Industrial response teams use this adapted truck to rapidly flow high volumes of water with minimal personnel.
BY RICK HAASE
How can you rapidly deploy one or two 1,000-gpm monitors or a 2,000-gpm monitor with a minimal crew? How can you maneuver a vehicle into a tight location and still have the capabilities of delivering high volumes of water? What type of vehicle can you use for high-volume water application as well as for emergency medical service response, rescue response, and other support or administrative duties? The answer: Consider a multipurpose response vehicle, a quick-attack vehicle, for your department.
A QUICK-ATTACK VEHICLE
 (1) The waterway system for the quick-attack vehicle. Note the large-bore, flanged piping, which can be adapted to appropriate fire service fittings. (Photos by author.) |
Industrial complexes have been using the quick-attack vehicle for years. In its simplest form, it is a pickup truck with piping manifolds that distribute water to fixed monitors/deck guns. Industrial response teams use this adapted truck to rapidly flow high volumes of water with minimal personnel. Since many larger industrial complexes have dedicated high-volume/high-pressure water supply systems, quick-attack vehicles can be used to flow high volumes of water without a pump.
Over the years, the simple quick-attack vehicle has evolved into a multipurpose workhorse vehicle that can be used for a multitude of applications. Many fire departments, noting their usefulness, are starting to use them. The quick-attack vehicle can be an asset to any type or size of department.
BASIC VEHICLE CONFIGURATION
 (2) This is a rear view of the 2,000-gpm quick-attack vehicle. The dual preconnected five-inch hosebeds each carry 150 feet of hose with preconnected hydrant valves for quick deployment. |
Most quick-attack vehicles have a relatively simple basic configuration. Most are set up on a 3/4- or one-ton truck chassis. A heavier chassis may be used to accommodate larger water distribution systems or carry additional equipment. These items can quickly overload a quick-attack vehicle; a heavy-duty suspension system should be installed if additional equipment is to be carried. If the vehicle is to be used for off-road applications, add all-wheel-drive capability as well. Most quick-attack vehicles do not require a specially configured engine or drivetrain unless the vehicle is to be used for applications that will necessitate these features.
The simplest (and most cost-effective) quick-attack vehicles are built on a standard pickup truck chassis. Pickup-style toolboxes or a utility-style body (which will increase the vehicle’s cost) can be added to accommodate additional storage. A standard utility bed will meet most departments’ needs; the bed can be customized to achieve specialized storage requirements.
Many departments have a surplus vehicle that can be slightly modified for use as quick-attack vehicle. Using a surplus vehicle is not only cost-effective, but it can also be deployed in locations you may not want to use an expensive pumper. If your department must purchase a vehicle, you can save money by buying one that is in stock.
WATER DISTRIBUTION/SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
The water distribution system is the heart of the quick-attack vehicle. It can be configured in many ways, depending on gallonage requirements and the types of monitor nozzles used.
The most common types of water distribution system configurations are single low-/mid-volume (750- to 1,250-gpm), dual low/ mid-volume, and single high-volume (1,500 gpm or greater) monitor arrangements. Other configurations include triple low-/mid-range, dual high-range, and even single super-high volume (4,000 gpm) monitor systems. Base your choice on the following (in addition to flow volume): the monitor’s size and height, ease-of-operation mechanisms (rotation and height), the effectiveness of locking mechanisms (rotational and nozzle height), the monitor system’s stability, and compatibility with the other monitors used in the system.
Developing the Waterway
After selecting the monitor’s basic configuration, develop an adequate waterway:
- Consider the sizes of the piping and waterway inlets needed to achieve the required flow rates. Make sure the waterway will flow adequate quantities of water for the monitor(s). The minimum sizes are four-inch piping for single mid-volume monitors, six- to eight-inch piping for dual mid-volume monitors, and eight-inch for high-volume monitors. Larger-diameter piping will decrease friction loss and increase the waterway’s flow capabilities.
