Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Driver Operator Manual PDF

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Driver Operator Manual Chapter 2 Water Sources 25 Introduction A DO must be able to obtain water from a variety of sources that may be available on or around the fireground. Adequate water supply is one of the most vital steps in ensuring...

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Driver Operator Manual Chapter 2 Water Sources 25 Introduction A DO must be able to obtain water from a variety of sources that may be available on or around the fireground. Adequate water supply is one of the most vital steps in ensuring success during fireground operations. To deliver water for fireground operations, the DO has several options: Tank Supply Hydrant Static Water Source (Drafting) Dry Hydrant Water Tanks or Cisterns Relay Pumping Water Shuttle Operations Nurse Tender Direct Pumping Modified Direct Pumping Folding/Dump Tank Operations Each of these options along with other important information will be discussed in detail throughout this chapter. Radio Designation As a Driver Operator working on E51 for example, your radio designation would be “Driver Engine 5-1”, the Officer’s designation would be “Engine 5-1”, and the firefighter would be “Firefighter Engine 5-1”. Tank Supply The amount of water available on each apparatus must be considered when making tactical decisions. Tank water on the fireground can quickly be depleted depending on the gallons per minute (GPM) being discharged. Apparatus in Palm Beach County Fire Rescue have the following water tank capacities: Engines 750 or 1,000 gallons Aerials 500 gallons Brush Trucks 500 or 750 gallons Tenders 3,000 gallons 600 series Brush Trucks 300 gallons Rescue Pumper 300 gallons When operating solely from tank water, the DO needs to accurately calculate how much time is available to firefighting crews and must notify them when the tank level drops to 50% full and again at 25% full. 26  When flowing 150 GPM from the onboard water tank, it will take approximately 5 minutes before running out of water (from a standard PBCFR Engine with 750 gallon water tank). It is strongly suggested that you do not supply more than 200 GPM unless you are connected to a secure water source. Master streams should not be supplied unless connected to a secure water source. The FDC should not be supplied until connected to a secure water source. When flowing from the water tank, notify command and crews when your tank water level is at 50%. When flowing from the water tank, you must notify command and crews when your tank water level drops to 25%, and perform an emergency evacuation. Emergency Evacuation Per PBCFR SOG 210-01 Communications and the PBCFR Incident Management System Operations Manual, the term “Emergency Evacuation” should be used to advise personnel of imminent danger requiring the evacuation of the scene or area to an established safe place (Rally Point). Once an Emergency Evacuation has been announced: The Communication Center shall sound the radio alert tones and advise all companies on the incident to evacuate the building immediately. This message shall be repeated twice. Emergency Traffic shall be in effect and all routine radio traffic shall cease. The units on scene shall blast their air horns intermittently (one to ten seconds blowing, followed by one to ten seconds of silence) for 50 seconds. All personnel shall immediately evacuate the building or area. All personnel shall report to their supervisor or a pre-designated area. It is the responsibility of the Incident Commander to follow SOG 220-01 Personnel Accountability and perform a PAR. Along the same lines, if at any time, the DO experiences any mechanical problem while pumping that requires the apparatus to be shut down, the DO shall immediately advise 27 the IC of the situation, and perform an Emergency Evacuation if deemed necessary. Hydrants Fire hydrants have been a reliable source of water supply for the fire service since the early 1800’s. While they’ve evolved since then, the purpose remains steadfast; to provide a pressurized water source for use in firefighting operations. In Palm Beach County alone, there are tens of thousands of fire hydrants accessible for fire department use. Each hydrant is equipped with two 2.5” side port openings, and one 4.5” front steamer opening. These openings are fitted with National Standard Thread (NST aka NHT), designed for use with standard fire hose. ***As a safety reminder, always stand behind the hydrant any time you are operating it. PBCFR provides hydrant data through the Water Source Locator software, which is located on the PBCFR Intranet and can be accessed from any PBCFR fire station computer. This system shows the location of the hydrant, and offers general information such as the static pressure and the expected flow in GPM. Within the system hydrants are color coded, and a legend is provided. Operational fire hydrants are represented with a green hydrant symbol -. Non-operational hydrants are designated with a red hydrant symbol -. Drafting sites and dry hydrants are also marked in the Water Source Locator System, and will be discussed later in this chapter. The capacity of fire