A Calgary-based company is at the forefront of wildfire suppression technology.Wildfire Innovations Inc.’s (WFI) new RainStream is no ordinary firefighting tool.Its trailer-integrated system boasts a telescopic tower stretching up to 100 feet, delivering 400–1000 gallons per minute of water mist across 8–20 acres.Unlike standard ground sprinklers or costly water bombers, RainStream uses prevailing winds to create a protective microclimate, blanketing homes, forests, and infrastructure with a cooling, fire-retardant mist.Its compact footprint — 32 by 38 feet — belies its expansive reach, and optional water storage systems make it adaptable to any terrain.“The radius is adjustable,” Rolf Wenzel, WFI CEO, told the Western Standard. “Typically, it will cover a 100 to 110 metre radius, so a 220 metre diameter is typical.”.Wildfires estimated to cost billions.North America has over 75,000 wildfires annually; annual losses exceed $100 billion, with over $5 billion in firefighting costs.Internationally, wildfires contribute a staggering 2,170 megatonnes of CO₂ emissions. The company is looking to fill a critical gap in wildfire suppression, freeing firefighters from chasing downwind spot fires and preserving resources for the front lines.Wenzel used the 2024 Jasper wildfires as a prime example.“The biggest problem they had [in Jasper] was that the ember transfer could travel up to two kilometres, so they blew over the heads of the frontline firefighters and flew into dry rooftops,” he said.With RainStream, he says they could have set up a fleet of the towers at the “windward edge of town,” in this case, the south side of Jasper, and blanket the town “with a protective mist.”In order to keep up the mist, RainStream needs a water source – a lake, creek, or hydrant will do..Three popular Jasper National Park areas remain closed after wildfire damage.Speaking to the Western Standard’s Nigel Hannaford, WFI founder Don Hallett said, “Most municipalities have a hydrant system and we tap into the pressurized system.“We use a pump to push water out of the tower. It can be controlled by how big of an area you want to cover by the amount of water you spray.”Hallett knows the terror of wildfires firsthand.Twice evacuated from his home, his memories of those harrowing events are forever etched in his mind, and the RainStream is his brainchild to help others avoid devastating loss.Before a fire, RainStream pre-soaks vast areas, creating buffer zones in the affected area. During the blaze, it protects firefighters and high-value infrastructure from damage.In emergencies, it is capable of securing muster points for safe evacuations from towns, industrial sites, or remote camps.Post-fire, it douses lingering hot spots, preventing re-ignition across large areas..WATCH: Wall of water: a solution for wildfires.The cost of a tower depends on the type of model and how they’re equipped, but Hallett says they can currently range between $500,000 to as much as $750,000.“We all pray for rain when there’s a fire, so we’re trying to bring some,” Hallett said.Apart from its mobile unit prototype that has been used for several demonstrations — one in Canmore this past April and one in Grande Prairie on July 16 — WFI has deployed a stationary model at fishing lodges in Ontario and BC, where they have “towers running all summer,” according to Wenzel.So far, Wenzel says the demand has been very high, with calls and requests coming in from places as far away as Argentina, with the earliest deliveries set for Q1 of 2026.“There’s a big global interest for sure,” he said.
