Fire suppression material provides a fiery display
Product's factory could be built in Oklahoma, developers say.
Fire suppression material provides a fiery display in Norman

By Jane Glenn Cannon

Published: August 29, 2008

NORMAN — The ultimate fire extinguisher may be coming to Oklahoma.

The president of a New Jersey company that manufactures a fire suppression material called Cold Fire said Thursday he is considering Oklahoma City and Lawton as a site for a manufacturing plant.

He said Cold Fire is a chemical suppressant engineered to extinguish fire rapidly without harming the environment.

"It would absolutely be good for our company to be this centrally located,” said Raymond Giessler, president of RDR Technologies.

Giessler and partners Randy Sellers and Doug Stafford orchestrated a fiery demonstration Thursday at the Norman Fire Department's north side training center. About 30 firefighters from across the state watched as Stafford ignited stacked tires, crude oil, bits of magnesium, a spray of jet fuel and an ethanol spill. He extinguished each blaze within seconds using various sized canisters of Cold Fire.

"It's impressive, very, very impressive,” Norman Assistant Fire Chief Grant Deason said. "I've been in fire service for 24 years and I haven't seen anything like it.”

"It has amazing cooling properties,” he said. He demonstrated what he meant by setting fire to particles of magnesium, which burns at about 5,600 degrees. Stafford extinguished the fire and within seconds comfortably handled the burnt remains.

Stafford said the company is working with the U.S. military on ways Cold Fire can be used to help soldiers in Iraq.

Because it is concentrated, it is cost effective, Stafford said. "And it's green. It's so green you can drink it or bathe in it if you want to.”

Giessler said he plans to stage more demonstrations around the state over the next month or so.

"If the product catches on, Oklahoma is where I would build a plant,” he said.

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