Fire Chief Considerations for Water Tankers

By Joseph Murray

Fire department water tankers are essential vehicles for providing water supply in rural areas where hydrants are scarce or nonexistent. However, they also pose significant challenges and risks to the firefighters who operate them and to civilians on the roadway.

As fire chiefs, we have the ultimate responsibility in the decisions to purchase and to deploy water tankers. As such, it is important for the fire chief to be aware of how water tankers may affect fire department operations, firefighter safety, and the community at large. Chiefs must have a solid understanding of their community-specific needs as well as the risks associated with tanker use. It is important for the chief to ensure that proper training is conducted with drivers and that proper standard operating procedures are in place to reduce risk to the greatest extent possible. While not an all-inclusive list, this article discusses some of the main areas chiefs should take into account during decision-making processes related to acquiring and using a water tanker.

COMMUNITY-SPECIFIC NEEDS

Before a fire chief purchases a tanker, there are several factors to consider when determining what type and size will work best for the community. Besides the obvious budgetary constraints, chiefs must also consider the roadways and terrain on which a tanker will operate. Knowing your community’s bridge weight limitations is essential. The only thing worse than being the fire chief who purchased a ladder truck that won’t fit in the fire station is to be the chief who purchased a tanker that cannot cross bridges within the community. While that last statement was intended to be humorous, a quick Internet search will demonstrate that this happens more often than most believe.

Understanding the terrain within your community is also important to know, as large tankers do not perform well in areas with steep hills or narrow winding roads. In these areas, a smaller design would be beneficial. Another important consideration when acquiring a tanker is its compatibility with your mutual-aid partners. Water shuttles generally work better when tankers of similar size are used. Fire chiefs should coordinate with mutual-aid partners to ensure tanker designs are the most effective. Every community is different and has its own unique challenges, and there are various tanker designs that impact how a tanker will perform. It is the chief’s role to ensure that the tanker placed in service is the one best designed to meet the needs of the community.

UNDERSTAND THE RISKS

The most important concern for all fire chiefs is the safety and welfare of our firefighters. It is important that chiefs understand the risks associated with driving and operating water tankers. According to the United States Fire Administration’s 2002 report, “Safe Operation of Tankers,” it is suggested that while tankers only account for 3% of the total fire apparatus in the United States, they were responsible for more firefighter-response-related fatalities (22%) than any other type of fire apparatus over the previous two decades.

The most common cause of tanker crashes is the vehicle’s right-side wheels leaving the road surface because of excessive speed or other driver error. Often these crashes result in rollovers, which may be fatal or cause significant injuries. Water tankers are large and heavy vehicles that carry large amounts of water and can be difficult to maneuver and brake, especially on narrow or winding roads. The weight and shifting water can affect the stability and balance of these vehicles. Water shifts increase the risk of rollovers, collisions, or loss of control. Therefore, chiefs should ensure that drivers are properly trained and licensed to operate water tankers and that they follow all department standard operating procedures, speed limits, and traffic rules. Fire chiefs must also ensure that their tankers are equipped with adequate safety features such as seat belts, air bags, antilock brakes, and rollover protection systems.

CONVERTED VEHICLES

Using a water tanker that meets the requirements of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1900, Standard for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Vehicles, Automotive Fire Apparatus, Wildland Fire Apparatus, and Automotive Ambulances, should be of utmost importance. While NFPA 1900 compliance will not completely eliminate every risk within its design, it will greatly reduce risk as it relates to some of the most significant design features that lead to tanker crashes. It is an unfortunate reality, however, that not every fire department can afford to purchase a custom manufactured tanker. Many departments are forced to retrofit or convert other types of nonfire service designed tanker trucks such as military surplus vehicles, milk trucks, vacuum trucks, and petroleum tankers. Unfortunately, often these converted vehicles or chassis are not designed for the weight of the water. For example, a converted gasoline tanker was designed to support the weight of the gasoline it carried in a former life. As we know, a gallon of water weighs 8.33 pounds compared with a gallon of gasoline, which weighs 5.6 pounds. When multiplied by thousands of gallons, this weight difference can become a real concern, especially as it relates to braking distances and vehicle stability.

