Stanley Fire Department Hosts 2-Day Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar
 
By President Mark Davis
November 14, 2012
 

On November 10th and 11th, Chief Rodger Sill and the Stanley (Iowa) Fire Department hosted our 2-day Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar. The program was split between a day of relay pumping operations and a day of tanker shuttle operations.

The relay pumping session was held on Saturday in Independenace, Iowa at the Independence FD. The participants reviewed the basics of LDH and replay pumping operations and then practiced pumping water through several thousand feet of 5-inch and 6-inch LDH. Chief Sill and th Stanley FD had been successful in acquiring federal grant money for the purchase of 3,000 feet of 5-inch and 5,000 feet of 6-inch LDH and all the appliances to go with it! The hose and appliances were used during the relay pumping drill.

The tanker shuttle session was held on Sunday in Stanley, Iowa at the Stanley Fire Department. The participants reviewed the basics of hauling water and then set out to run a tanker shuttle drill. The weather "broke bad" and students had to work in near freezing temps with wind driven rain and sleet - eeek! However, they all did a GREAT job and learned something about water hauling operations.

Chief Sill is to be commended on his efforts to improve the water supply operations of the Stanley FD and the surrounding areas - many FDs across the USA in areas such as Stanley are poorly equipped - not Chief Sill's!!!

Instructors for the program were Mark Davis and Alan Butsch, with a special guest appearance by AC Parker Browne from Ohio.

The students were able to raise enough funds during the t-shirt raffle to purchase our 12th brick for the NFA Walk of Honor!
 
Independence FD Engine 3 takes up a position to draft from the Wapsipinicon River in downtown Independence, Iowa.
Independence FD Engine 3 takes up a position to draft from the Wapsipinicon River in downtown Independence, Iowa.
The crew drafted off of both sides of the pumper so additional suction hose was needed. The driver side suction hose was fed under the pumper in order to minimize the need for another length of hose.
The crew drafted off of both sides of the pumper so additional suction hose was needed. The driver side suction hose was fed under the pumper in order to minimize the need for another length of hose.
 
The 1250 gpm pumper was now ready to deliver maximum pumping capacity.
The 1250 gpm pumper was now ready to deliver maximum pumping capacity.
About 5,000 feet of LDH was layed out in the park that bordered the river.
About 5,000 feet of LDH was layed out in the park that bordered the river.
 
Several in-line pressure gauges were used to measure friction loss in the 6-inch and 5-inch hose.
Several in-line pressure gauges were used to measure friction loss in the 6-inch and 5-inch hose.
A TFT Oasis valve was used as an in-line relay valve so that additional pumpers could be added to the relay pumping operation.
A TFT Oasis valve was used as an in-line relay valve so that additional pumpers could be added to the relay pumping operation.
 
Manchester Engine 176 was the first in-line relay pumper used.
Manchester Engine 176 was the first in-line relay pumper used.
The Manchester crew connected to the TFT valve and relayed water.
The Manchester crew connected to the TFT valve and relayed water.
 
Stanley's FD hose wagon (flat bed truck) and its attached Hose Mule were used to pick up the LDH after the drill was over.
Stanley's FD hose wagon (flat bed truck) and its attached Hose Mule were used to pick up the LDH after the drill was over.
Monona FD's tanker dumps its water at the tanker shuttle drill in Stanley.
Monona FD's tanker dumps its water at the tanker shuttle drill in Stanley.
 
Postville's pumper used one of Fol-Da-Tanks new, single-lane dump tanks at the dump site.
Postville's pumper used one of Fol-Da-Tanks new, single-lane dump tanks at the dump site.
Stanley FD's homemade tanker does a great job of hauling water.
Stanley FD's homemade tanker does a great job of hauling water.
 
On of Kochek's Holley Tubes was used as a water transfer device.
On of Kochek's Holley Tubes was used as a water transfer device.
The Stanley FD tanker was retrofitted with a Firemans Friend fill valve as part of the federal grant award.
The Stanley FD tanker was retrofitted with a Firemans Friend fill valve as part of the federal grant award.
 
The Stanley FD tanker is outfitted quite nicely to dump and fill.
The Stanley FD tanker is outfitted quite nicely to dump and fill.
The fill site for the drill provided about a 10-mile roundtrip for hauling water.
The fill site for the drill provided about a 10-mile roundtrip for hauling water.
 
Three Turbo Draft devices were used at the fill site to provide water for filling tankers.
Three Turbo Draft devices were used at the fill site to provide water for filling tankers.
The Turbo Drafts were used to fill a dump tank from which a pumper drafted and then filled tankers.
The Turbo Drafts were used to fill a dump tank from which a pumper drafted and then filled tankers.
 
Stanley FD's tanker is being filled using the Fireman's Friend valve.
Stanley FD's tanker is being filled using the Fireman's Friend valve.
Several lines were layed out and equipped with 4-inch cam lock fittings for filling tankers.
Several lines were layed out and equipped with 4-inch cam lock fittings for filling tankers.
 
Instructor Alan Butsch monitors pump operations at the draft pumper.
Instructor Alan Butsch monitors pump operations at the draft pumper.
One of Independence FD's "cadet" helps out by collecting pressure readings on the flow measuring device.
One of Independence FD's "cadet" helps out by collecting pressure readings on the flow measuring device.
 
Instructor Mark Davis provides a summary of the relay operation.
Instructor Mark Davis provides a summary of the relay operation.
The Hose Mule made picking up hose much easier.
The Hose Mule made picking up hose much easier.