Wildfire Engineers Calc

Hydraulic & Aerial Resource Calculator for Wildland Fire Operations
Version 1.0.0 (Build 1)
User Manual
iOS & Android · Current SDK 57 UI
Updated September 2026
For Field Use

Contents

1 Getting Started & Access
5 Helicopter & Water Tender ENG
2 Hydraulic PDP Calculator
6 Thermo & Altitude Tools ENG
3 Multi-Leg Hoselay
7 Map Planner ENG
4 FL Layout & Nozzle Tools
8 Contact & Settings

1 · Getting Started

Subscription Tiers

AFEO/ENOP
Store price shown at purchase
Current catalog term: 6 months
Hydraulic PDP · Multi-Leg · FL Layout & Nozzle Tools
Engineer Version
Store price shown at purchase
Current catalog term: 6 months
Everything in AFEO/ENOP + Heli/WT · Map Planner · Thermo & Altitude Tools

Six-Month Auto-Renewing Subscription

Each new mobile account receives four days of full access to every calculator and tab without starting a subscription or entering payment information. After the trial ends, the current product catalog uses auto-renewing six-month subscriptions. Apple App Store or Google Play displays the authoritative localized price, billing period, taxes, and any introductory offer before confirmation. The tier controls which tools you can use after the trial.

SubscriptionHow it worksBest for
Six-month auto-renewing Pay the localized amount shown by Apple or Google at purchase. The current catalog term renews every 6 months from the purchase date. Customers who want uninterrupted access.
Cancel anytime Cancel renewal in the Apple App Store or Google Play settings. Access remains available through the current paid 6-month period; a new purchase is required after expiration. Customers who only need one term.
Introductory offer: Eligible first-time subscribers may see a store-configured introductory price. Apple or Google Play displays the localized offer and the regular renewal price before confirmation.
How renewal works: The subscription begins on the purchase date and covers 6 months. It renews automatically for another 6 months unless the customer cancels through the applicable store. Canceling stops the next renewal but does not remove access early. After the paid term ends, a new purchase is required. Restore purchases is available for the same Apple or Google store account.
Subscriptions are purchased in the native mobile app through Apple App Store or Google Play. The app and website do not open a separate payment page or process subscription payments. Use Restore Purchases to recover access on another device using the same store account. Expo Go and web previews cannot purchase or manage a subscription.

Account & Sign-In

Mobile installs receive a secure passwordless app session automatically. The server starts the four-day trial on that permanent account so closing and reopening the app does not reset the trial clock. No separate customer username, name, email address, or password is required for trial access, an Apple App Store or Google Play purchase, restoration, or subscription management. If subscription controls are still loading, wait for the app session to finish and try again.

Bottom Navigation

Tap the bottom tabs to move between PDP, Multi-Leg, Heli / WT, Thermo, Tools, Map, and Contact. Newer iPhones may show Apple's native translucent tab style; older iOS versions and Android use the classic tab bar. The tools and calculations are the same.

Engineer-only tabs may remain visible when locked. Opening one explains the required access level. Beta or development builds may show full access for testing; this is not a paid customer entitlement.

Beta Builds

Beta Access: Test builds may bypass subscription locks so the development team can verify every calculator. Beta access is not a customer subscription and is disabled in the App Store production build.

Units & Conversions

Calculators support relevant Imperial and Metric units. Unit selectors convert the associated displayed values where supported; small differences may appear from rounding. Review every value after changing units, especially before field use.

Appearance

The app follows your device's system appearance (Light / Dark) by default. To override, go to the Tools tab → scroll to Appearance and select Light, Dark, or System.


2 · Hydraulic PDP Calculator

PDP Tab

Calculates the required pump discharge pressure (PDP) for a single hose lay, accounting for friction loss, elevation change, and nozzle pressure. Also recommends the number of relay engines needed and their spacing.

Calculation Modes

Direct Flow Nozzle Calc

Direct Flow: Enter a known flow rate directly. Use when you know your GPM/LPM from a flow meter or plan.

Nozzle Calc: Enter nozzle tip diameter and nozzle pressure — the app derives flow using the nozzle formula Q = 30 × d² × √NP. The calculated flow is then used for all PDP calculations.

