Rescues Can Require Effective Water Supplies

by Allen Baldwin

When it comes to rescue operations, moving water can be a very important support element. Rescues can be from a structure fire situation or from a vehicle accident, and fire suppression is critical in those situations.

Typical water supply and movement classes can take days to cover all the points and since there’s only so much space available here, let’s focus on rural water supply operations to help assist and support rescue staff when dealing with vehicle rescue responses.

And since we are going to be talking about tankers, let’s set the record straight and ensure proper compliance with the Department of Homeland Security’s National Incident Management System (NIMS) terminology and call trucks that haul water tenders.
Let’s start with the basics though.

Having an engine company, in full personal protective equipment (PPE) ready to go during extrication operations should be high on the list. That crew should be familiar with the use of foam and be ready to use it in a moment’s notice. Remember to match the nozzle and the eductor to get the proper flow and always follow the eductor manufacturer’s recommendations on nozzle type and pressure.

Mapping both municipal and static water supplies along major routes in the event of the “big one” should be a high priority. On that same line of thinking, departments should evaluate their preparedness for water shuttle operations with particular attention paid to methods of loading and discharging water. Examine the appliances needed to help with shuttle operations and make sure the capacities of the vehicles hauling the water match the capacities of the portable folding tanks used.

With the basics laid out, let’s look a little more closely at these areas to determine what can be done to help operations run a little more efficiently.

Departments need to have a standard operating guideline (SOG) for engine company response to vehicle accidents with entrapment that addresses the need to pull protective hand lines and ensure an adequate water supply to support and protect operations. The SOG should cover water supply too.

Water sources along the major routes in the department’s response area should be marked on maps kept in the apparatus. It would be a good idea to include water sources not only closest to the nearest access points on the road, but also supplies on adjacent properties and roads that may be easily accessible. To get that kind of information, departments should pay a visit to the community’s planning department and the region’s Geographic Information Systems (GIS) office.

Making Calculations
Aerial photos of the particular areas of interest will also show the locations of water supplies, although a physical inspection should be done to make sure the water is truly accessible.

Controls for dump valves should be located off to one side to keep firefighters out from the rear of apparatus while backing to portable tanks. Tank fills should also be very accessible to minimize the non-moving time apparatus spend during shuttle operations.    (Fire Apparatus Photo by Allen Baldwin)

Whenever moving water, it’s important that everyone know how much is on hand to keep firefighters and crews safe. Tank level gauges visible at the pump panel, as well as the sides and rear help keep everyone informed about available water.

Even when the static water sources have been located, a determination about the water capacity should be calculated. The International Fire Service Training Association has a formula for calculating natural stream adequacy: Q=AxVx7.5. Obviously that needs a little explanation. First, Q is flow in gallons per minute. Next A equals the area of the stream in feet squared (width in feet multiplied by average depth in feet). V = velocity in feet per minute and 7.5 is the number of gallons in a cubic foot.

For calculating ponds and lakes, the round swimming pool capacity formula works well. This formula is Capacity in Gallons = π x r2 x D x 7.5. Remember, π equals 3.14, r equals radius or half the diameter in feet, D equals average depth in feet and 7.5 equals number of gallons in a cubic foot.

Another, perhaps simpler formula for calculating creeks and streams is Gallons Per Minute = Area x Velocity x 450. These formulas can be used when the emergency occurs, but it’s better to do a little preplanning and figure this out in advance of any incident. Nobody wants to be there, calculator and pencil in hand, doing complicated equations when there’s a lot of other stuff to be doing.

Maps Are Everything
It’s important to remember that in this business, maps are everything. The time to find water sources is not 3 a.m. with a vehicle accident with entrapment and fire or an incident involving a gasoline tanker on fire.

Using the formulas provided above and such tools as Google Earth, Map Quest, your local GIS system or any of the commercially available mapping programs, it is not that difficult or time consuming to update your map books or even put together water supply maps and list the locations, potential flows and travel distance from roadway access points.

Drafting
A little preplanning in this area will help reduce confusion and stress when an incident occurs. Drafting and water supply operations can be made more efficient and faster by employing such devices a jet siphon from one of the hose fitting manufacturers or the TurboDraft by Schutte and Koerting of Trevose, Pa., which allows you to gain access to a remote water supply without having to use any hard sleeve hose. It uses a 2.5-inch line for an inlet and 5-inch for discharge. The 2.5-inch works similar to a jet siphon or eductor, which then helps pull the water supply into the 5-inch line.

