We are fortunate at the healing place, our entire first in district has a lot of hydrants and they are all hot. As a result, I don't worry about how a water supply is going to be established on one of my incidents. I either lay my own, or I ask the next in unit to lay in to me. It is a luxury that many of my brother and sister firefighters don't share.
We don't have four-way hydrant valves, almost all of our hydrants are high pressure / high volume. I would guess that the majority of our people would have to look at a four-way for a while to figure out how to use it, they likely have never seen one. Likewise with a tanker relay operation or even dump-valves and fold-a-tanks, we just don't need 'em.
It was with some amusement then, as I listened to a nearby rural county department on the scanner, as they struggled with establishing a water supply at a residential structure fire. The fire was well established upon their arrival and they opted to go to a defensive fire operation. The operational objective was to contain the fire to the structure of origin and there were a few minor exposure issues.
They initially didn't have enough engines to lay over the road from the closest hydrant, about 1/3 a mile away, judging from the radio traffic. No water tenders were staffed nearby (tankers for you easterners) so their options were initially limited. They ran out of water for a few minutes before enough people showed up to hand-jack across a couple of fields and through a few fences to a remote hydrant.
The initial operational objectives were met, no exposures were damaged - all's well that ends well. I did however, make a note to review alternative water supplies with my crew when I return to work after the break, you just never know.
I then opened a beer and began watching my beloved Packers go to work on the Vikings. I think that's going to end well too.
Thanks for reading,
Schmoe
Some days you just need to walk away
13 hours ago
What's a tanker? We have a hydrant on every corner and a downtown full of high pressure ones, Static pressure 90 psi. Kind of takes the guessing out.
ReplyDeleteI think the link to my blog is broken.
www.rescuingprovidence.com if you get around to it.
Hey Capt,
ReplyDeleteI too live and run in a district with GREAT hydrants. Sometimes we have long lays, but that's more down to long driveways than anything else and we prepare for them.
I have immense respect for FDs who have to truck their own water. In my experience, few can really do it well. I am in complete awe of those who can. My helmet is off to them.
Gentlemen - Spoiled aren't we?
ReplyDeleteMichael - I'm on it, you have forced me to do what I have been meaning to do for months - update my blogroll.
Mack 505 - you are being added, hopefully tonight.
Thanks for the comments fellas.