Inputs

Elevation

Elevation Unitft / m
Pump Elevationft or m (negative OK)
Target Elevationft or m (negative OK)

Flow (Direct Flow mode)

Flow UnitGPM / LPM
Flow RateGPM or LPM
Pressure UnitPSI / kPa
Nozzle Pressure (NP)PSI or kPa default 100 PSI

Flow (Nozzle Calc mode)

Diameter Unitin / mm
Nozzle Tip Diameterin or mm default 0.25"
Nozzle Pressure (NP)PSI or kPa default 100 PSI

Hose Configuration

Hose Diameter1", 1½", 1¾", 2", 2½", 3", 3½", 4", 5"
Coefficient (1½" hose)C = 24 or C = 35
Coefficient (1" hose)C = 150 or C = 250
Parallel Lines Between Engines1 / 2 / 3 / 4 — number of hose lines laid in parallel between each relay engine
Length Unitft / m
Hose Lengthft or m
Max Engine PDPPSI or kPa default 250 PSI
Coefficient guide: Use C = 35 for single jacket forestry hose and C = 24 for modern synthetic hose. C = 250 is typical for 1" forestry hose; C = 150 for double jacket double lined hose.

Outputs

OutputDescription
Elevation DifferenceNet vertical rise between pump and target (ft or m)
Elevation PressureBack-pressure or pressure gain from elevation (PSI or kPa)
FL per 100 ft / Effective FL/100 ftFriction loss per 100 ft for the selected hose and flow. With 2+ parallel lines the label changes to Effective FL/100 ft (N lines) — this is the system friction rate after splitting flow across all lines (FL reduced by N²)
Total Friction LossTotal friction loss across the full hose length, accounting for parallel lines if selected
Engine PDPRequired pump discharge pressure — the primary result
Engines RequiredNumber of relay engines needed (Engine PDP ÷ Max Engine PDP), calculated using the effective (parallel-adjusted) friction loss
Engine SpacingRecommended spacing between relay engines, rounded to the nearest 100 ft to align with real hose section lengths
Per-Engine Segment BreakdownWhen 2+ engines are required: segment length (rounded), parallel lines count and flow per line (when >1 line selected), friction loss for the segment, elevation head, nozzle pressure (÷ engines), and individual engine PDP

Relay Engine Spacing — Flat Ground

A quick-reference table always shown at the bottom. Given your flow, hose, NP, and max PDP settings, it shows the maximum recommended relay spacing for 1, 2, 3, and 4 parallel lines on flat terrain — useful for pre-plan spacing without elevation.


3 · Multi-Leg Hoselay

Multi-Leg Tab

Plans complex hose lays with multiple legs of different hose diameters, lengths, and elevation changes. Calculates cumulative PDP, identifies critical high points, and plans relay pump placement. Supports data import directly from the Map Planner.

Global Settings

System Units

Flow RateGPM / LPM
Length Unitft / m
Pressure UnitPSI / kPa

Relay Planner

Max Safe Pump PressurePSI or kPa

Per-Leg Inputs

Hose Diameter1" to 5"
Coefficient (1" or 1½")C = 24/35 (1½") · C = 150/250 (1")
Leg Lengthft or m
Elevation Δft or m — positive = uphill, negative = downhill
Nozzle Pressure (final leg only)PSI or kPa — required pressure at the nozzle tip
Parallel Line (per leg)Checkbox — models two identical parallel lays; reduces friction loss by 75%

The app starts with two legs. Tap Add Leg to append a new leg (copies the preceding leg's diameter). Tap the trash icon to remove a leg. Up to 30 legs are supported.

Per-Leg Outputs

OutputDescription
FL / 100 ftFriction loss rate for this leg's diameter and flow
Total Friction LossTotal friction loss for this leg's length
Elevation HeadBack-pressure contribution from this leg's elevation change
Leg PDPPump pressure required to push through this leg
Hose VelocityWater velocity in ft/s — flag for high-velocity conditions
Travel TimeTime for water to traverse this leg (minutes)
Cumulative PDPTotal pump pressure required from the source to end of this leg

Cumulative Totals

Shown when two or more legs are configured: total distance, net elevation change, total friction loss, total system PDP, and total water travel time.

