SOG# 420-10: Rural Water Supply for Structural Firefighting

Vocabulary terms and definitions based on PBCFR SOG# 420-10 regarding rural water supply operations, including apparatus weights, hose lengths, and tactical delivery methods.

SOG# 420-10 Goal

To provide an uninterrupted water supply to meet the demands of fire ground operations in rural areas of Palm Beach County.

PBCFR Brush Truck Weight

The average weight of these units is $28,500\,lbs$.

PBCFR Rescue Truck Weight

These units generally weigh less than $20,000\,lbs$.

PBCFR Engine Weight

The average weight of these units is $39,000\,lbs$.

Brush Truck Hose Complement

In rural areas, these carry $800$ to $1000$ feet of $3"$ hose and $200$ feet of $1\,3/4"$ structural attack hose.

Hydrant Navigation System

A tool providing the location and flow of fire hydrants, as well as the location of dry hydrants and static water sources.

Water Supply Officer (WSO)

An officer well versed in rural water supply tactics assigned to oversee operations; they communicate on a dedicated TAC channel and are the only water supply personnel to communicate with the IC.

Standard 1 1/4 Acre Lot Width

Approximately $200'$ feet wide, used for estimating hose lays.

Typical Single Family Dwelling Water Requirement

An average of $2,000$ to $10,000$ gallons is required to fully extinguish and overhaul.

Four Means of Rural Water Supply

1) Modified Direct Pumping, 2) Nurse Tender, 3) Relay Pumping, and 4) Folding/Dump Tank operations.

Modified Direct Pumping

A tactic recommended for short duration fires utilizing all on-scene apparatus water to supplement the Attack Engine; it typically yields $6,000$ gallons of initial water.

Nurse Tender Operations

A tactic where a Tender is positioned at the scene to supply the Attack Engine directly and is refilled by other apparatus via a water shuttle.

Relay Pumping Operations

The preferred method when a water source is far away, utilizing a source pumper to supply others in a sequence using $5"$ supply line.

Relay Pumping Distance

If a long relay is necessary, each apparatus should pump at intervals of $500'$ of $5"$ hose.

Folding/Dump Tank Capacity

Each portable tank holds $3,000$ to $3,500$ gallons of water.

Folding/Dump Tank Limitations

They cannot be used to supply master streams or Aerial apparatus and require flow rates in excess of $300\,GPM$ to utilize multiple tanks.

Tender Apparatus Capacity

Each unit carries $3,000$ gallons of water.

Float-a-pump Operations

A last resort supply method using pumps carried on Brush Trucks; it requires at least two high volume units to relay water when draft sites are inaccessible.