hydrants is generally measured in GPM. The location, operation and flow of fire hydrants may influence fire department operations during a fire incident. When choosing a hydrant, the closest hydrant may not always be the “best” hydrant. It is possible that the closest hydrant may be too close to the fire and may put the safety of personnel and apparatus in jeopardy. Keep this in mind when positioning at a fire scene. Given the choice, a hydrant located on a large main is preferred over a hydrant located on a “dead-end” main. We generally do not know the size of the water main we are working from unless it is pre-determined on a Quick Access Survey (QAS). In an emergency, the Incident Commander (IC) can obtain water supply and fire flow information from the Communications Center, the Fire Operations Officer (FOO), by contacting the Water Officer, or by contacting the water department directly. Per policy #FR-B-103 Use of Fire Hydrants, in the event a fire emergency requires large fire flow, multiple hydrants, or a boost of hydrant pressure, the Incident Commander shall direct the Communications Center to notify the appropriate Water Utility Company. It is 28  important that the water utility company be notified of the exact location and needs at the time of the incident. This policy further states that each Battalion shall submit all hydrant water usage to the Water Officer on a monthly basis. The water use shall be documented using policy #FR-B-103 Attachment B, the “Monthly Hydrant Water Usage Log”. This shall include water used for tank refills, weekly truck checks, training exercises, and any emergency fire operations. If you find a fire hydrant that is in disrepair or out of service, your officer must notify the FOO, and the Water Officer using policy #FR-B-103 Attachment A, the “Fire Hydrant Non-Functional/Out of Service Notice”. When laying 5” supply lines from or to a hydrant, you should drive between 10 – 15 mph to prevent the couplings from dropping on the tailboard. **Do not exceed 15 mph. Once supply lines are on the ground you must take into account access for incoming apparatus. Remember each section of 5” hose weighs over 100 pounds dry weight. It’s imperative that supply lines are moved off to the side of the roadway before charging the hydrant. It’s important to know that throughout Palm Beach County, you may come across fire hydrants that are equipped with Captivater locking fire hydrant caps. These caps are identified by the stainless steel “Lock Barrel” that is located in the center of the cap. You must use a Captivater hydrant wrench to remove the caps from these hydrants. For this reason, every Palm Beach County Fire Rescue operational unit is outfitted with a Captivater hydrant wrench. If you are unfamiliar with the use of this hydrant wrench, please refer to the Quick Skill located in the Driver Operator folder in the File Center on Target Solutions. Note: When painted over, the lock barrels may be difficult to operate. You may need to chip some of the paint off to get the end of the Captivater wrench over the lock barrel or to pull the lock barrel out. 29 The city of Boynton Beach and other isolated areas of Palm Beach County have installed Sigelock fire hydrants as their primary pressurized water source. It is possible that you may encounter one of these hydrants if assigned to a station that neighbors the area. For this reason, Sigelock hydrant wrenches have also been distributed to PBCFR fire suppression apparatus. If you are not familiar with the operation and use of a Sigelock fire hydrant, please refer to the Quick Skill located in the Driver Operator folder in the File Center on Target Solutions. Reclaimed Water Flushing Hydrants These hydrants are identified by their unique shape and purple/pink color. The highly chlorinated reclaimed water is used for irrigation purposes. The hydrants are provided so the local utility company can periodically flush the system. Reclaimed water hydrants installed by Palm Beach County Water Utilities are equipped with a single 2½” discharge port with fire department threads (NST aka NHT) and are capable of discharging up to 500 GPM. These hydrants are not considered a secure water source. They should only be used as a last resort, until a secure water source can be established. Static Water Sources Another option for obtaining water is to draft from a static water source. Drafting is the process of raising water from a static source up and into a fire pump. Examples of static sources include the ocean, canals, lakes, ponds, swimming pools and portable folding/dump tanks. Drafting may be used to: supply water to attack lines, support water shuttle operations, or supply an engine in a relay operation. Before attempting to draft, it should be determined that the site is accessible, and there is a sufficient supply of water is available. Again, the Water Source Locator software is a useful tool in identifying reliable water sources for drafting. Reliable drafting sites are marked on the Water Source Locator with a blue hydrant symbol -. Drafting is discussed in detail in Chapter 4 of this manual (“Drafting”). Note: Periods of drought may affect known static sources; Water levels may be too low for use. 30 Dry Hydrants