Deployable fire barrier for protecting structures and vegetation from an approaching fire

7:

• The system of claim 4, wherein:
• the barrier sheet further comprises a plurality of inflatable spokes;
• and
• the deployment mechanism is configured to cause the barrier sheet to be deployed to the deployment configuration at least in part due to inflation of the spokes.

8:

• The system of claim 7, wherein:
• the deployment mechanism is configured to cause the barrier sheet to be deployed at least in part due to inflation of the spokes with water;
• and
• the barrier sheet further comprises a plurality of hydration holes provided in the spokes and configured to cause some of the water to exude from the hydration holes onto the SAP as the spokes are inflated with the water.

9:

• The system of claim 7, wherein:
• the deployment mechanism is configured to cause the barrier sheet to be deployed at least in part due to inflation of the spokes with water;
• the barrier sheet further comprises a plurality of capillary tubes extending from and/or between the spokes;
• and
• capillary holes are provided in the capillary tubes, the capillary tubes being thereby configured to cause some of the water to flow from the spokes into the capillary tubes, and to exude from the capillary holes onto the SAP as the spokes are inflated with the water.

11:

• The system of claim 10, wherein:
• the deployment mechanism is configured to vertically store the barrier sheet proximate one of the poles in a stowed configuration before it is deployed into the deployed configuration;
• and
• the deployment mechanism is further configured to deploy the barrier sheet by extending the barrier sheet horizontally between the poles.

12:

• The system of claim 10, wherein:
• the deployment mechanism is configured to horizontally store the barrier sheet between the poles in a stowed configuration before it is deployed into the deployed configuration;
• and
• the deployment mechanism is further configured to deploy the barrier sheet by extending the barrier sheet vertically between the poles.

14:

• A method of protecting a structure and/or vegetation from an approaching fire, the method comprising:
• providing a system for protecting the structure and/or vegetation according to claim 1;
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration, such that the barrier sheet is extended between the approaching fire and the protected structure and/or vegetation;
• and
• applying water to the barrier sheet, thereby hydrating the SAP of the barrier sheet.

15:

• The method of claim 14, wherein:
• the method is a method of protecting a structure;
• providing the system for protecting the structure and/or vegetation comprises enclosing and storing the barrier sheet in a container that is fixed at a container location proximate a highest feature of the structure;
• and
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to extend the barrier sheet from the container into the deployed configuration.

16:

• The method of claim 15, wherein:
• the barrier sheet further comprises a plurality of inflatable spokes;
• and
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises inflating the spokes.

17:

• The method of claim 16, wherein:
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to inflate the spokes with water;
• the barrier sheet further comprises hydration holes provided in the spokes;
• and
• applying the water to the SAP of the barrier sheet comprises causing some of the water to exude from the hydration holes onto the SAP as the spokes are inflated with the water.

18:

• The method of claim 16, wherein:
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to inflate the spokes with water;
• the barrier sheet further comprises a plurality of capillary tubes extending from and/or between the spokes, capillary holes being provided in the capillary tubes;
• and
• applying the water to the SAP of the barrier sheet comprises, as the spokes are inflated with the water, causing some of the water to flow from the spokes into the capillary tubes and to exude from the capillary holes onto the SAP.

19:

• The method of claim 14, wherein:
• the deployment mechanism comprises a plurality of substantially vertical poles;
• and
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to extend the barrier sheet between the poles, thereby interposing the barrier sheet between the approaching fire and the vegetation.

20:

• The method of claim 19, wherein:
• either:
• providing the system for protecting the structure and/or vegetation comprises vertically stowing the barrier sheet proximate one of the poles in a stowed configuration;
• and
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to extend the barrier sheet horizontally between the poles;
• or:
• providing the system for protecting the structure and/or vegetation comprises horizontally storing the barrier sheet between the poles in a stowed configuration;
• and
• causing the deployment mechanism to deploy the barrier sheet into the deployed configuration comprises causing the deployment mechanism to extend the barrier sheet vertically between the poles.