Driver Operator Responsibilities and Safety

Driver Operator Responsibilities

• The Driver Operator (DO) is responsible for safely transporting the apparatus and crew to the scene.
• DOs must follow all Florida state motor vehicle laws, county driver rules, and relevant Department of Transportation (DOT) regulations.
• DOs must comply with departmental policies/procedures and Standard Operating Guidelines (SOG).

Defensive Driving

• DOs must understand defensive driving, including safe following distances, evasive maneuvers, and anticipating other drivers’ actions.
• DOs should understand reaction and braking times, and weight transfer of apparatus.

Emergency Vehicle Operations

• Code 1 response is normal driving without emergency lights and siren.
• Code 2 response is normal driving with emergency warning lights only.
• Code 3 response is the use of lights and/or siren while responding to an emergency call.

Multiple Unit Response

• When traveling Code 3 together in the same direction, maintain a distance of at least 300 to 500 feet apart.
• DO NOT pass another emergency vehicle responding Code 3 with you.

Night Driving Techniques

• Dim the dash and panel lights.
• Reduce speed.
• Ensure headlights and windshield are clean.
• Keep your eyes moving – scan the roadway.

Hydrant Water Usage

• Each Battalion must submit all hydrant water usage to the Water Officer on a monthly basis.
• Water use should be documented using policy #FR-B-103 Attachment B, the “Monthly Hydrant Water Usage Log”.
• This includes water used for tank refills, weekly truck checks, training exercises, and any emergency fire operations.
• If a hydrant is in disrepair or out of service, notify the FOO and the Water Officer using policy #FR-B-103 Attachment A, the “Fire Hydrant Non-Functional/Out of Service Notice”.

Supply Line Operations

• When laying 5” supply lines from or to a hydrant, drive between 10 – 15 mph.
• Do not exceed 15 mph.
• Ensure supply lines are moved off to the side of the roadway before charging the hydrant.

Captivater Hydrant Caps

• Some fire hydrants are equipped with Captivater locking fire hydrant caps.
• These caps are identified by the stainless steel “Lock Barrel” in the center of the cap.
• You must use a Captivater hydrant wrench to remove these caps.
• Every Palm Beach County Fire Rescue operational unit is outfitted with a Captivater hydrant wrench.

Rural Water Supply Considerations

• Dispatch will automatically assign a second Tender when required or requested for supplemental water supply.
• It is not recommended to use master stream devices or aerial apparatus until a secure water source can be established.
• A standard 1 ¼ acre lot is approximately 200’ feet in width.
• Keep supply lines to one side of the roadway to allow access for later-arriving apparatus.
• Position all apparatus so as not to block future access of incoming apparatus.
• A typical single-family dwelling requires an average fire flow between 250 to 500 GPM.
• A typical single-family dwelling requires an average of 2,000 to 10,000 gallons of water to extinguish.

Flow Calculation

• Use the following formula to determine the gallons per minute each tender can provide for water shuttle operations: V/ (A + B + C) = GPM V = Tender gallons A = Time to connect to supply and empty (minutes) B = Time to connect and fill tank (minutes) C = Driving time (minutes)

• The first tender must begin dumping water within 5 minutes of the first pumper’s arrival at the fire scene for optimal ISO ratings.

• The pumper must continue to be supplied with a minimum of 250 GPM for two hours.

Float-a-Pumps

• Carried on PBCFR Brush Trucks.
• Capacities vary from unit to unit.
• It is recommended that a minimum of two high volume float-a-pumps be used to relay water.
• Place the source pumper as close as possible to the float-a-pumps.

Fluid Dynamics

• 1st Principle: Fluid pressure is perpendicular to any surface on which it acts.
• 2nd Principle: When a fluid is at rest, fluid pressure is the same in all directions.
• 3rd Principle: Pressure that is applied to a confined fluid from without is transmitted equally in all directions.
• 4th Principle: The pressure of a liquid in an open container is proportional to its depth.
• 5th Principle: The pressure of a liquid in an open container is proportional to the density of the liquid.
• 6th Principle: The pressure of a liquid on the bottom of a container is independent of the shape of the vessel.

Types of Pressure

• Static pressure: Water at rest or not moving.
• Flow pressure: The velocity of water coming from a discharge opening.
• Residual pressure: Pressure remaining when water is flowing.
• Elevation pressure: Pressure gain or loss due to elevation.
• Atmospheric pressure: Pressure exerted by the air surrounding us (14.7 psi at sea level).

Finding the Area

• “Area” is expressed in “square” units.
• Determine the “area” of a container, building, or geographical area by measuring the length and width and then multiplying the two.
• Be sure to convert all measurements to the same units before multiplying.

Finding the Area of a Circle

• Use the formula: Area = 0.7854 x d2 where “d” represents the diameter of the circle.
• Convert all measurements to the same units before multiplication.

This quiz covers the essential responsibilities of a Driver Operator, including safe transportation of crews, adherence to laws and regulations, and understanding emergency vehicle operations. It also emphasizes defensive driving techniques and the different response codes for emergency situations.