FDNY Comprehensive Study Notes: Pipeline, Brush Fire, and Storm Operations

FDNY A.U.C. 149 - Buckeye Pipeline Operations

• Pipeline Construction and Product Composition     - The Buckeye Pipeline consists of two internal pipes made of steel, each measuring $12"$ in diameter.     - 601 Line: Transports kerosene-based aviation fuel.     - 602 Line: Transports multiple types of fuel, including various grades of gasoline, diesel fuel, and #2 home heating oil.

• Route and Geography     - Origin: Linden, New Jersey.     - Path: Travels east through the city, passing under the Arthur Kill to Staten Island, crossing through Staten Island, and traversing beneath the Narrows into Brooklyn.     - New Lots Junction: Located in Brownsville, Brooklyn, where the lines divide into two distinct branches, each containing two lines.         - Branch 1 (JFK/Inwood): Continues east through Brooklyn into Queens to the Buckeye Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport, crossing airport property to Head-of-Bay, and ending in Inwood, Nassau County.         - Branch 2 (Long Island City/Greenpoint): Travels north through Brooklyn and Queens to the Long Island City (LIC) Terminal.             - From LIC Terminal: One pipeline extends to La Guardia Airport.             - Shipper's Lines: Six lines leave the LIC Terminal for various fuel terminals in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Three of these lines are currently out of service and are filled with nitrogen.

• Operating Pressures     - Initial Pressure: $1,200 \text{ psig}$ from Linden, NJ, to push product over Todt Hill on Staten Island.     - Pumping Operations: Pressures around $300 \text{ psig}$ are expected during pumping to prevent different fuel types from mixing.     - Terminal/Delivery Pressure: Maximum service pressure on terminal piping and delivery lines at LIC terminal is $200 \text{ psig}$.

• Identification and Marking     - The pipeline route is marked by white PVC poles with orange tops.     - Orange sections contain the pipeline owner's identity, the product carried, and an emergency contact phone number.     - Markers only provide the approximate location of the pipeline.

• Pipeline Control: Manual Valves     - Manual Shut Off Wrench: A yellow-painted tool, approximately $3 \frac{1}{2} \text{ feet}$ long. It features a square female fitting used for unlocking covers and shutting manual valves.     - Inventory: Each unit with pipeline responsibilities is issued two wrenches. One is kept on the apparatus; the second is kept near the housewatch with a copy of the Buckeye Pipeline Response Manual and at least $3 \text{ cans}$ of Class B (AR-AFFF) firefighting foam.     - Valve Box Access: Open the cover by inserting the square female fitting into the latch and making a half-turn counterclockwise. Do not use the wrench as a lever to avoid rounding the square end.     - Valve Operation: Inside the box, you will find a yellow rubber cover (low voltage wiring) and a red rubber cover (square male valve stem).         - To shut, turn clockwise approximately $42 \text{ full turns}$.         - Exception - Shipper's Lines: Require approximately $24 \text{ full turns}$ clockwise.         - Exception - Valve 62QL: Requires $12 \text{ full turns}$ clockwise.         - Exception - Valve 66QI (JFK Head of Bay): Requires over $100 \text{ full turns}$ clockwise.     - Important: Do not over-tighten.

• Above Ground Valve Locations (Locked Behind 1620 Key Fences)     - Valve 70BN: United Metro Oil Company facility, Kingsland Ave, Brooklyn.     - Buckeye Pipeline LIC Terminal: Railroad Ave, Queens.     - Apollo Junction: Norman Ave, Brooklyn.     - New Lots Junction: Linden Blvd, Brooklyn.     - Valve 49QK.     - Building 43: La Guardia Airport, Allied Fuel facility.     - Building 157: John F. Kennedy Airport.

• Associated Alarms     - Intruder Alarms (Require notification through Borough Dispatcher prior to non-emergency entry):         - Valve 12R (Linden Pl, Staten Island).         - New Lots Junction (1600 Linden Blvd, Brooklyn).         - East New York Railroad Tunnel (between valves 24BN & 25BN).         - Valve 49QK (near JFK, Queens).     - Hazardous Vapor Alarms (Detect flammable vapors; strobe light outside):         - New Lots Junction.         - East New York Railroad Tunnel.         - Response requires Haz-Mat Co. 1, Haz Mat Tech Engine, or Squad company for metering.

• Response and Leak Procedures     - Leak Detection: Metering equipment in Breinigsville, PA, and terminals compares barrels pumped vs. barrels delivered.     - Apparatus Positioning: Should not be brought closer than $500 \text{ feet}$ to a leak.     - Initial Actions: Shut down valves to isolate the leak and decrease fuel spill. IC (Deputy Chief and above) may authorize reopening valves only after consulting Buckeye personnel to ease head pressure from elevation.     - Hazards: Vapors are heavier than air and drift into low areas (cellars, sewers, subways). All ignition sources must be extinguished.

