There are numerous expectations when we hook up to a hydrant. The basic expectation is water will come out, enter the pump, and we can mount a sustained fire attack. As this week’s report excerpt relates, there can be additional objects carried into the pump that interfere with operations.
“We arrived on the scene of multiple single family homes on fire. A single story was one hundred percent involved, a two story was ten percent involved, and the other was twenty-five percent involved. Crews stretched a 1 3/4″ line inside the twenty-five percent involved house. We had good water pressure for a few minutes until the line went limp. Crews were immediately pulled out. We broke down the supply lines to the first due engine and found pea gravel in the intake. This is what caused the water issues.”
The engine is the basic component of a fire department, if we combine that with a strong water distribution system, the engine and water distribution elements form the backbone of the community’s fire defense system. When either element of the system fails the fire attack is severely crippled.
Water transmission lines and hydrants are normally flushed annually by the water authority. However, explosive growth in communities and human error can leave some new lines laden with gravel or older water lines corroded with sediment build up. Either case spells trouble for a fire pump’s impellers. Once you have read the entire account (CLICK HERE), consider the following:
1. What was the source of your fire department’s last pump failure?
2. When was the last time the hydrants in your first due area were flushed?
3. Should hydrant flushing be the role of the water authority or the fire department?
4. What options would you have to maintain fire flow if you were the pump operator in this week’s report?
5. How many different ways can you prevent debris from entering the pump?
Have you experienced a near miss involving pump operations? Prevent an injury. Save a life. Submit your account to www.firefighternearmiss.com today.
Note: The questions posed by the reviewers are designed to generate discussion and thought in the name of promoting firefighter safety. They are not intended to pass judgment on the actions and performance of individuals in the reports.
