Haulin' Water - Kansas Style!
 
By President Mark Davis
August 26, 2013
 

On August 24th and 25th, the Franklin County Firefighter's Association and the L.O.H. Fire Department hosted our 2-day Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar in Ottawa, Kansas. We had a great time working with the folks from Franklin County and they did a GREAT job of hauling water over the rural, DUSTY roads of Ottawa Township! The crews spent the first day and a half reviewing the basics of hauling water - including specific work on maximizing dump and fill site operations. The seminar concluded with the 2-hr tanker shuttle drill where everyone worked together to sustain 500 gpm over a 6-mile loop. Excellent job!

Instructors for the weekend were Mark Davis and Alan Butsch. The folks were also successful in raising funds for our 21st brick in the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation - Walk of Honor - which of course was "awesome."
 
Crews practice dump site set-up operations Saturday prior to Sunday's "big" drill.
Crews practice dump site set-up operations Saturday prior to Sunday's "big" drill.
Off-loading at over 1500 gpm.
Off-loading at over 1500 gpm.
 
All ready to get started.
All ready to get started.
The addition of the 2-1/2" suction allowed this 1250 gpm pumper to add pump capacity in order to run jet siphons and pump 1000 gpm if needed.
The addition of the 2-1/2" suction allowed this 1250 gpm pumper to add pump capacity in order to run jet siphons and pump 1000 gpm if needed.
 
L.O.H. Fire District's 4,000-gallon tanker dumping some Big Water.
L.O.H. Fire District's 4,000-gallon tanker dumping some Big Water.
Wellsville's tanker off-loading during the drill.
Wellsville's tanker off-loading during the drill.
 
500 gpm - sustained for the entire drill on Sunday!
500 gpm - sustained for the entire drill on Sunday!
L.O.H. Fire District's 3,200-gallon tanker ready to dump its water. Two dumps tanks are in operation with a third in waiting. (Note - one suction hose is awaiting a jet siphon, the other is outfitted and ready to go.)
L.O.H. Fire District's 3,200-gallon tanker ready to dump its water. Two dumps tanks are in operation with a third in waiting. (Note - one suction hose is awaiting a jet siphon, the other is outfitted and ready to go.)
 
Cutler FD's grass rig (400 gpm) drafts and runs two jet siphons.
Cutler FD's grass rig (400 gpm) drafts and runs two jet siphons.
The final set-up for the drill. 500 gpm with three dump tanks and a 1,000 gpm pumper (Pomona Twp Engine 3952 - yellow) as the dump site pumper.
The final set-up for the drill. 500 gpm with three dump tanks and a 1,000 gpm pumper (Pomona Twp Engine 3952 - yellow) as the dump site pumper.
 
Centropolis FD Engine 3851 (1500 gpm) drafts from a 3,000-gallon dump tank and loads tankers. The dump tank is being filled by a 400 gpm grass rig that is drafting from the pond and filling the dump tank using an "open relay" operation.
Centropolis FD Engine 3851 (1500 gpm) drafts from a 3,000-gallon dump tank and loads tankers. The dump tank is being filled by a 400 gpm grass rig that is drafting from the pond and filling the dump tank using an "open relay" operation.
One pond was used to run two, tanker loading stations.
One pond was used to run two, tanker loading stations.
 
L.O.H. Engine 3652 (1250 gpm) drafted and supplied 400-ft of 5-inch LDH to a control valve where tankers were then loaded.
L.O.H. Engine 3652 (1250 gpm) drafted and supplied 400-ft of 5-inch LDH to a control valve where tankers were then loaded.