Water Shuttle Operations

1. Water Shuttle Operations Sugar Land Fire Department Driver/Operator—Pumper Academy Spring 2003

3. Pumpers • Minimum of two used in shuttle: one at fill site and one at dump site. • Must have a minimum pump capacity of 1,000gpm to conform to NFPA 1901

4. Tenders/Tankers • Must have tank-to-pump line capable of supplying the pump 500 gpm until at least 80% of the tank is empty • Must be equipped with at least one external connection to allow filling at the rate of 1,000 gpm • Must have a discharge capable of discharging 90% of the tank volume at an average rate of 1,000gpm • May empty the tank with a gravity or a jet-assisted dump

5. Gravity v.s. Jet-Assisted

6. Gravity v.s. Jet-Assisted

7. Disadvantage of Jet-assisted • The apparatus must have a fire pump • The pump must be engaged before dumping water • Water can be discharged if the pump is not operating, but at a lower rate than it would in a gravity dump. • The apparatus purchase cost is increased

8. Setting up a Water Shuttle • Location of the dump site • Location of the fill site

13. Positioning Fill Site Apparatus • If possible, use a pumper to fill tenders, regardless of whether a hydrant or static water supply is used. • Fill tenders at a rate of 1,000 gpm • Use LDH on the hydrant steamer connection. • If necessary, use multiple MDH in addition to the LDH if the hydrant is on a strong main. • When positioning for drafting, seek a spot that requires a minimum amount of lift or hard intake hose.

14. Positioning Fill Site Apparatus • If the static water supply is inaccessible and portable pumps are used, locate them no further than 100 feet from the pumper • Regardless of whether a hydrant or static water source is used, ensure that a small discharge line continuously flows from the fill site pumper.

15. The Fill Site • Determine where the tender driver/operator should park on arrival • Mark where the tender should stop with a traffic cone opposite the driver/operator’s side door window. • Make sure that each hoseline used should have a gate valve. • Lay out hose according to the tender’s fill valves. • Install a gate valve between the last and second to last sections of each hoseline • Install Stortz adapters on hoses as necessary • Assign a radio-equipped firefighter to supervise the manifold if used.

16. Fill Methods • Fixed or portable overhead pipes at the static water source • Permanent or portable manifolds

17. Operating & Shutting Down • Keep the fill site pumper in gear with tender fill lines charged at all times. • Continuously flow a waste line from fill site pumper to prevent loss of prime or pump overheating • Assign make–and-break personnel: one firefighter to handle each laid out tender fill line, make fill connection when tender arrives, and disconnect hose when tank is full. • Ensure that tender drivers remain in their apparatus cabs

18. Operating & Shutting Down • Monitor the ground conditions and adjust fill site location if site becomes too soft because of spilled water. • Once the incident commander orders the shuttle shut down, make sure all tenders are full before releasing them, unless the site is supplied by a static water source. • Release apparatus based farthest from the scene first • Once all tenders have been refilled and/or released, shut down the fill site pumper and prepare it for return to service. • If water came from a static source, flush all pumps and equipment before storing.

21. Tender Discharge Methods • Using a pump on the tender • Using a dump valve • Simultaneous pumping and dumping

22. Portable Tank Operations • Single Portable Tank Operations • Multiple Portable Tank Operations • Shutting Down the Dump Site