Dry hydrants are non-pressurized hydrants designed for use in a drafting application. They are permanently installed fixtures that are strategically placed alongside static water sources such as lakes, ponds, canals, etc. In areas where pressurized water systems are either unavailable, or lines are too small to support fire flows, dry hydrants may be used as the water supply. Each dry hydrant is tested and tagged annually, as is required by Palm Beach County Fire Code. Green tags represent dry hydrants that are fully operational and have passed the annual test. Red tags indicate a hydrant that has failed the annual test and therefore should not be used. Some dry hydrants are outfitted with an inline check valve between the steamer port and the water source. If there is a check valve present, it should be clearly marked as such “CV- No Back- Flush”. Dry hydrants that do not have a check valve must be back flushed prior to use, to dislodge and clear any debris from the strainer. If the dry hydrant has a check valve present, then you should not back flush it. Back flushing a dry hydrant that has a check valve will result in damage to the dry hydrant. To draft from a dry hydrant, you will use 6” hard suction, just as you would with a traditional draft. The fitting on a dry hydrant will either be 6” NST, or 4.5” NST. If it is the latter, you will need a 6” to 4.5” adaptor to make the connection to the hard suction. Once you’ve made your connections, and back flushed the pipe if necessary, the drafting operation is the same as obtaining a draft from any other static water source. Dry Hydrants are marked in the Water Source Locator system with an orange hydrant symbol -. 31 Water Tanks and Cisterns As development continues to expand across Palm Beach County it brings with it new challenges for the fire service. Many construction sites may be well into the building process, but the accompanying fire hydrants have yet to be installed. County fire inspectors are diligently working to confirm that these sites not only have some sort of water supply on location, but that they also have access roads capable of supporting fire department apparatus. In said situations, the county code requires contractors to provide a water tank capable of holding a minimum of 20,000 gallons of water. These tanks or cisterns must have visible signage clearly marking the tank as a fire department water supply. Furthermore, it must be located within 400 feet of the structure. Water tanks may come in a variety of shapes or sizes, but they should always be marked for ease of identification. As you can see, it’s important to know your zone and identify any unique water sources before you need them. Because these tanks are gravity fed, the incoming pressure will not be enough to support firefighting operations. To remedy this, you will need to pull a draft from these sources. If applicable, always ensure that any vent openings on the container are open prior to pulling your prime. This will aid in getting the draft. Although you may encounter anomalies, the connection to these water tanks is commonly outfitted with 4½” NST male threads like you would find on a fire hydrant steamer or a dry hydrant. If this is the case, you will need to use a 6” to 4.5” adaptor to make the connection to the hard suction as you would when using a dry hydrant. Rural Water Supply Operations In many of the rural western communities of Palm Beach County, pressurized water sources are scarce. For this reason, it is important for every driver to be familiar with 32 alternate means of rural water supply operations. When considering such operations, there is no one single solution for every fire scene. Each incident is unique, and each incident will dictate which tactics are optimal. The initial OIC will determine the most appropriate means for establishing an adequate water supply in rural areas, but as the DO it is your job to have an in depth understanding of each method. The four means of providing a continuous water supply for firefighting in Palm Beach County are: Relay Pumping, Modified Direct Pumping, Nurse Tender, and Folding/Dump Tank operations. Given the option, relay pumping is the preferred method of water supply as it provides a continuous uninterrupted water source. It is common for units to begin the initial fire attack with one method, and then transition to a relay during the incident. Locating Water Sources In many cases it may be difficult to locate the nearest water source, especially at night. Responding units can request assistance from the Communications Center to help with this. Both the Water Source Locator software and satellite mapping imagery are useful tools in identifying nearby water sources. The Water Source Locator provides the location and flow of fire hydrants, and the location of dry hydrants and static water sources. Relay Pumping In some situations, the water source may be remote from the fire scene, and in order to supply water to the fire a relay pumping operation must be established. Whether using a hydrant or a static water source, relay pumping involves pumping water through fire hose from the source to at least one other apparatus at the scene. The number of apparatus involved in a relay will