INSTRUCT-O-GRAMTHE HANDS-ON TRAINING GUIDE

FOR THE FIRE INSTRUCTOR

VOLUME XII, ISSUE 9 WATER SUPPLY II SEPTEMBER 1991

WATER SUPPLY II

TASKTo present to the student the various methods ofsupplying waterforfireground operations, the sourcesof this water and those elements which affect supplyprocedures.

Estimated Time 3 hours

INTRODUCTIONThe student should have a good knowledge ofoverall fire department water supply, the supplies forhis/her department and neighboring departments,how this water is obtained and how it is delivered tothe fireground.

OUTLINE1. To present the sources of water for firefighting

operations.2. To indicate the apparatus and equipment re-

quired to develop firefighting water supply.3. To define the primary method of water supply

used by the department(s) involved.4. To present tanker operations and methods for

efficient performance.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

I. NFPA1001 .Firefighter II

A. 4-15.7:Thefirefightershalldefineatankershuttle.

B. 4-15.8: The firefighter shall identify the appara-tus, equipment and appliances required to pro-

vide water at rural locations by relay pumpinglarge diameter hose or a tanker shuttle.

C. 4-15.9: The firefighter shall demonstrate deploy-ment of a portable water tank.

II. The firefighter shall identify and define theoperation of the primary water supply asused by the department.

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

1. LESSON DEFINEDIt is the purpose of this lesson to acquaint the studentwith water supply for firefighting operations, espe-cially those related to the department(s) represented.Emphasis to be placed on tanker operations andrelay pumping.

2. GENERAL PROCEDURESRelay operations require pumpers and hose to movethe water from the source through two or morepumpers to the fireground. The number of unitsrequired will be based on the distance between thewater and fire and on the amount of hose carried ineach pumper involved.

The diameter of the hose used to move the water hasan important bearing on the total arrangement. Largediameter hose, such as 4", 5" or 6", will allow water

ISSN: 0739-4551

IOG '91 — SEPTEMBER

to be moved at much greater distances betweenpumpers than 2-1/2" or 3" hose. This will also affectthe amount of water that can be delivered through asingle line and may require the use of two linesbetween pumpers where the smaller hose is beingused for a sizeable delivery.

If two lines are required they should be laid betweenthe operating units and not be set-up as a separateoperation with additional pumpers. The latter is notthe efficient way to move water. Also, these pumpers,now empty of hose but with full tanks, can be posi-tioned on the fireground to use their tank water, onepumper being fed by the others. This same procedureapplies to those pumpers that have laid large diam-eter hose but were not required in the relay.

The use of tankers for water supply may be found inall areas of the country. Several years ago the ISOchanged their rating set-up to a direct bearing onmaintaining a required water flow in a given areawhether there were hydrants or not. Prior to that timecertain ratings were limited to having a water main/hydrant system. This was a boon to apparatusmanufacturers, fire departments and communitiesbecause protection could now be properly estab-lished in growing areas without the expense ofextending water mains.

Because of this two types of tanker apparatus haveevolved; the pumper-tanker and the supply tanker.The former is a full Class A pumper with a large tank,usually over 1000 gallon capacity, though in someareas units with this size tank are considered apumper-tanker. The supply tanker is just that; a unitto supply water. It may or may not have a pump andif so equipped it is usually a PTO pump for fillingpurposes. Some may be found with firefighting equip-ment but such is not actually required.

The pumper-tanker should be used at the firegroundfor attack purposes and be kept supplied by otherpumpers or tankers. In some cases, because theyare a regular pumper, they may be used at the watersource to provide the water supply. They should notbe used to shuttle water as a supply tanker unlessother similar units are providing the attack streams.

Supply tankers should be used to shuttle water fromthe source to the scene of the fire to supply the

purnper(s) providing the attack lines. Getting thewater to the pumper(s) is usually accomplished inone of two methods; through hose, the so-called"nurse" mode or by filling portable tanks from whichthe pumpers draft.

Considering that the essence of a tanker shuttle isgetting rid of the water and going for more, dumpinginto portable tanks is probably the most efficientoperation unless extremely large tankers are beingused. When dumping into portable tanks, effectiveoperations will be accomplished by fast off loading ofwater. Many different types of dump valves andoutlets are in use including the so-called "jet-dump".

The total tank shuttle operation generally includeseight recognized steps:

preparing to unload - off loading - unhooking offloading set up - travel to filling site - preparing to fill- filling - unhooking the fill set up and travel to the offloading site.