Critical High Point

Watch for the Critical High Point card. If the elevation profile peaks above the pump elevation at any intermediate point, the app identifies the highest point, its distance from the pump, and the minimum pump pressure needed just to move water past that point — even before accounting for friction loss. This pressure must be overcome before water can reach the nozzle.

Relay Pump Planner

Enter the Max Safe Pump Pressure in the Relay Planner card. The app greedily groups consecutive legs, checking whether a single pump can handle the combined friction loss + elevation head + nozzle pressure within your rated maximum. It then reports:

Divide NP Across Relay Pumps

When enabled, the nozzle pressure is divided equally across all calculated relay pumps rather than being applied only at the final pump. Useful for planning where no single pump bears the full NP burden.

Parallel Line (System-Wide)

A global Add Parallel Line comparison card shows the system-wide friction loss reduction from doubling the lay — single-line total FL vs. parallel FL (÷4, 75% reduction). This is display-only and does not affect the relay planner; use the per-leg Parallel Line checkbox to include it in calculations.

Importing from Map Planner

After plotting a route in the Map Planner and tapping Send to Multi-Leg, switch to the Multi-Leg tab. The app asks whether to replace the current legs with the map data. On import:

Clearing the Map (via the Map tab's Clear button) also resets any imported data in Multi-Leg, returning it to two blank legs.

4 · FL Layout & Nozzle Tools

Tools Tab

The Tools tab contains two utility calculators selected with the FL and Nozzle sub-tabs at the top of the screen.

FL & Layout

Quickly compares pump discharge pressure across 1 to 4 parallel hose lines for a given flow, hose diameter, length, and elevation. Useful for rapid pre-plan comparisons without setting up a full Multi-Leg layout.

Inputs

Flow RateGPM / LPM
Hose Diameter1" – 5"
Coefficient (1" / 1½")C = 24/35 or C = 150/250
Total Hose Lengthft / m
NP at NozzlePSI / kPa default 100 PSI
Elevation Changeft / m (negative = downhill)

Results Table

Lines1 / 2 / 3 / 4 parallel lines
FL/100ft (or FL/30m)Effective friction loss rate per parallel line set
Total FLTotal friction loss at that line count
PDPRequired pump discharge pressure
The single-line row is highlighted. Parallel lines reduce friction loss by the square of the line count: 2 lines = ÷4 (75% reduction), 3 lines = ÷9, 4 lines = ÷16.

Nozzle Sizer

Solves for any one of the three variables in the nozzle flow formula: Q = 30 × d² × √NP. Select what you want to calculate, enter the other two values, and the result appears instantly.

GPM — solve for flow Diameter — solve for tip size Pressure — solve for NP
ModeYou EnterYou Get
GPMNozzle tip diameter + nozzle pressureFlow rate (GPM or LPM)
DiameterDesired flow rate + nozzle pressureRequired tip diameter (in or mm)
PressureDesired flow rate + tip diameterRequired nozzle pressure (PSI or kPa)

A Common Nozzle Flows quick-reference table is shown below the calculator, displaying typical GPM outputs at standard pressures for common nozzle tip sizes.

Appearance

Scroll to the bottom of the Tools tab to find the Appearance setting. Toggle between Light, Dark, and System (follows device setting).


5 · Helicopter & Water Tender

Heli / WT Tab Engineer Version
Engineer Version access required. Helicopter & Water Tender tools are included with the Engineer Version subscription.

Calculates helicopter water delivery rates and water tender resupply capacity. Compares helicopter output against tender supply to determine whether aerial operations are water-limited.