depend on the length of the lay, and the fire flow needed to combat the fire. Any apparatus equipped with a fire pump can participate in the relay. The engine located at the water source is referred to as the “source” engine or pumper, and the engine located on the scene is referred to as the “attack” engine or pumper. Any apparatus placed between the source and attack engines are referred to as “relay” pumpers. It is always best to place the largest capacity pump at the water source. When relaying water, laying 5” supply lines is preferred, as it has less friction loss, and delivers the maximum GPM available. When laying lines for a relay pumping operation, it is essential that hose lines are placed off to the side of the roadway before being charged to maintain access and egress on the roadway for other units. While every situation is unique, when laying a 5” supply line from a hydrant, if the attack engine will be more than 500’ from the hydrant, a relay should be established by placing an engine at the source. This distance decreases to 300’ from the hydrant for 3” supply line. 33 When two pumpers are involved in a relay it’s a fairly simple operation, but when more apparatus are required it may be beneficial to appoint a Water Supply Officer (WSO). Although it is preferred, you are not required to be an “officer” to be appointed as a Water Supply Officer on a fire scene. What is essential is that the WSO be well versed in rural water supply operations and tactics. Relay pumping operations require good communication and often require excessive radio traffic, especially when setting up the relay. It may be beneficial to assign a separate TAC channel dedicated to water supply operations, so as to not interfere with other on scene communications. If a WSO is appointed, they should be the only one that communicates with the IC. Prior to establishing a relay, consideration must be given to the volume of water needed on the scene and the distance from the water source to the scene. When operating in a relay, each engine must maintain at least 20 psi residual pressure on their intake gauge. The pump discharge pressure (PDP) for each apparatus within the relay is calculated by adding the friction loss in the 5” (or 3”) supply line to the 20 psi residual pressure for the engine you are supplying. Simply put: PDP = Friction Loss + 20 psi Each driver in the relay must set their PDP based on this formula. Therefore, there are a few key things each driver must know prior to calculating their PDP. In order to figure out the friction loss, we must know the total GPM that is flowing, and the distance that you are pumping it to the next engine in the relay. Calculating friction loss will be discussed at length in Chapter 3 of this manual (“Fire Hydraulics”). Note: A starting pressure of 50 psi may be used when initially setting up the relay pumping operation. Calculate the actual PDP and adjust your pressure as soon as possible. Once all the apparatus are in place and hose connections are made the relay can begin. Each Driver Operator should have their intake bleeder valve open. Remember, relay pumping operations always begin at the source. The source engine begins by obtaining a water supply, and then relays it to the next engine in line. Depending on the situation, this may be to another engine in the relay (relay pumper), or directly to the attack engine. If the source engine is using a static source and is equipped with a governor, they should remain in “RPM” mode throughout the operation. All other units within the relay that are 34 equipped with a governor should be in “PSI” mode. All DOs should monitor the ground conditions under and around their apparatus during the operation. When shutting down a relay pumping operation, always start by shutting down the attack engine first, and then work backward toward the water source. Spacing of relay engines is important in that the goal is to have all engines in the relay operating at approximately the same RPM. This prevents any one apparatus from working too hard throughout the incident. The spacing of engines in a relay will be discussed further in Chapter 3 of this manual (“Fire Hydraulics”). A form of relay pumping known as “Pumping in Series” will be discussed further in Chapter 3 of this manual (“Fire Hydraulics”). Water Shuttle Operations A water shuttle operation is another means used to supply water to the fire scene when a reliable water source is not readily available. Water shuttles involve a process in which tenders, engines, or brush trucks deliver their load of water to the scene, travel to a fill site to reload with water, and then return to the scene to unload again. Shuttles are generally used when the water source is so remote from the emergency scene, that relay pumping is not practical. However, when given the choice between relay pumping or a water shuttle operation, relay pumping proves to be a more dependable choice. Much like relay pumping, a water shuttle operation requires ongoing radio communications and coordination between all units within the shuttle and the attack engine. It may be beneficial to appoint a Water Supply Officer (WSO). Again, you do not have to be an “officer” to be appointed as a WSO on a fire