Knowing the location of water supply sources before the fire occurs is pretty darn important. For those fire departments that take the time to locate, evaluate, develop, and document water supply sources ahead of time...before the the big fire...we generally find a better commitment to success in hauling and pumping water.
The folks at the Jacksonville VFC in Baltimore County, MD operate a Tanker Support Unit (TSU474) and a water supply map book is part of that rig's inventory. They have done a nice job creating maps that locate water supply sources in the districts to which they respond. Much - if not all of their local and mutual aid response areas are non-hydranted.
Tanker Support Unit 474.
Like much of Maryland, Baltimore County uses the "phantom" box area concept. The water supply maps in TSU474's mapbook show the closest water supplies in any given box area.
This small unit is a success because of its LDH!
Nothing fancy here. The rig is small and can lay to a pond or stream and pump back to a manifold.