- A storz coupling for the size of large-diameter hose (LDH) your department carries is most efficient for inlets. The number of inlets would depend on the size and number of monitors used in the waterway: A single inlet should be sufficient for single mid-volume monitors; a minimum of two inlets for dual mid-volume and single high-volume; and a minimum of three inlets for super high-volume monitors. For maximum efficiency, each inlet should consist of an inlet valve, a pressure relief system, and a bleeder valve. Use individual isolation valves for each monitor in a dual-monitor system. In some cases, completely separate waterways may be warranted.
- Use the waterway height that will ensure the monitor’s effectiveness. Resist the urge to develop a configuration that has the waterway extending significantly beyond the height of the vehicle bed. A tall waterway/monitor system will decrease the system’s strength and stability and may make handling of the vehicle awkward. When increasing the height of mid-volume monitors, use height adjustment systems available from monitor manufacturers. Another option with mid-volume monitors is to use detachable monitors that can be deployed in a portable mode; the portable bases can be carried on the truck.
- Adequate bracing is needed to support the monitor(s) and backpressure forces. System bracing should adequately anchor the waterway to the vehicle bed and should also be sufficient to overcome nozzle backpressure. A welded system of appropriately sized angle iron is recommended. Ask the manufacturer to recommend the type of bracing system best suited to your department’s needs. If using high- or super-high volume monitors, you will need large-size bracing or even an outrigger system. The manufacturer or a piping design engineer can help you design a bracing system for your monitors.
- Use appropriate valving. Pressure gauges on the inlet lines and on the monitor(s) are extremely helpful. Installing a small level on the manifolds will give you a basic idea of the vehicle’s pitch. If the monitors are not to be operated in a full range of motion because of excessive nozzle reaction forces, install stops on the monitors to ensure that only the effective operating ranges can be used. Installing a bleeder valve in the lowest point of the waterway manifold will decrease drain time and the potential for freeze-ups.
SUPPORT EQUIPMENT/SYSTEMS
The type of nozzle used greatly affects the operations of a quick-attack vehicle. A straight-stream (stacked tip) nozzle arrangement provides distance and will facilitate penetration in heavy fire conditions. Some departments use fireboat-type straight-stream nozzles on high-volume monitors to achieve long range and high volume.
The adjustable pattern (fog) nozzle-fixed gallonage, adjustable gallonage, or automatic-is most commonly used in monitor systems. The adjustable-gallonage nozzle provides more flexibility, but many designs necessitate that the nozzle be shut down to change the gallonage setting. The automatic nozzle gives the most flexibility. It adjusts automatically to provide the best possible stream. It is available in high flow rates (1,000-, 2,000-, and 4,000-gpm models are available). Automatic nozzles are preferred for most quick-attack applications.
A clamp-on foam tube will increase the uses of fog nozzles. The foam tubes typically are available only for smaller-flow nozzles (500-, 1,000-, and some 1,250-gpm nozzles), but they are excellent additions to the quick-attack arsenal. The foam tubes make it possible to develop more aerated streams, for thicker foam blankets. Also, the foam tube attachments act as stream straighteners and actually increase the distance of the standard nozzle.
Other types of nozzles can increase the flexibility of a quick-attack vehicle. Because of the need for large-scale foam operations, many industries use self-educting foam nozzles on their quick-attack vehicles. Large self-educting foam nozzles provide large foam streams without having to use dedicated foam apparatus. Some industries use specialty master nozzles that inject a dry chemical stream into the center of the water stream. Although these types of nozzles are not as popular as the self-educting foam streams, they have their place in some special-application situations. Stream straighteners can increase the effective range of almost any nozzle.