scene. Depending on the extent of the incident, the WSO may want to assign a dump site supervisor and a fill site supervisor. It is also recommended to request a separate TAC channel dedicated to water supply operations. Recall, only the Water Supply Officer shall communicate with the IC. In any water shuttle operation, making good decisions during set up is critical to a successful operation. Pre-incident planning may be helpful with this. Know your zone! The following are the three primary types water shuttle operations used by PBCFR in rural areas of Palm Beach County: Nurse Tender Operations Modified Direct Pumping Operations Portable Folding/Dump Tank Operations Nurse Tender Operations This method involves a tender that parks immediately adjacent to the attack pumper. The attack pumper begins fire attack from its onboard water tank. The first arriving tender then relays water to the attack engine using 5” supply line. A second tender, and 35 additional apparatus are used to shuttle water from the source and refill the nurse tender throughout the incident. Positioning of the nurse tender is crucial, as it must be easily accessible for incoming apparatus to refill the onboard water tank. The primary advantage of this method is that in many cases the nurse tender is so large that the fire is controlled before there is a need to refill the tank. However, it is important to know that this method is only recommended on short duration fires such as room and contents, garage fires, or shed fires. If it is anticipated that the incident will last for an extended period of time, crews should transition to a relay pumping operation. Also, if there is any potential for the incident to expand, a nurse tender should not be used. Note: The attack engine should keep its onboard water tank full at all times, so if the nurse tender runs out of water, the attack engine’s water tank may be used to withdraw crews until a water supply can be re-established. Direct Pumping This type of operation is a combination of Nurse Tender and Relay Pumping operations. It entails two apparatus supplying a single attack engine via a single 3” supply line using a siamese as shown in the illustration. Upon arrival, the attack engine lays a supply line going in to the scene. The next arriving engine and/or tender connects a siamese to the end of the supply line and begins to relay water to the attack engine from its onboard water tank. When the second supply unit arrives it connects to the open port on the siamese and pumps at half the pressure of the first engine/tender. In doing so, the water from the second supply apparatus remains static because the pressure on the clapper valve of the siamese will be greater from the first due apparatus. As the first due supply engine/tender runs out of water, the pressure will drop and the second supply unit will take over, increasing to the desired pump pressure. The empty apparatus disconnects and leaves to refill with water while another apparatus arrives in its place. The process is repeated throughout the incident. This method limits the water supply to the attack engine to 500 GPM due to the critical velocity of 3” hose, as discussed in Chapter 3 (Fireground Hydraulics). For this reason, PBCFR has adopted 36 Modified Direct Pumping as the preferred method of water supply in rural areas until a relay can be established. Modified Direct Pumping In a modified direct pumping operation, rather than being supplied by one apparatus at a time, the attack engine may be supplied by more than one unit at a time through multiple supply lines. This tactic takes into consideration the extent of the fire and the fire flow that will be required. For short duration structure fires such as room and contents, garage fires, and small shed fires modified direct pumping is an acceptable tactic. It uses all units on scene as supply pumpers, and is recommended for the first due response on confirmed structure fires in rural areas with limited water supply. The benefits of this tactic is that it may yield a water supply of 6000 gallons for initial fire attack from the water carried on two engines, two brush trucks, and a tender. There are a few important things that must be taken into consideration when using this method for water supply: For long narrow driveways or limited access areas, the attack engine should lay an initial supply line from the street toward the fire. Brush trucks should be positioned close to the attack engine but out of the way of other apparatus, since they may not be in use after their initial water tank supply is empty. Position tenders in an area that is free and clear of other apparatus for easier access and egress. Transition to a relay pumping operation as soon as possible if you anticipate that the incident will last for an extended period of time. Folding/Dump Tank Operations Folding/Dump Tank operations should not be the first choice of water supply in rural areas due to several limitations. However, it may be useful when a reliable water source is so far from the fire scene that setting up a relay pumping operation would be impractical. This method involves the process in which tenders, engines, or brush trucks deliver their load of water to a portable