On Wednesday March 11th, around 1:55 pm an explosion and fire at Brent Industries in Bibb County (Alabama) rocked the small community of Brent. Brent VFD and Centreville VFD were the first departments to respond to the fire at the industrial facility. Once crews arrived on-scene, additional resources were requested from Tuscaloosa FD (a career department) and Montevallo Volunteer Fire & Rescue.

While enroute to the incident, Montevallo’s Truck 84 requested Shelby County’s Tanker Task Force 1 (1st Battalion). (Having been called to a large school fire in Brent a few years back, Truck 84 knew that additional resources for water supply would be needed). As it turned out, the Brent Industries facility had just 2 fire hydrants - one flowing approximately 250 GPM and the other approximately 500 GPM.

Upon arrival, Montevallo Truck 84 laid their own line from a hydrant (250GPM) and set up an elevated stream on the Alpha side of the structure As part of the Shelby County Tanker Task Force, Brierfield Volunteer Fire & Rescue responded with Engine 201 (1250 gpm/1000 gal), Pea Ridge Volunteer Fire & Rescue responded with their 1800 gallon tanker and assistant chief, and West Shelby Volunteer Fire & Rescue Engine 241. The units were advised by Truck 84 to set up and support the ladder pipe operation. Brierfield Engine 201 hand-laid a 200’ 5” supply line to Montevallo Truck 84 while Pea Ridge set up for a dump tank operation with Engine 201 drafting. West Shelby Engine 241 was sent to staging until ordered to establish a fill site. Another Bibb County tanker arrived from Lawley Volunteer Fire Department to help with the water supply operation.

Tuscaloosa responded with an engine, a ladder, battalion chief and hazmat unit battalion because of the chemicals stored in the plant. The Brent Fire Chief passed command to the Tuscaloosa Battalion Chief. As the fire grew in intensity the Tuscaloosa IC ordered all units to move back away from the Alpha side building because of the fear of further explosions and intense heat. The whole operation on the Alpha side was shut down.

After approximately 1 hour it was decided to reestablish operations on the Alpha side. At the time there were 12 tankers and multiple engines on scene. Members from Montevallo’s Truck 84 and the Assistant Chief from Pea Ridge informed the Tuscaloosa IC that with the resources on site they could set up and maintain at least an 800 GPM water shuttle operation to support the ladder truck. It was agreed to and orders were given for all tankers to report to the Alpha side and set up a water shuttle operation.

Brierfield Engine 201 re-laid a 5” supply line to the Tuscaloosa ladder truck while a 2000 gallon dump tank from Pea Ridge was set up in front of E201 next to the main road. The tankers were lined up and preceded to unload their water while E201 supplied the Tuscaloosa ladder. (The Brierfield Engine 201 does not have a 5” master discharge but carries (2) 3” pony lines connected to a 2 ½” to 5” storz Siamese. This was used to supply the 5” LDH) A clamp on supply line holder was also attached to the dump tank with 100’ of 3” supply line from E201 so engines could also off load their water and not get in the way of the tankers.

Two fill sites were established. West Shelby’s Engine 241 established a fill site at a hydrant and utilized a LDH manifold to fill tankers - and at times was able to fill two tankers at a time. The other fill site was another hydrant in town. The water shuttle was supplied by tankers from North & West Chilton, Elliotsville from Chilton County, Pea Ridge from Shelby County, Lawley and Pine Tuckey from Bibb County, Plantersville from Dallas County and engines from West Blockton and West Shelby from Shelby County. Dry Valley also from Shelby County sent additional manpower to assist at the fill and dump sites.

A low level strainer from the Pea Ridge tanker was utilized for the draft in the dump tank but was not a “high flow” strainer which initially caused issues trying to flow that much water. It was quickly changed out for a barrel strainer and the flow immediately improved. Once the operation started it was never interrupted and flows maintained for over 1 hour. The Tuscaloosa ladder truck had a flow meter which read consistently at 1040 GPM.

Operations were eventually shut down because of the chemically contaminated runoff and the decision was made to let the remaining fire to burn itself out.

It should be noted that with the exception of West Blocton, Pine Tuckey, Elliotsville and Tuscaloosa - all of the other fire departments have participated in mutual aid tanker shuttle drills and classes in recent year - proof positive that good training pays off !

Units participating from Shelby County's 1st Battaliowere:

Brierfield Engine 201
Dry Valley Rescue 50
Montevallo Truck 84
Pea Ridge Tanker 101
West Shelby Engine 241