Adding a hosebed to a quick-attack vehicle will increase its effectiveness. The size of the typical quick-attack vehicle precludes a large hosebed area, but a small well-placed hosebed will greatly increase the vehicle’s flexibility. A hosebed with 150 to 300 feet of large-diameter (four- or five-inch) hose will provide sufficient resources for most operations. If the vehicle has dual intakes and will have dual medium-volume monitors or a single high-volume monitor, two small hosebeds could be installed. The dual-line concept will greatly increase the waterway’s flow capabilities. Hosebeds accelerate setting up quick-attack vehicles. If the water supply system has sufficient water pressure and volume (as is the case in many industrial complexes with dedicated firefighting water systems), a forward lay can be completed, and the quick-attack vehicle can be supplied by hydrant. The quick-attack truck can also conduct a forward lay to the point at which the truck will be set up, and a later arriving pumper can complete the split lay back to the water supply.
Depending on the typical type of deployment used, you can add preconnected adapters to the hoselays to increase efficiency. For example, industrial quick-attack trucks, which many times are fed directly from hydrants, can be set up with a preconnected storz adapter and hydrant valve to allow the hoselay to be quickly hooked up to the hydrant. If the quick-attack truck is normally supplied from a pumper, the hoselay may end with a preconnected LDH manifold, which can be dropped in the street and fed from one or more pumpers.
Supplemental fire extinguishing agents and basic hand tools enhance the quick-attack vehicle. If installing a self-educting foam nozzle, you may want to add also a foam tank with freeze-protected foam, to allow for the rapid initiation of foam operations. If a dry-chemical educting nozzle is used, consider installing a 150- or 350-pound dry-chemical unit.
Basic hand tools should include a set of spanner wrenches, a hydrant wrench, a dead blow hammer, and wheel chocks.
OTHER DESIGN AND USE CONSIDERATIONS
Quick-attack vehicles are designed primarily to flow high volumes of water, but they have many other uses. When developing a quick-attack vehicle, use your imagination and ingenuity to design a multifaceted workhorse. A basic 3/4- or one-ton vehicle has many uses. All you have to do is understand what you need and then design the vehicle around those needs.
Some departments are using trailers to supplement apparatus. If you add a heavy towing package to a quick-attack vehicle, you will have a utility vehicle that is always ready to deliver your trailers to an incident scene. Add a winch system, and the vehicle is now available for additional technical rescue support. In colder climates, a snowplow may be added to facilitate snow removal from the department’s facilities.
So many departments are using pumpers or rescue trucks for initial response to medical emergencies. A quick-attack vehicle stocked with essential medical gear can save wear-and-tear on these vehicles and is an economical alternative. Because of its small size, the quick-attack vehicle can access almost any area with ease.
A major concern of the fire service is safety at the scene and on highways during emergencies. A quick-attack vehicle with traffic control and scene lighting and stocked with traffic cones, flares, and similar traffic-control equipment can increase your personnel’s safety at highway incident.
Many large urban departments run designated command, fire prevention, or public education vehicles. Smaller suburban and rural departments may have difficulty in obtaining a command vehicle or other types of support vehicles. A vehicle outfitted with a utility body and standard quick-attack equipment (waterway, monitors, hosebed, and so on) creates a diverse work vehicle.
Departments can add to the quick-attack vehicle equipment that meets their specific needs and develop for the vehicle standard operating guidelines tailored to the organization. For example, a quick-attack vehicle used within a refinery operation is used for routine transportation for on-shift supervisors and is rapidly deployed for firefighting operations during emergencies within the refinery.
In today’s world of high-tech apparatus, there are many different types of apparatus designed for specialized uses. A quick-attack vehicle can rapidly deploy master stream appliance(s) and can be used for EMS response, traffic-control operations, and command operations. And, you can justify the vehicle from budget and use perspectives.
RICK HAASE, OHST, CEM, is the emergency response coordinator at the Tosco Wood River Refinery in Roxana, Illinois, and volunteer chief of the Staunton (IL) Fire Protection District. He has an associate’s degree in fire science technology, a bachelor’s degree in advanced fire administration, and numerous state fire service certifications. He was awarded the 2001 Illinois Volunteer Fire Chief of the Year award and is the vice-chairman of the International Association of Fire Chiefs Industrial Section.
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