folding/dump tank placed at the scene, known as the “dump site”. These units then travel to a “fill site”, reload with water, and then return to the fire scene to dump again. This process is repeated throughout the incident, and the fill site 37 can either be a pressurized fire hydrant, or a static source. Detailed information on the “dump site” and “fill site” is discussed later in this chapter. Portable folding/dump tanks are carried on all PBCFR tenders and can hold up to 3000-3500 gallons The success of a Folding/Dump Tank operation depends on three key components: 1. Location of the dump site; 2. Location of the fill site; 3. Route travelled between the dump site and fill site. To assist with these decisions, pre-incident planning is imperative in all non-hydranted areas. The Communications Center may be helpful in gaining useful information on hydrant location and flow, draft site locations, and dry hydrant locations. Dump Site Considerations The dump site consists of one or more portable folding/dump tanks located at or near the emergency scene. The best dump sites are those located so that tender drivers can drive in a straight line, with minimal maneuvering. The first arriving tender shall connect directly to the attack engine and supply water as needed to allow time for the folding/dump tank operation to be established. Once the dump tank is set up, the tender can dump the rest of its water into it before heading to the fill site. As additional units arrive at the dump site they should be directed into position by a spotter to dump their load into the portable tank. To expedite the operation, tender drivers should remain inside the apparatus, and the spotter should operate the dump valve. Tenders are capable of dumping their entire water tank within 3-4 minutes. In fact, NFPA 1901 requires that all tenders be able to dump their tank at a minimum average flow rate of 1000 GPM for the first 90 % of the tank. 38 In some situations, the attack engine may draft directly from the dump tank and pump to its own attack lines. However, per PBCFR SOGs it is recommended that a supply engine should be placed at the folding/dump tank to establish a draft and relay water to the attack engine using 5” supply line. When drafting from a folding/dump tank apparatus should use 6” hard suction and a low level strainer whenever possible. Low level strainers are carried on all PBCFR tenders and are capable of drafting water from a dump tank down to a level of about two inches. Placement of the dump tank is critical, keeping in mind the ease of access and egress for units within the water shuttle. Often, this may not be close to the fire. If a narrow driveway or dead end street limits access, it may be necessary to place the dump tank on the street or at the nearest intersection. Consider having PBSO close the roadway to the public along the water shuttle route. Limitations to be considered when performing a folding/dump tank operation: Setting up these operations can be time consuming and manpower intensive. The folding/dump tank requires a large, level, unobstructed area. If placed improperly, the folding/dump tank may block access for incoming apparatus. Requires a minimum of 2 tenders, in addition to engines and brush trucks shuttling water from the source to the folding/dump tank. Folding/dump tank operations cannot be used to supply master streams or aerial apparatus. At a flow rate of 300 GPM the dump tank will need to be refilled at least every 10 minutes to keep up with the discharge. Incidents that require flow rates in excess of 300 GPM are best served by multiple folding/dump tanks. A second low level strainer can be used as a jet syphon to move water from one dump tank to the next. In some cases, it may also be necessary to establish two or more independent water shuttle operations, for example “east shuttle” and “west shuttle”. Communication is key. During such incidents, a Water Supply Officer should be appointed to coordinate water supply operations and if at all possible every effort should be made to transition to a relay pumping operation. 39 Dump Site Tips: Place the dump tank on level ground whenever possible. This will optimize the amount of water the tank will hold. If time permits, place a salvage cover on the ground below the dump tank. This limits wear on the liner and may prevent punctures. The supply engine should flow a booster line or other small discharge back into the dump tank to ensure that they do not lose the prime as attack lines shut down. The supply and attack engines should keep their water tanks full at all times, to be used as a backup supply if needed. When drafting from a folding/dump tank, if possible, use a pump intake with a gated valve (MIV) to allow an uninterrupted transition from drafting to supplying the attack engine from your onboard tank water. It is recommended to use 2 sections of hard suction with the low level strainer when drafting from a dump tank. This gives the hose less tension and allows easy placement in the lowest part of the tank. The “spotter” should monitor the condition of the ground around the dump tank throughout the operation. Large open areas such as parking lots make good dump sites. Know your zone! Fill Site