Another significant risk with using converted tanker trucks is that many are not properly baffled for fire department use. Milk trucks, for example, may not use baffling to reduce the chances of contamination. Improper or absent baffling can result in fluid surge risks when the tank is less than full. These surges can make the tanker very difficult to control and unstable. Often, converted vehicles also have an extremely high center of gravity because of tank placement, which increases the chances of rollover. It is important to remember that the original truck was not designed to be used as a water tanker; thus, many of its components are not equipped to best handle its converted usage. It is best to avoid using converted tankers, as they may not be feasible for all departments. It is essential that conversions be completed and inspected by certified mechanics who specialize in heavy trucks.

MAINTENANCE

Maintenance is an essential part of keeping a tanker safe and operations-ready. Poor maintenance of a tanker can result in vehicle system failures that lead to crashes. Often, water tankers are overlooked when compared with the rest of the fleet. This is especially true with departments that have tankers that are not used as frequently as other types of apparatus. In many departments, tankers are the oldest vehicles in the fleet because of their lower use frequency or because of their cost to replace. As chiefs, we know the importance of getting the most service time out of our apparatus; however, age can have a significant effect on the safety of a tanker, even a tanker with low miles and low hours. Because of the weight of the water that tankers carry, metal fatigue can be significantly expedited. It is extremely important that tankers are placed on a regular inspection and maintenance program—even if they are not used often.

TRAINING

Fire chiefs must ensure proper training of firefighters tasked with driving and operating a water tanker. All firefighters should at minimum meet the recommendation of NFPA 1002, Standard for Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Professional Qualifications. However, because of its uniqueness among typical fire apparatus, the water tanker also requires a specific set of skills and know-how. Driving experience with other apparatus such as engines or ladder trucks is not sufficient. Focus training on the unique features of water tankers and their impact on their operation. Tanker drivers must have a good understanding of how the weight of the tanker will impact braking distances, how the flow of water within the tank may impact stability, and how the high center of gravity may pose a risk during turning. Fire chiefs should ensure that tanker operators and personnel receive adequate training and certification on these topics and that they participate in regular drills and exercises to maintain their skills and proficiency. All tanker drivers should undertake many hours of closed-course and over-the-road driving with another qualified driver to ensure proficiency before being allowed to respond to emergencies with a tanker.

PROTOCOL DEVELOPMENT

Because of tankers’ uniqueness within a fire department’s fleet, it is important to develop specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tanker operations. A fire department tanker SOP should outline the best practices and guidelines for driving and operating the tanker. This SOP should outline what training and certifications personnel must obtain before they are allowed to drive and operate a tanker. The tanker SOP should also discuss driving safety by requiring that drivers follow all traffic laws and safety rules while driving on public roads. Important to define is the use of warning lights and sirens. If the tanker is expected to respond emergently, the SOP should include requirements to use warning lights and sirens as appropriate to alert other drivers and pedestrians of their presence. It is also important to reference that water tanker drivers should maintain a safe speed and distance from other vehicles while driving on public roads. Drivers should avoid sharp turns, sudden stops, and abrupt maneuvers that could cause instability or the vehicle to roll over.

Water tankers are a unique type of fire apparatus that come with their own unique risks and challenges. It is important for fire chiefs to understand these major areas of concern related to tankers, to ensure that the water tanker can be best used within their community. It is important that fire chiefs have a good understanding of the unique geographical and terrain features of their community to ensure the acquisition of the best type and variation of water tanker. Finally, fire chiefs should place great emphasis on the safety of their firefighters, proper training, and clear protocol development and, when possible, avoid the use of converted vehicles.

JOSEPH MURRAY, Ph.D., is chief and emergency management coordinator for the Dearborn (MI) Fire Department.