It can also be used with a 6-inch supply line and weighs 52 pounds. For more information go to www.turbodraft.com
Another helpful device for drafting is a barrel strainer with a foot valve, which can also greatly enhance your drafting abilities. While on the topic of drafting operations, when is the last time you went out and practiced?

Another area to look at is your water shuttle operations. When is the last time you practiced moving water?

There are some formulas that are good to have around to help calculate water tender performance, which will help determine the fire flows, which can be supported.

To figure out the all important Gallons Per Minute equation – Tank Size minus10 percent divided by Trip Time. To figure Travel Time in minutes use the following formula: Travel Time in Minutes = 0.65 + (1.7) (Distance in Miles). Tender Flow Rate is calculated by Tender Water Tank Size (In Gallons) minus 10 percent divided by Travel Time plus Handling Time. Handling Time can be determined by using this formula: Fill Site Time plus Dump Site Time = Handling Time.

All of these formulas can help you ensure a good, adequate water supply from tenders when shuttling water on the fire ground, and they take the guesswork out of it.

Keep copies of these formulas on your apparatus to aid in this operation. It is also possible to do some preplanning if you know enough about the water supply points, delivery routes and apparatus capacities. Another thing to keep in mind for efficient operations is how the apparatus is set up.

Whether you are specing a new tender or updating an older unit, there are several things that need to be considered. Again, the basics are: to move water, apparatus operators need to be able to get it on and off quickly. Items such as remote side dump chutes and rear large diameter and jet assisted dumps with remote controls from the cab are a great set of options to help move water quickly off the vehicle.

Large fill inlets with Storz or quick connect couplings are great setups for the fill side saving time when hooking up. Adequate lighting around the vehicle and underneath it is also vitally important. Go overboard with lighting at the key operational areas, such as the rear and side dumps, so you can see these areas clearly at night.

Good compartment lighting that illuminates the whole compartment is important so equipment can be retrieved easily.

There also needs to be scene lighting for operations on the roadway as well as illuminating the area around the fill and dump sites. Let’s face, it the extra lighting is a help if we have to maneuver through some tight areas. And let’s not forget about reflective striping on the sides and particularly the rear of the apparatus, as it will be sitting out on the road a good bit of time.
Another hint is to make sure there are tank water gauges in the cab, at the pump panel and rear of the vehicle so everyone can know about the water levels.

Remote controls for valves and manual controls should be easy to reach and especially in the rear in such a position that you do not have to go between the rig and the portable tank. Tender operators should never let anyone stand or walk between a portable tank and the vehicle while it’s moving. One false move by anyone can cause serious injury or death. Controls for dump valves should be accessible from the sides or remotely from in the cab.

As far as selecting a chassis, think about where it will be operating. Think about whether all-wheel-drive will be required and what angle of approach and departure will be needed to access the water source.

A wide variety of fittings and adapters are always handy things to have on tenders to meet whatever water moving need might arise. Carrying a floating dock or a low-level strainer for the portable tank is a good idea too, depending what your engine company carries. Don’t forget the beach ball to break up the vortex when drafting.

Portable Tanks
As mentioned previously, portable tanks need to be large enough to hold the capacity of your tenders, and better still, that of the largest tender in the area because if they have to unload in several steps, then you’ll delay the off-loading operations and cause a backlog in the flow of tenders (and their water) at some point. And, don’t forget to make sure to carry a tarp to put under the portable tank as they often have to be deployed on rough surfaces and the tarp will offer a little more protection.

The engine will also have to carry a collection of adapters and appliances, including a low-flow strainer and float dock strainer for drafting operations.

Also, a manifold to assist when filing tenders is a good idea, and remember, fill one at a time as opposed to two or three. Filling just one will make things go a lot faster and help you keep things on track.

The key to a good water shuttle operation is to limit the time that the apparatus is standing still. Let’s face it, a water shuttle operation is meant to move water. Water shuttle apparatus that are not moving are not contributing to the process.

Maximizing the flow of water is achieved by minimizing non-movement time of the water shuttle apparatus. Keep that in mind next time a water shuttle operation is set up and, as always, stay safe and return to quarters.

Editor’s Note: Allen Baldwin is the manager of operations and incident response for the Pennsylvania Turnpike commission and a volunteer captain with the Gettysburg (Pa.) Fire Department. He has been a firefighter and EMT for over 25 years, once serving as a career fire chief, and is an instructor with the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and several community colleges.