Helicopter Section

Inputs

# Helicopterscount default 1
Bucket Sizegal / L
Avg Speedmph / kts
Round Trip Distancemi / NM
Dip & Drop Timeminutes default 2 min

Outputs

Trips per Hourtrips/hr per helicopter
Gallons per Hourgal/hr or L/hr fleet total
Effective GPMGPM or LPM fleet total
One-Way Distancemi or NM

Water Tender Section

Inputs

# Tenderscount default 1
Tank Sizegal / L
Fill & Travel Timeminutes per round trip
Transfer RateGPM / LPM

Outputs

Trips per Hourtrips/hr per tender
Gallons per Hourgal/hr or L/hr fleet total
Supply GPMEffective supply rate in GPM or LPM

Supply Match

When both sections have valid inputs, the app computes the supply match percentage — the ratio of tender supply GPM to helicopter demand GPM. Below 100% means the tenders cannot keep up with helicopter demand; above 100% means tenders have excess capacity.

Imperial / Metric toggle (top of the screen) converts all displayed outputs simultaneously. It is independent of the individual unit selectors for distance and bucket size.

6 · Thermo & Altitude Tools

Thermo Tab Engineer Version
Engineer Version access required. This tab is included with the Engineer Version subscription.

Calculates the heat absorption capacity of a water delivery system — the thermal energy the water can absorb before it boils away — accounting for altitude-corrected boiling points and initial water temperature. Includes BlazeTamer foam enhancement.

Inputs

Flow & Water

Flow RateGPM / LPM
Water Temperature°F / °C default 50°F

Environment

Altitudeft / m default 5,000 ft
BlazeTamerToggle — applies 1.43× enhancement factor

Primary Display

Three large numbers across the top of the screen show your system's heat absorption capacity in your chosen unit set:

DisplayWhat it means
kWThermal power absorbed (kilowatts) — standard international fire behavior metric
MJ/hrEnergy per hour (megajoules) — useful for comparing against fire behavior models
BTU/minImperial thermal power rate — common in US wildland fire operations
BTU/hrImperial hourly total — useful for extended operations planning

Standard Breakdown

Detailed table showing the thermal contribution of each heat-transfer phase:

RowDescription
Boiling kW / BTU/minEnergy absorbed heating water from inlet temp to boiling point (sensible heat)
Steaming kW / BTU/minEnergy absorbed converting liquid water to steam at the boiling point (latent heat — the dominant component)
Total AbsorbedCombined thermal absorption capacity of your water delivery system
Enhanced (BlazeTamer)Shown when BlazeTamer is enabled — total × 1.43 multiplier
Altitude effect: At higher altitudes, atmospheric pressure is lower, so water boils at a lower temperature. This reduces the latent heat available from steam conversion — the app automatically adjusts the boiling point for your entered altitude.

7 · Map Planner

Map Tab Engineer Version
Engineer Version access required. This tab is included with the Engineer Version subscription.

An interactive map for plotting hose routes, dip sites, and reference points. Automatically fetches terrain elevation for each pin. Routes can be exported directly to the Multi-Leg calculator.

Map Modes

ModeIconBest For
SatelliteSATDefault view — high-resolution aerial imagery for terrain recognition
TopoTOPOUSGS National Map with contour lines — best for elevation planning
TerrainTERTopographic basemap with contours, hillshading, and labels (Google Terrain on Android; ESRI on iOS)
ReliefRELGrayscale hillshade overlay on satellite — emphasizes landform shape
RoadROADStandard road map — useful for locating access roads and infrastructure

Placing Pins

Make sure the toolbar is in Pin mode (pin icon active). Tap anywhere on the map to place a pin. The app immediately fetches the terrain elevation for that location from the USGS Elevation API. Each pin is numbered sequentially.

Location permission is optional for manual planning. Grant it if you want to use the lower-left center-on-location control or live compass. Map tiles and elevation lookup require a network connection.

Editing Pins

Tap a pin to open its callout. From the callout you can:

Long-press and drag any pin to reposition it. Elevation is re-fetched automatically after a drag.

Elevation Unit

Tap the ft / m toggle to switch displayed elevations. All pin elevations and the route summary update simultaneously.

Measure Tool

Switch the toolbar to Measure mode (ruler icon). Position the map crosshair over the first location and set point A, then move the map and add point B and any additional points. The route panel shows segment and cumulative distance. Toggle between km, NM, and mi using the unit selector.