FDNY AUC 151 - Brush Fire Operations

• Staten Island Seasons and Staffing     - Staten Island Borough Command (SIBC) staffs Brush Fire Units (BFUs) independently from March 17th to April 30th and October 17th to November 30th.     - Staffing Hours: 0900 to 1800 hours by a lieutenant and two firefighters.

• Fire Classifications     - Bog Fires: Surface fires that burn downward into soft, spongy ground. Can smolder for days or weeks. Requires burrowing holes and flooding with large volumes of water.     - Crown Fires: Burn along the tops of trees. Rare in New York City.

• Required Equipment for Division 8 Units     - Engines: 2 Indian Pumps, 4 Fire Brooms, $1"$ Forestry Hose.     - Ladders: 4 Indian Pumps, 4 Fire Brooms, 6 lengths of $1 \frac{3}{4}"$ hose.     - Units relocated to SI (Boxes 100D-400D): Minimum 2 Indian Pumps and 4 Fire Brooms.

• Brush Fire Units (BFUs)     - Specialized non-structural units equipped with booster tanks, pumps, hose, medical equipment, portable de-watering pumps, and chainsaws.     - BFU Locations:         - BFU 1: E-164         - BFU 2: E-166         - BFU 3: E-156         - BFU 4: E-167         - BFU 5: E-161         - BFU 6: E-321         - BFU 7: E-266         - BFU 8: Governor's Island     - Identification: Units have numbers painted on top for helicopter visibility. Administrative numeral for reports is "9" (e.g., BFU 1 is $9-501$).     - Patrol Duties: Daily patrols from 1030-1130 and 1530-1630.     - Winter/Storm Use: BFUs can use 4-wheel drive for snow/ice and high chassis for flooding ($50"$ depth limit).

• Tactics and Maneuvers     - Exposure Protection: The primary priority. Avoid hooking to hydrants initially to maintain mobility unless protecting exposures.     - Attack Strategy: Attack the flanks near the head of the fire to narrow the spread. Narrow the fire until it can be headed off.     - Mobility: Use 2-person teams (one Indian pump, one broom). Brooms complete extinguishment once water is applied to the perimeter.     - Off-Road Risks: Standard pumpers are too heavy. If roads are doubtful, members precede apparatus on foot. BFU winches are only for self-extrication or similar weight vehicles; they cannot tow full-sized apparatus.     - Safe Zones: Burnt-out "blackened" areas are safe to operate from as fuel is consumed.

• Aviation Operations (NYPD Helicopter)     - Primary Use: Air Reconnaissance.     - Staffing: Air Reconnaissance Chief (ARC) is a Battalion Chief who responds to Floyd Bennett Field.     - Bambi Bucket: Water drops carry $150 \text{ gallons}$. Members must be at a safe distance; rotor downwash can fan the fire.     - Limitations: No flight in winds over $40 \text{ mph}$. Operating time is generally $2-3 \text{ hours}$.     - Refueling: Forward refueling requires a Foam Tanker and a Purple K unit at the site.

FDNY A.U.C. 159 - Hurricane and Severe Storm Emergencies

• Operational Guidelines     - Reconnaissance Teams: Comprised of 2-4 members. Mission is information gathering (triage), not rescue/extrication. They identify victim locations and resource needs.     - Water Depth Limits: Maximum depth for first-line apparatus is $18"$. Maximum for FDNY Hi-Axle vehicles is $50"$.     - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Bunker gear should NOT be worn in flooded areas due to fatigue, submergence risk, and contamination.     - Salt Water Exposure: Salt water damages electrical systems and seals. Apparatus must be rinsed with fresh water as soon as possible.

FDNY A.U.C. 159, Addendum 7 - Still Water Operations

• Resources: Flat Bottom Boats     - Each Water Rescue Company is issued a $14\text{-foot}$, $140\text{-lb}$ Flat Bottom Boat.     - Features: No motors or oars. Members walk the boat into flooded areas.     - Equipment Stored with Boat: 1 set of wheels, 3 Cold Water Suits (CWS), 9 Waders, 15 Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) (6 for victims).

• Dispatch and Team Structure     - A Water Rescue Team consists of a Water Rescue Company and an Engine Company.     - If the Water Rescue Company is a Ladder, the Engine Company transports the boat; if it's an Engine, they transport it and a neighboring Engine assists.

• Operational Constraints     - No member enters water without a CWS or waders AND a PFD.     - The assisting Engine Company remains at the entry point for CFR-D assessment and treatment; they do not enter the water.     - Units must respect weight limitations of the boat while removing victims.