In order to enhance a tanker operation all eight ofthese factors must be checked to determine whereimprovements can be made. In regard to the firstitem shown, it seems ridiculous that so many tankershave the dump on the rear so that the driver isrequired to back up a large ungainly vehicle withoutrunning over af irefighter or hitting the portable tanks.Backing is the least desired movement with anyapparatus.

Get the dump valves put on the sides or adapt therear dumps to side delivery. This will be a great helpin overall operations and increase fireground safety.

When it is known that a tanker supply operation willbe used a definite procedure should be set up withthe first arriving pumpers. One efficient operation isto have the first pumper go to work on the fire fromproper position and have the second supply the firstat a distance from the fire and in position to get waterfrom a portable tank to be supplied by the tanker.

Once working from a portable tank, this pumper cancontinue to supply the first unit and pump to a secondunit if conditions warrant and the tank supply can bemaintained. Manpower from the second pumper canuse attack lines from the other pumpers.

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Where portable tank operations are used, part of thesession should involve setting up these tanks. Thiscould begin by simply removing the tanks and settingthem up as required by their design and be followedby the standard ISO off loading test:

The tanker travels 200 feet to the tank set-up site;stops and sets up the tank - off loads - proceeds 200feet further on — in doing this test a 200 foot startingline is established and time is started when thetanker, already underway, crosses the line.

Timing different groups of students in setting up thetank and the overall operation could provide aninteresting and enlightening part of this lesson andhelp the students with their NFPA objectives.

INSTRUCTOR REFERENCES

Engine Company Fireground Operations-Richman,Chapter 5

Rural Firefighting Operations, Book 2 - Davis

IFSTA, Essentials of Firefighting, Chapter 8

SUGGESTED LESSON PLAN

INSTRUCTOR NOTES I TANKER OPERATION/TANKER SHUTTLE

A. Apparatus

1. Pumper (engine)

a. 500 gpm

b. 300 gallon tank

c. standard hose bed

d. NFPA 1901 equipment

2. Pumper/tanker

a. meets engine requirements

b. 1000+gallon tank

c. functions better as a pumper

d. NFPA 1901 equipment

3. Supply tanker

a. does not meet engine requirements

b. 1000+gallon tank

c. intended to transport water

d. 500 gpm or smaller pump

4. Auxiliary vehicle

a. cement mixer

IOG '91 — SEPTEMBER

INSTRUCTOR NOTES b. city/commercial water tanker/street sprayer

5. Air transport

a. helicopter

b. airplanes/tankers

B. Equipment

1. Portable tank (porta-tank)

2. Portable pump

3. Low level strainer

4. Dry hydrant

5. Jet-siphon

6. LDH

C. Definition of a Tanker Shuttle

A water transport operation which makes use of tankers, tanker/pumpers,and/or pumper/tankers to transport water from a water source to fireattack apparatus.

D. Modes of Tanker Operation

1. Fire attack mode

Apparatus discharges water directly onto a fire via hoseline(s) ordevice(s).

2. Pumping nurse operation

Apparatus supplies water from a pump discharge through a hoselineto the intake of a pumping engine.

3. Gravity nurse operation

Apparatus supplies water from a tank discharge through a hard-suction line to the intake of a pumping engine and the engine draftsfrom the tanker.

4. Dump and Run Operation. * '• '•»

Water from apparatus is off-loaded by gravity through a gravity dumpor jet-dump arrangement into a portable tank.

5. Pump and Run Operation

Apparatus off-loads water by pumping directly from a discharge(s) orthrough a hoseline(s) into a portable tank to provide a drafting supplyfor the attack engine.

H

INSTRUCTOR NOTES

SEPTEMBER — IOG '91

6. Combination Operations

Any operation of the 5 modes of tanker operation.

II. PORTABLE WATER TANK

A. Definition: A synthetic/fabric water tank usually attached to a collapsiblerectangular metal frame.

B. Functions

1. Provide a reservoir for fireground engine.

2. Provide an unloading point for tankers.

C. Types

1. Collapsible/folding style

Utilizes a rectangular metal frame with synthetic (most common)

2. Floating collar tanks

Round synthetic tank with a floating collar that rises as tank is filledmaking it self-supporting

3. Corner support tanks

Four metal corner units support tank

4. Home-built/home-made tanks

Folded/separate components are assembled on the fireground tobuild the tank

D. Placement (Suggested)

Place tank at an angle so that corner is approximately 2 feet from suctioninlet.

