Tanker shuttling, catching the hydrat, or setting up drop tank, oh and drafting

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Permalink Reply by paul michael komandt on November 5, 2009 at 5:57pm

We set up a minumum of 2 dump tanks on every fire. We carry a 2100 and 3000 gallon on our tanker.

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Permalink Reply by Travis Bowers on November 6, 2009 at 7:51am

Luckly almost our whole district is equipped with hydrats throughout, however we do have places were srop tanks are needed. We have used both before, and we also have a lake in our district to draft from, but have never had to use it. Let's hope we dont.

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Permalink Reply by Lee Huff on November 10, 2009 at 12:57am

Usually, we have a hydrant to work with. If not, we usually use a tanker shuttle although we're starting to use drop tanks more often. Our new engine has a rear inlet, so we can set up the tank behind the engine and not have to shut down the whole road.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on November 10, 2009 at 11:43pm

for local calls we mostly use hydrants or do tanker runs to the nearest hydrant, but on strike teams or at major wildfires in rural areas we do alot of drafting.

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Permalink Reply by Stephen on November 16, 2009 at 6:51am

we can also respond "quick fills" and "big fills" at dams or rivers (or anyother static water supply) which are specialist appliances that can fill multiple trucks at the same time. and these may also carry portable dams (which i assume are the same as dump-tanks). some trucks also carry portable pumps which can be used. (our support vehicle which doubles as a strike team lead vehicle carries a portable pump)

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Permalink Reply by WFD318 on November 16, 2009 at 2:10am

We run automatic mutual aid to the county fire/ems service, so outside of the city limits hydrants are scarce and usually under 500gpm. Both of our first out engines have dump tanks on them, as do the county tankers that are sent to assist. Usually our water supply is limited to a dump-tank or shuttle operation.

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