderate wind can carry flames across the ground and directly to structures. 'People are pruning their trees and clearing brush, but they forget that grass is the deadliest fuel on Earth,' Emonds says. 'It burns fast, it spreads embers, and it kills people.' Dragonslayers' method directly addresses these vulnerabilities, creating safe, systematic firebreaks and fuel conversions designed to absorb an approaching firestorm's energy. Emonds has already trained agencies and firefighters abroad. His current facility, a modest metal warehouse in Nehalem, Oregon, produces tools for global customers, but Emonds says the growing demand for Dragonslayers' tools and training far exceeds his ability to meet it. That is why he is now calling on policymakers, agencies, and landowners to fund the expansion of training programs and tool manufacturing so the system can be deployed nationwide. 'We've already lost too many lives,' Emonds concludes. 'We need to train people to survive fires too big to fight.' Media Contact Name: Thomas Troop Emonds Email: Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
BBC News
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Narnia magic inspires Malvern Well Dressing Festival this year
Magical tales will inspire people dressing wells in the Malvern Hills for a festival to be held in to 45 wells will be decorated for the Malvern Well Dressing Festival and this year the theme is linked to the area's history of storytelling, magic and of the Chronicles of Narnia, The Lord of the Rings and Rings, and the medieval classic Piers Plowman are thought to have been inspired by the local area, Malvern Hills District Council dressing organiser Phil Ironside said the festival was "an amazing celebration of water and of Malvern's water heritage". Also seen in Derbyshire, Staffordshire and other areas of England, the activity, described by the countryside charity the CPRE involves decorating wells with flower petals pressed into wooden frames packed with soaked decorations in Malvern have also used textiles and garlands - and models including a teapot in a previous display based on Alice in festival gets under way on May Day weekend and runs from Saturday 3 May to Sunday 11 May, with wells being dressed on 2 May, judging taking place on opening day and prize-giving on the Bank Holiday by the Malvern Spa Association, last year saw more than 800 people take part in decorating the wells and planned this year includes singing, blessings, dowser workshops and maypole and Morris Ironside said: "We can't wait to see what incredible creations the well dressers produce."People who want to take part can get in touch with the well dressing committee or visit the Malvern Well Dressing Facebook page. Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