Considerations The purpose of the fill site is to reload the apparatus as quickly as possible, so they can return to the scene with a full tank of water. Although fill sites can either be located at a fire hydrant or a static water source, hydrants are the preferred method when available. The fill site should be selected with travel distance, capacity of supply, pressure of supply, and ease of access in mind. 40 When the fill site is located at a hydrant, the source apparatus should use 5” LDH as a supply line to maximize their water supply. If a static source is used the minimum pump capacity of the fill site apparatus should be 1250 GPM. It is optimal to choose a draft site that offers minimal lift to maximize the available water supply. Depending on the ease of access and egress, a cone may be placed at the fill site to be used as a marker, giving drivers a visual aid as to where they should position at the fill site. The cone should be placed so that when the driver stops the unit, the cone sits alongside the driver’s door. To expedite the operation, tender drivers should remain in the apparatus at all times. A “make and break” person should be assigned to the fill site, and is responsible for making and breaking all connections to and from the apparatus within the water shuttle. While 5” hose can move more water than 3”, due to the weight of the hose when it is full of water it’s more difficult to handle, and therefore more time consuming. With this in mind, it is recommended that two 3” hose lines be used to fill the apparatus as fast and efficiently as possible. A gate valve should be placed on each fill line, and the hose should remain charged at all times. Only one tender should be filled at a time, and ideally each tender should be filled at a minimum rate of 1000 gallons per minute. If there is limited access to the fill site, the “make and break” person may also need to double as a “spotter”, guiding the apparatus into position at the fill site before transitioning into the “make and break” role and filling the apparatus. Again, the driver should remain inside the apparatus, to expedite the operation and egress. Once each unit is full, they proceed to the dump site to dump their tank, and return to the fill site again. This process is repeated throughout the firefighting operation. A circular route of travel is considered the optimum arrangement when setting up a water shuttle operation. Paved roads are optimal, but not always an option in rural areas. The “make and break” person should periodically monitor the ground conditions around the fill site throughout the operation. Whether operating from a draft, or a hydrant, a booster line or other small discharge should be used to keep water circulating between fills. This will maintain the prime, and keep the pump cool. 41 If the fill site is a static source, when the operation is complete all pumps and equipment should be back flushed to clear any debris. This should be done before returning to service. Tender Apparatus Considerations Each tender carries 3000 gallons of water. Tender apparatus carry extra foam and SCBA bottles for on-scene replenishment. Due to its large size it may be advantageous for the tender to back down a roadway. Some PBCFR tenders have the ability to dump their water tank from either side of the apparatus and/or from the back of the unit. Other Rural Water Supply Considerations For all working structure fires in rural areas, a second tender should be requested during the initial response. Until a secure water source can be established and a relay put into place, it is not recommended to use master stream devices or aerial apparatus. When estimating hose lays in rural areas, a standard 1 ¼ acre lot is approximately 200’ feet in width. Whenever possible, assure that any supply line laid out is kept to one side of the roadway to allow access for later arriving apparatus. Due to the limited road size in rural areas, whenever possible all apparatus should be positioned so as not to block future access of incoming apparatus, especially during water shuttle operations. 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. 42 Flow Calculation For all water shuttle operations, the Incident Commander or Water Supply Officer may determine how many gallons per minute each tender can provide by using the following formula: 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) *** For optimal ISO ratings, the first tender must begin dumping water within 5 minutes of the first pumper’s arrival at the fire scene. The pumper must continue to be supplied with a minimum of 250 GPM for two hours. *** Float-a-pumps In areas where a draft site is inaccessible, the use of float-a-pumps may be necessary as a last resort for water supply. Float-a- pump operations have the following limitations: 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. Float-a-pumps must be monitored at all times, to maintain fuel levels, and ensure that the strainer remains free of clogs. Never leave a Float-a-pump unattended on a fire scene. The following illustration is an example of Float-a-pump operations. 43  Float-a-Pump Operations ***Refer to PBCFR SOG 420-10 Rural Water Supply for Structural Firefighting for more information.*** 44