1. Provides room for pump operator to work.

2. Allows apparatus with rear dumps to back at 45° angle vs. 90° angle,(keeps from blocking roadway)

3. Provides area of refuge for personnel.

E. Recommendations

1. Use tarp under tank.

2. Place drain sock on downhill side.

3. Keep suction lines short.

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INSTRUCTOR NOTES 4. Use a low level strainer.

5. Beach ball will help prevent whirlpool.

6. Plastic garbage bag over top of conventional barrel strainer will causewater to draft from below and prevent whirlpool.

7. Add additional suction lines to increase flow.

8. Add additional tanks to increase capacity, (use jet-siphon)

9. Never position personnel between backing apparatus and tank.

III. RELAY PUMPING OPERATIONS

A. Definitions

1. Relay pumping operation

A water transport operation in which an engine(s) relays waterthroughan open or closed relay to another engine(s).

2. Open relay operation

An operation in which water is relayed from the discharge of an enginethrough hoseline(s) to an open container (eg. porta-tank) whichprovides a static water source for the next engine in the relay.

3. Closed relay operation

A relay operation where water is relayed from the discharge(s) of oneengine through hoseline(s) to intake(s) of another engine.

B. Large Diameter Hose (LDH)

1. 4", 5" or 6" fire hose

2. Usually Storz (1/4 turn sexless) couplings

3. Normally 100' lengths

4. Large water flow capability

5. Reduced manpower requirements to deliver large flow rates

6. Equipment

a. pressure relief discharge/intake valves

b. portable hydrants

c. wyes

d. reducers/increasers

e. other adapters and appliances

INSTRUCTOR NOTES

SEPTEMBER — IOG '91

C. Water Flow Capabilities/Restrictions

1. Maximum distance limitations

2. Delivery rate (gpm)

3. Theoretical distance for a 1000 gpm engine delivering 1000 gpmcapacity:

a. 2-1/2" hose-50'

b. 3" hose-150'

c. 4" hose-650'

d. 5" hose-1,950'

e. 6" hose - 2,500'

D. Relay and LDH Operational Requirements

1. Planning

2. Organization

3. Training

IV. PRACTICAL EXERCISES

A. The student should participate in:

1. Deployment of a portable tank

2. Tanker shuttle operations

3. Large diameter hose evolution

4. Relay pumping operation

Methods and techniques provided in the Instruct-O-Gram are suggested by the author. There are many othermethods and techniques which are equally successful and used in many municipalities throughout the world.The new Instruct-O-Gram is aimed at developing sound training procedures for the recruit level. Theseprocedures may differ from policy which is established by the chief of the department and commonly posted asthe "standard operating procedure" (SOP). It is suggested that any difference in procedures be brought to theattention of the chief of the department.

©ISFSI

TRAINING NOTICETIME:.

DATE:

LOCATION:

NOTES:

TASKTo present to the student the various methods ofsupplying water forfireground operations, the sourcesof this water and those elements which affect supplyprocedures.

Estimated Time 3 hours

INTRODUCTIONThe student should have a good knowledge ofoverall fire department watersupply, the supplies forhis/her department and neighboring departments,how this water is obtained and how it is delivered tothe fireground.

OUTLINE1. To present the sources of water for firefighting

operations.

2. To indicate the apparatus and equipment re-quired to develop firefighting water supply.

3. To define the primary method of water supplyused by the department(s) involved.

4. To present tanker operations and methods forefficient performance.

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVESI. NFPA 1001, Firefighter II

A. 4-15.7: The firefighter shall define a tankershuttle.

B. 4-15.8: The firefighter shall identify the appara-tus, equipment and appliances required to pro-vide water at rural locations by relay pumpinglarge diameter hose or a tanker shuttle.

C. 4-15.9: The firefighter shall demonstrate deploy-ment of a portable water tank.

II. The firefighter shall identify and define theoperation of the primary water supply asused by the department.

STUDY GUIDEReview department units and equipment for water supplySource: Fire Department apparatus, hose and appliances

Review department orders and SOP's regarding water supplySource: Fire department material

STUDENT REFERENCESEngine Company Fireground Operations - Richman, Chapter 5

Rural Firefighting Operations, Book 2 - Davis

IFSTA, Essentials of Firefighting, Chapter 8