Summit County, Ohio - Rural Water Supply Drill
 
By President Mark Davis
November 14, 2013
 

On October 12, 2013, the Richfield (Ohio) FD hosted a "Water Delivery Operational Training" sponsored by the Ohio Fire Chiefs' Association Water Delivery Technical Advisory Committee and the Summit County Code 10 Water Shuttle Training Committee. The drill was an opportunity for mutual aid partners to practice hauling water with tenders: it also provided an opportunity to look at and use a number of "new technological advances" in terms of equipment (Fol-Da-Tank, Trident Emergency Products, Fireman's Friend, Stock Mfg)

Forty-nine participants from eight counties used seven tenders and two pumpers to sustain a 1,100 gpm flow. A traditional, pressurized fire hydrant was used as the lone fill site; the fill site pumper loaded tenders using 4-inch LDH.

The dump site used four of Fol-Da-Tank's new, Single-Lane Tanks [SLT] (2,000 gal each) set up in a "two-in-front" and "two-in-rear" configuration. All of the tenders that could side dump simply drove along the SLTs and dumped as needed. The dump site pumper was equipped with a Trident Automatic Air Primer and the operator never had to touch the primer beyond the initial prime - even when one of the SLTs emptied.

The two-hour drill was a success and many thanks to the sponsoring committees for making the drill a reality and many thanks to Fol-Da-Tank for supporting the drill. Also - many thanks to Parker Browne for supplying the photos and information for this story.
 
Bath Tender 1218 arrives at the dump site.
Bath Tender 1218 arrives at the dump site.
The Single-Lane Tanks can really make a difference in areas with narrow roads. Note how the tank is about as wide as the dump site pumper.
The Single-Lane Tanks can really make a difference in areas with narrow roads. Note how the tank is about as wide as the dump site pumper.
 
4,000-gallons of water "in front" of the dump site pumper.
4,000-gallons of water "in front" of the dump site pumper.
Side-dumping tenders play a big role in efficient dump site operations.
Side-dumping tenders play a big role in efficient dump site operations.
 
A fixed-pitot was used to measure flow rates.
A fixed-pitot was used to measure flow rates.
Brecksville Engine 142 operated the lone fill site and used a traditional fire hydrant as the water supply source.
Brecksville Engine 142 operated the lone fill site and used a traditional fire hydrant as the water supply source.
 
Loading tenders using 4-inch LDH = fast and efficient operations.
Loading tenders using 4-inch LDH = fast and efficient operations.
Traffic flow is an important consideration when establishing and operating a tanker loading site.
Traffic flow is an important consideration when establishing and operating a tanker loading site.
 
4,000 gallons of water behind the dump site pumper.
4,000 gallons of water behind the dump site pumper.
Drill participants are briefed prior to the drill commencing.
Drill participants are briefed prior to the drill commencing.
 
Richfield Engine 3013 served as the dump site pumper and drafted using both of its side suction inlets. The inlets were outfitted with Fol-Da-Tank's 90-degree suction elbow in order to better facilitate drafting from the front and rear sets of dump tanks.
Richfield Engine 3013 served as the dump site pumper and drafted using both of its side suction inlets. The inlets were outfitted with Fol-Da-Tank's 90-degree suction elbow in order to better facilitate drafting from the front and rear sets of dump tanks.