Measure points include editable coordinates and online elevation lookup. Once elevations load, the summary reports total gain, total loss, and net elevation change. A loading or unavailable elevation must be resolved before relying on those totals.

Use Save Route to retain a measured route and Saved Routes to load it later. Up to 20 routes are stored locally on that device; they are not synced to an account or another phone.

Switching tool modes manages the active measure workflow. The main Clear action removes route pins and resets imported Multi-Leg data, but may not remove an active measurement route; clear or replace measure points from the measurement controls.

Compass & Local Declination

The upper-left compass uses the phone's live physical heading while the Map tab is active. T is the true-north heading after local magnetic-declination correction. M is the raw magnetic heading. DEC shows the correction in degrees east or west; for example, DEC 12°E.

The wider primary needle indicates declination-corrected true north, while the thinner secondary needle indicates magnetic north. A dash means the corresponding sensor value is not yet available. Move away from metal, vehicles, magnets, and electrical equipment if the magnetic reading appears unstable.

The compass is a planning aid, not a navigation-grade instrument. Device calibration, interference, sensor accuracy, and location availability affect the result. Verify headings using approved field navigation practices.

Sending to Multi-Leg

Once pins are placed and elevations loaded, tap Send to Multi-Leg. This packages the route — leg lengths, elevation changes, pin labels, and absolute elevations — into a format the Multi-Leg calculator can import. Switch to the Multi-Leg tab and confirm the import when prompted.

Clearing the Map

Tap Clear to remove all route pins. This also clears data previously imported into Multi-Leg, resetting it to two blank legs. An active measurement route may require its own measurement-mode control.

Topo map data quality: The Topo layer uses USGS National Map tiles. Hydrographic features (streams, creeks) come from the National Hydrography Dataset and may occasionally show survey artifacts — a creek appearing on a ridge top, for example. Cross-reference with Satellite or Terrain mode if a feature looks unexpected.
Elevation requests: Pin and measure-point elevations come from an online elevation service. Loading, “No signal,” or unavailable values are not valid elevations. Retry and verify every point before using gain, loss, net elevation, or hose-planning results.

8 · Contact & Settings

Contact Tab

Feedback

Use the feedback form to report bugs, request features, or ask questions. Wait for the secure app session to finish loading, tap Send Feedback, enter your message, and submit. An optional screenshot may request photo-library permission. Do not include passwords, payment details, patient information, or other sensitive data.

Subscription Status & Availability

The Contact tab shows the current access state and store subscription controls:

Apple App Store and Google Play handle purchase, confirmation, renewal, cancellation, and restoration through the store account. Use Manage Subscription to open the applicable store settings, or Restore Purchases to recover access on another device with the same store account. The app never asks for your Apple/Google password or payment-card details and does not use Stripe checkout or a web billing portal.

Links, Legal & About

The Contact tab includes the WildCalc website, newsletter, developer contact methods, disclaimer, Privacy Policy, and Apple Standard EULA. The same legal links are available from the Pricing screen.


Quick Reference

Hose Friction Loss Coefficients

Hose DiameterTypical CoefficientNotes
1"C = 150 or 250250 for modern forestry hose; 150 for older hose
1½"C = 24 or 3535 for cotton-jacketed; 24 for modern synthetic
1¾"Built-inStandard attack hose
2", 2½", 3"Built-inSupply and relay hose
3½", 4", 5"Built-inLarge-diameter supply hose

Nozzle Flow Formula

Q = 30 × d² × √NP

Q = flow (GPM)  ·  d = nozzle tip diameter (inches)  ·  NP = nozzle pressure (PSI)

Parallel Lines — Friction Loss Reduction

Parallel LinesEffective FL RateReduction
1 lineFull FL/100ft
2 linesFL ÷ 475%
3 linesFL ÷ 989%
4 linesFL ÷ 1694%

Unit Conversions at a Glance

ImperialMetric
1 GPM3.785 LPM
1 PSI6.895 kPa
1 ft0.305 m
1 mile1.609 km / 0.869 NM
1 gallon3.785 L
1 BTU/min0.01758 kW

Field Notes

Use this space for verified assumptions, agency standards, hose inventory, weather observations, and other planning notes.