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New Gadget Puts Out Fires With Sound Waves: Media Report

Local fire department is interested in device made by GMU students.

A pair of students at George Mason University have developed a device that can put out fires with sound waves, according to a Washington TV station.

In a newscast this week on WUSA Channel 9, Viet Tran and Seth Robertson demonstrated their wave extinguisher, dousing a batch of burning rubbing alcohol with a rumbling bass note.

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Sound in a particular frequency seems to vibrate the oxygen away from the fuel, suffocating the fire, Channel 9 reported.

Tran and Robertson have only used the device on small alcohol fires, but a local fire department is offering to test it on a larger structure fire.

Find out what's happening in Fairfax Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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